There are three main ways to rent out your RV: list it yourself on a peer-to-peer RV rental platform such as Outdoorsy or RVezy, offer it as a parked stay on a site like Airbnb, or hand the work to a rental management company. Doing it yourself keeps more of each booking but takes the most time. Management takes the least time but shares the revenue.
Whichever route you choose, a few things come first: insurance that actually applies to rentals, an RV in good condition, and a realistic sense of the work involved. This guide compares the three options, then walks through the steps for each so you can decide how you want to rent out your RV.
What are your options for renting out your RV?
The right option depends on how much time you have, where your RV is, and whether you want renters driving it or staying in it.
| Peer-to-peer platform, self-managed | Parked stay on Airbnb | Rental management company | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How renters use the RV | They drive or tow it on a trip | They stay in it where it's parked | They drive or tow it on a trip |
| Your time | High | Medium to high | Low |
| Who handles renters | You | You | The manager |
| Insurance | Through the platform's protection plan | Airbnb's host programs, for stationary lodging only | Arranged by the manager for each rental |
| What you keep | The booking minus platform fees and your costs | The booking minus Airbnb fees and your costs | A share of revenue: 45% to the owner in our program |
| Best for | Owners near demand with time to host | Owners with a legal, attractive place to park it | Owners who want income without running rentals |
If the parked option interests you, our guide to renting out your RV on Airbnb covers the rules and setup.
What do you need before you rent out your RV?
Get these in place before you list anything:
- Rental-ready insurance. Most personal RV policies aren't written for rental use, so confirm what will cover the RV during each booking. Our guide to RV rental insurance explains the options.
- A reliable RV. Service the engine or tow components, tires, roof seals, appliances, generator and slide-outs.
- Clean, complete equipment. Hoses, cords, leveling blocks and basic kitchen items, so renters aren't calling you mid-trip.
- A plan for handoffs. Where renters pick up, how you walk them through the RV, and how returns are inspected.
- Your own calendar. The dates you want for yourself, blocked before peak season fills.
How do you rent out your RV yourself?
Renting on your own is a series of repeatable steps. Expect to repeat most of them for every booking.
- Choose a platform. Compare host fees, protection plans and how renters are screened on each.
- Photograph and list the RV. Use clear, honest photos and describe sleeping capacity, towing needs and rules.
- Set your pricing. Check what similar RVs nearby charge, and adjust for weekends, holidays and season.
- Screen renters. Review profiles and reviews, and confirm drivers meet the platform's requirements. See our renter screening best practices.
- Hand off the RV. Walk renters through systems, document condition with photos, and record mileage and fuel.
- Support the trip. Be reachable for questions and breakdowns while renters are on the road.
- Inspect and clean on return. Check for damage, empty tanks, clean and restock before the next booking.
- Handle claims. File any damage promptly with the platform and use the security deposit as allowed.
How does renting out your RV work with a management company?
With a manager, you do the setup once and they handle the steps above for every booking. With RV Management USA, the process looks like this:
- Tell us your RV's year, make, model, condition and location, and we check rental demand in your area.
- We match you with the local Fleet Manager, who inspects the RV.
- You sign the rental management agreement, which our site sometimes calls a rental consignment agreement. You keep ownership.
- The Fleet Manager stores, lists, cleans and rents the RV, screens renters and supports them on the road.
- You receive a monthly owner statement and direct deposit.
Revenue is shared 45% to the owner, 45% to the Fleet Manager and 10% to RV Management USA, and you can still use the RV on dates that aren't booked. We generally accept RVs 5 years old or newer, with occasional exceptions for very well-maintained older units. Our guide to rental management agreements covers the contract terms in detail.
What mistakes do first-time RV owners make when renting?
A few come up again and again:
- Assuming a personal policy covers rentals without checking
- Underpricing peak weekends and overpricing slow months
- Skipping a documented walkaround, which makes damage claims hard to prove
- Leaving no time between bookings for cleaning and repairs
- Blocking too many peak dates for personal use, then wondering why income is low
Renting out your RV: frequently asked questions
How much can I make if I rent out my RV?
It depends on the RV, location, season and how often it's booked. Most owners in the RV Management USA program make between $500 and $2,000 a month, though that's a program range, not a promise. Our RV rental income guide shows the math, and the RV rental income calculator gives a quick estimate.
Is an RV leaseback the same as renting out my RV?
Not exactly. Leaseback programs vary, and their payment terms and commitments can differ from renting the RV yourself or using a management company that pays a share of actual rental revenue. Compare the details in our post on RV leaseback pros and cons.
Can I rent out a travel trailer, or only motorhomes?
You can rent out travel trailers, and many owners do. Renters either tow them or have them delivered to a campsite, depending on the platform and owner. RV Management USA considers late-model travel trailers with bunk beds and fifth wheels as well as motorhomes.
Should I rent it out myself or use a manager?
If you live near rental demand, enjoy hosting and have time for messages, cleaning and claims, doing it yourself can pay more per booking. If you'd rather not run the operation, a manager trades part of the revenue for doing that work. Our comparison of renting your own RV vs. rental management goes deeper.
Ready to rent out your RV without running the rentals?
If you'd like your RV earning without handling renters yourself, tell us about your RV. A Fleet Manager and the RV Management USA team will review your RV and location and tell you honestly whether it's a good fit. You can also start with the rent my RV overview.
