The Top Questions Every RV Owner Needs to Ask Renters
Are you thinking of renting out your RV for the first time or meeting a first-time renter? Renting your RV is a good way to generate income while you are not using it. Sites like RVnGO are full of advice and can support clients wanting to rent out a vehicle, but as the owner, you will know that there are important questions to ask the RV renter.
Most people renting an RV will be decent folk who will return your vehicle in pristine condition. They may have rented before and prefer it to ownership. If using an RV Rental Platform, these guests will be verified and vetted to a degree. These Guests’ identity are verified with their Driver’s License through the platform. They may even turn out to be repeat customers as they loved the experience so much. A small minority will experience problems. As you gain in experience, you may add to this list of questions to ask your RV Renters. Here are the top questions to ask when you rent out your RV to someone else.
1. Where Are You Going With the RV?
There are good reasons to ask this question. Festivals are popular reasons to rent an RV and most vehicles are returned in good condition. However, if someone is going to a festival, chances are there may be some cleaning to do from partying and drinking so you need to set out your expectations. If they are going off road, there’s a chance the RV could end up damaged if they are unfamiliar with off-road driving.
Another scenario is if they are heading to somewhere really hot like the Arizona desert. Chances are they will be using the generator a lot for air conditioning, which will affect costs and charges. During the months with extreme temperatures either hot or cold, you may find renters who are chasing 70 degrees.
2. How Far Are You Going?
Ask about mileage and how far the renter intends to travel. It’s an easy way to work out whether what they are saying is realistic. You know from traveling how you sometimes need to take more time in some places. It also alerts you to whether they are close to any limits on the mileage limits you set and if there could be overage charges for them. Some distances, for example, will be almost impossible to cover in a day.
3. Do You Plan on Going Out of the Country or Across State Lines?
Asking this question clarifies the renter’s understanding of the limits of your agreement and assure any damage protection coverage stays in place. Most RV Rental Damage Protection policies may not cover travel to Canada or Mexico. It’s best to be sure the renter is clear on what they can and cannot do before traveling.
4. Who Will Be Driving?
It’s important to establish who is driving your RV. On RV rental platforms, the person requesting the reservation is typically the driver and they MUST upload their Driver’s License to verify identity. If you aren’t renting through an RV Rental Website, then you will need to verify they have a valid license, and clean driving record on your own and ask: Have they got the correct, valid driving license and have they actually driven a large vehicle or RV in the past? If they have never driven a vehicle of that size, are you still happy to rent your RV? It is also common for people who say they have driven RVs in the past to have little experience in busy traffic like a city. One way to help is to offer to show the renter some of the features of the vehicle or even have them do a test drive with you.
5. Do You Have Pets?
Some damage protection policies will not allow pets and you may not allow renters with animals. A dog or cat can chew and scratch furnishings, leave hair on seats, and there’s the inevitable wet dog problem when they shake themselves all over the inside of the RV to say the least. If you are not happy to have pets, be sure to say so in your rental information on your rental listing page. You can also consider an additional fee if they have pets. Remember to ask if they are house trained.
6. Are You Bringing Young Children?
Kids are great and an RV will most likely be a big adventure for them. After all, they are the RV owners of the future. However, some kids are not as well behaved as others. Some will crayon the interior, and others may damage equipment. Set limits in your advertisements so potential renters know expectations. You can also charge a deposit that is returnable if the RV is returned in good condition.
7. How Many People Will Be Traveling in the RV?
Always ask how many people will be traveling in the RV. You will be aware of the capacity of your vehicle and the set up. You will even have it listed on your listing page. If you suspect that significantly more people are traveling, it could signal an overcrowding and safety issue. Be clear to potential renters that all passengers must be seated in the cab and are not allowed to ride in the main living area on the road.
8. Have You Driven an RV Or Pulled A Trailer Before?
This is a very important question to ask RV renters. For some people, renting an RV is the first time they have got behind the wheel of a large vehicle. They may have never pulled a trailer or toy hauler before. They may not even have a vehicle with the tow capacity for a trailer or 5th wheel, which has it’s own unique requirements. Find out whether a first-time driver will be behind the wheel of your RV before deciding to rent it out. You can also ask if they have a clean driving license. If they have never driven an RV, do a test drive to determine whether they have the skills to handle your vehicle safely. Verify that they will use a spotter when backing up larger Class Cs, Class A’s or towables.
9. Are You Towing Anything?
Driving an RV is one thing but towing something behind it is more complicated. It is vital to find out what the renter plans to tow to ensure the RV can withstand the weight. But more importantly, the damage protection coverage at RVnGO only covers the rented unit and does not cover towing of separate trailers or vehicles so it will be invalidated. It is vital the renter understands this and may need to change their plans.
10. Have You Rented an RV Before?
There are good reasons to ask this question, and it is different from the driving query. If they have rented an RV previously, they should have a profile that you can check for feedback from other RV owners. Reviews sometimes highlight signs that the renter does not take care of rental RVs. Which leads to: ALWAYS REQUEST A REVIEW OF YOUR RV RENTAL. You can also ask what type of RV they drove. You might own a larger model. If they are a first-timers, be clear on expectations and offer to show them around the vehicle.
11. Would You Like a Walk-Through?
Always leave a copy of the operating manual in the RV for reference. Even if you have checked the vehicle before renting, things can and do go wrong from time to time. Offer a walk-through of the features and a test drive around the block to help them get used to driving it and take the opportunity to ask questions. It also gives you peace of mind that they can handle your RV safely. RVnGO STRONGLY Encourages RV Hosts to perform a walk through before every unit leaves the owner and document any pre-existing damage. This helps with fraud and damage protection claims. No evidence of damage done by the renter? No claims.
12. Are You Clear About the Pick-Up and Drop-Off Policy?
It’s always best to double-check with people that they know the policy for picking up and dropping off the vehicle or trailer. That will include pre- and post- checklists of any contents and furnishings, whether the gas needs to be full or not, and the location of the drop off. It also sets out the expectations you have about the condition of the vehicle when it is returned to you. If the RV needs to be cleaned extra good or the waste tanks need to be dumped, or they drove extra miles, then you can charge extra fees accordingly, if that was previously outlines in the rental agreement.
13. Have You Ever Dumped the Waste from an RV and Changed the Gray Water or Black Water Tanks?
Asking this technical question will tell you both how experienced the renter is and how responsible they are likely to be about waste. If waste is not disposed of properly, it can lead to pollution and/or damage to your RV. Additionally, the vehicle could be impounded by authorities.
If the renter does not know how to change the gray or black water tanks, they can also cause damage to the RV from incorrect procedures. Be sure to provide a demonstration before renting your vehicle.
14. Are You Using a Designated Campsite or Plan to Go Boondocking?
There could be all kinds of issues if someone goes off the beaten track to time camping in the wild. They could be taking your RV someplace where the terrain is too rough and might cause damage. If your RV isn’t off road capable, then you want to make sure your Guests understand that and keep it to designated roads and camping areas.
PS – If you are thinking of renting out your RV, where you can keep 100% of your earnings, not have to deal with maintaining a website or special calendar software or payment software, then reach out to RVnGO to learn more.
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