Outdoorsy Vs RVShare: The two innovative systems for popular peer-to-peer RV rental companies. Even if they are largely comparable, this comparison of Outdoorsy and RVShare may enable you to identify a few differences and select the best website.
The RV movement is revolutionizing traditional travel. Why shouldn’t it, too?
RVs are simply incredible. They let you experience all the comforts of home while driving through the wilderness with your loved ones, family, or friends.
In addition, renting an RV is typically far less expensive than staying in a hotel, and in all honesty, they are more enjoyable.
Several websites that link RV owners and renters have sprung up online in response to this new trend.
While not in use, a luxury vehicle can be rented out to a person in need if you possess one.
In this RVShare vs. Outdoorsy comparison, I’ve contrasted two of the top RV rental websites so you don’t have to go through the hassle.
Thus, let’s begin.
Distinctive Features of Outdoorsy vs. RVShare
The following are the primary variations between RVShare and Outdoorsy:
- Unlike RVShare, where the rental process is much more laid back, Outdoorsy demands DMV checks of potential tenants.
- RVShare is rated A+ on BBB, but Outdoorsy is only rated B.
- Compared to Outdoorsy, RVShare offers customer support and roadside assistance around-the-clock;
- RVShare is only available in the US, although Outdoorsy is accessible worldwide.
When deciding whether to rent through one of the two platforms, keep in mind some of these key distinctions between them.
Despite their apparent differences between outdoorsy vs rvshare, they have a lot in common. For instance, they both allow clients who want to utilize RVs but don’t want the trouble of driving to have them delivered to their desired location. Because of their AirBnB-like business strategy, they also profit from being able to provide costs that are cheaper than those of normal hiring firms.
Outdoorsy Overview
A well-known online marketplace for RV owners and rentals is called Outdoorsy. The business serves as a conduit between RV owners and others wishing to rent RVs; it is not a professional RV rental organization.
created back in 2015 by two co-founders who saw the RV market’s profit potential.
RV owners and renters have already transacted more than $500k using the platform.
The website gives owners options for publicity, advertising, security, and insurance in exchange for a small fee on each rental.
The Outdoorsy offers RV options based on location, customized RV search engines, roadside assistance, and a safe way to pay for rentals.
The website has outstanding customer reviews on directories like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau, which is what makes it a trustworthy choice for RV lovers.
1. Outdoorsy Key Features
- 24/7 customer service and roadside help.
- Up to $1million insurance.
- Simple to use and book.
- Lots of vehicles to choose from.
- RVs can be delivered.
- It works in the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia.
2. Choice
Outdoorsy is a lot like RVShare in the way it works. It is a peer-to-peer rental platform, which means that car owners can list their cars for rent in their own area. This is great because it means that vacationers have a huge number of options.
Since Outdoorsy is available in many places outside of the US, there are a lot more options than with RVShare.
3. Outdoorsy’s RV Rental Insurance Covers
Outdoorsy made their own RV insurance company called Roamly for their renters insurance. It has a lot of great features, like:
Outdoorsy says they chose to work with Liberty Mutual because they both believe in the same things:
- Be honest in what you do.
- Give your customers the best service you can.
- Always try to get better and do something new.
- Look for the best in everything they do.
With Outdoorsy’s RV Rental Insurance, you get a few great things:
4. Customer Feedback
When it comes to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Outdoorsy has a B rating.
Outdoorsy has had 178 complaints in the last three years, but 145 of them have been solved and closed in the last year. Not only that, but out of 850 customer reviews, they still have a 4.61/5 rating.
When I looked at their one-star reviews on the BBB, I noticed that they all had the same thing in common:
The one-star reviews weren’t so much about Outdoorsy as they were about the RVs.
A lot of the one-star reviews talked about how bad the RV smelled, looked, and felt. To be fair, that’s not all Outdoorsy’s fault.
Yes, they were rented from their platform, but keep in mind that you’re renting from the RV owners themselves.
Outdoorsy asks reviewers who say bad things about the company itself to get in touch with them privately to work out any problems.
The good reviews are much better than the bad ones because they talk about the business as a whole. As one reviewer said:
“An owner needs to know that renters will take care of their property, and a renter needs to know that the owner will keep the RV in good shape and help them out when they need it. Outdoorsy does a great job with both.”
Pros of Outdoorsy
- There are many options in countries other than the US.
- Up to $1 million is covered by insurance.
- 24/7 customer service and roadside help.
- The interface is easy to use.
- Extensive DMV checks (pro for a rig owner).
- Service to bring and set up an RV.
- BBB gives it 4.8/5 stars.
Cons of outdoorsy
- RV varies in how good it is.
- If you’re interested, RV owners may send you messages that are annoying.
- Before booking, there are a lot of checks (no booking if you have any traffic violations).
- You will be responsible for any repairs that need to be done.
RVShare Overview
Mark, the company’s other co-founder, and his new wife, Rachel, took an RV trip throughout the United States for their honeymoon in 2012. They developed a deep affection for their newfound independence and felt compelled to spread the word. They decided to share the RV they bought for their honeymoon with other couples who were curious about the lifestyle but weren’t sure whether it was for them. That’s when Mark recognized he needed a better system to facilitate his plan to rent recreational vehicles (at the time).
That’s why we created RVshare.
RVshare pioneered the concept of peer-to-peer RV rentals; how does it compare to Outdoorsy, the market leader?
If you want to know more, read on!
1. RVShare Key Features
- The booking fee includes insurance.
- There are no membership fees.
- 5% cash back for customers who come back.
- RV can be sent to a certain place and set up there (for an additional cost).
- BBB gives it an A+.
- No check with the DMV needed.
2. Choice
RVShare offers a wide variety of options. You can find something inside your price range. It’s a popular choice for travelers and RV owners around the country. RVShare is presently only available in the United States, so if you’re planning an international road trip, you may run into some trouble.
Because RV owners may put their cars on the site, there aren’t as many safeguards in place as you might find with a more conventional rental agency. This indicates that you shouldn’t always believe what you see. If you’re planning on renting a car, read up on it first to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
3. RVShare’s RV Rental Insurance Covers
RVshare includes rental insurance at no extra cost when you book an RV.
RV rental insurance, however, varies by vehicle size. See the picture below to see what I mean:
Even vandalism is covered by RVShare’s comprehensive rental insurance:
Coverage that comes with a rental RV includes:
- Based on the value of the RV, you can get up to $200,000 in coverage for things like theft and accidents.
- Free towing and tire service, and free roadside help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- State the limits of liability set by the law.
Included in the standard coverage for trailer rentals are:
- Based on the value of the RV, you can get up to $200,000 in coverage for things like theft and accidents.
- Free roadside help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and free tire service and towing.
- Here’s where you can learn more about RVshare’s insurance policy.
4. Customer Feedback
RVshare has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
At first glance, it seems great to hear that RVshare has a better BBB rating than Outdoorsy. But 214 customers have only given them 1.84 out of 5 stars, and only 34 out of 97 complaints have been resolved in the last 3 years.
This doesn’t mean that RVshare isn’t trying to solve these problems. They have responded to their most recent complaints and tried to fix the problems. But a lot of people didn’t like how RVshare handled the situation, so they didn’t accept their answer.
A lot of the bad reviews for Outdoorsy were about the RVs, but the bad reviews for RVshare are about the company.
Pros of RVShare
- Thousands of automobiles are available, so you may take your pick.
- Many automobiles with perfect scores.
- Help with breakdowns is available around the clock.
- Coverage from an insurer.
- Returning clients can get a cash rebate of 5%.
- The booking process does not include time-consuming DMV checks.
Cons of RVShare
- The most you can get out of insurance is $200,000.
- Owners may be reluctant to publish their vehicles due to a lack of DMV verification.
- Exclusive to the United States.
- The BBB customer rating is only 1.8 out of 5.
Outdoorsy Vs RVshare: Renter Payments
Rather than rent an RV, would you like to rent out your own?
We’re so glad to hear that, because you can’t go wrong when you rent an RV through a reputable site.
I’m sure that the first thing you want to know is when you’ll get paid after someone rents your RV. That’s why we put this small section in. Let’s dive in!
1. Outdoorsy Renter Payments
When the reservation is finalized, the full amount of the rental is charged to the renter.
After the RV is picked up, Outdoorsy holds the money for 24 hours and then sends it to your account.
Also, the deposit may not show up in your account for 3–5 business days.
Rent Out Your RV On Outdoorsy – Want to earn extra money by renting out your RV? To list your RV on Outdoorsy, click here.
2. Payments from RVShare renters
Payouts for rentals that have been reserved are made on the first business day after the reservation started. This means that the payout will not be made until Monday if the reservation starts on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
Keep in mind that some holidays may change when your payout is sent or when you get it.
After the funds have been released, it usually only takes 1-2 business days for them to reach your account, but we recommend waiting 5 business days before getting in touch, since bank processing times can vary.
Also, if a reservation is canceled and you are still owed a payout (because of the cancellation policy), your payout will still be sent out as planned one business day after the rental would have started.
Use RVshare to rent out your RV – You can list your RV on both sites to get more reservations. To list your RV on RVshare, click here.
RVShare and Outdoorsy Cancellation Policies
Both Outdoorsy and RVShare let you cancel your rental if something comes up and you have to cancel your trip.
Whether or not you get your money back depends entirely on where you fall on the scale: forgiving, flexible, moderate, or strict.
Let’s talk about what each business has to offer.
Outdoorsy’s Cancellation Policy
There are three types of cancellation policies for Outdoorsy…
Flexible:
- If the renter has already paid in full and cancels the booking more than five days before the start date, they will get a full refund (minus any fees).
- If the reservation is canceled less than five days before the start date, 75% of the full rental amount (minus fees) is refunded, but the reservation deposit is not.
- If you cancel your reservation more than five days before it starts, you can get your deposit back (minus any fees).
Moderate:
- The deposit, which is 25% of the total cost of the trip, is non-refundable.
- If the renter has already paid in full and cancels the booking more than seven days before the start date, they will get a refund for 75% of the full rental amount (minus any fees).
- If the reservation is canceled less than seven days before the start date, 50% of the total rental amount (less any fees) is refunded.
Strict:
- The deposit, which is 50% of the total cost of the trip, is non-refundable.
- If the renter has already paid in full and cancels the booking more than 14 days before the start date, they will get a refund of 50% of the full rental amount (minus any fees).
- If the renter only pays the reservation deposit and then backs out, there is no refund.
- If you cancel less than 14 days before your booking starts, you won’t get your money back.
Please note: You won’t be surprised by Outdoorsy’s cancellation policy, and you shouldn’t be either. You agree with the policy before you book! Before you do anything, make sure you read the fine print or, if you don’t know what the cancellation policy is, ask the owner of the RV.
RVShare’s Cancellation Policy
RVShare’s cancellation policy has six levels…
Forgiving:
- The renter can get their money back in full up to 7 days before the rental, and 50% of their money back within 7 days of the rental. All refunds, whether partial or full, will have a $99 processing fee added to them.
Flexible:
- The renter can get their money back in full up to 30 days before the rental, and 50% of their money back within 30 days of the rental. All refunds, whether partial or full, will have a $99 processing fee added to them.
Standard:
- Up to 30 days before the rental, the renter can get their money back in full. Between 30 and 14 days before the rental, they can get 50% of their money back. All refunds, whether partial or full, will have a $99 processing fee added to them.
Strict:
- The renter can get a full refund of any money paid up to 30 days before the rental. After 30 days, there is no refund. All refunds, whether partial or full, will have a $99 processing fee added to them.
Very Strict:
- Up to 30 days before the rental, the renter can get 50% of the money back. After 30 days, there is no refund. All refunds, whether partial or full, will have a $99 processing fee added to them.
Most Strict:
- The renter might not get any of the money back. All refunds, whether partial or full, will be charged a processing fee of $99.
Please keep in mind that the RV owner can decide which cancellation policy they want to follow.
Prices & fees
It’s important to know the price up front so you don’t get a nasty surprise at the checkout page or, worse, when you have to return the RV at the end of your trip. For RVshare, you have to pay not only the “per night” prices listed on the listing page, but also the cost of RVshare Rental Insurance, which varies depending on the type of RV you rent. Prices for trailers start at 9.95 USD, and prices for motorhomes start at 19.95 USD. Please check out their official website for more information.
Outdoorsy’s insurance plan is also very easy to understand. In fact, there are only three plans to choose from: “risk taker,” “essential,” and “peace of mind.” On their website, you can find out more about the different collision coverage, liability coverage, and extra services that come with each package.
Payment & delivery
If you want to rent an RV for a long time, you will have to pay quite a lot of money up front. You can feel safe because RVshare and Outdoorsy offer safe ways to pay. Every rental that is paid for through RVshare’s safe payment system comes with a $10,000 peace of mind guarantee. Also, it’s good to know that if you book more than 30 days before the date you want to start, you can choose to pay in two parts. But if you book an RV less than 30 days before you pick it up, you’ll have to pay in full when you check out.
Outdoorsy has a system that keeps the money and only gives it back to the owner after 24 hours. If your rental is in less than 14 days, you’ll need to pay either the reservation deposit or the full amount of the rental. Both rental companies offer delivery options to make things easier, and Outdoorsy will even set up the equipment for you if you rent from them.
Roadside assistance
We stated in passing that liability insurance often covers roadside assistance in the preceding paragraph. If you run into trouble along the way, you’ll be grateful for whatever assistance you can get, so this is crucial. You may contact RVshare via phone, chat, or email at any time. If the RV owner has to cancel the listing at the last minute, RVshare has a specialized crew that can help you re-book the RV.
To get in touch with Outdoorsy’s network of 40,000+ roadside help providers, RV drivers in the US and Canada need only dial 1-877-250-6731. RV technical support from Outdoorsy is accessible whenever, whenever. If a mobile repair is required, we may send a technician to you at no extra cost. On-site maintenance, however, might result in additional fees.
RVShare vs Outdoorsy – Similarities
| Feature | RVShare vs Outdoorsy |
|---|---|
| Online Platform | Both companies are online platforms that connect RV owners with renters |
| Location Availability | Both companies have listings available in many locations across the US and Canada |
| User Verification | Both companies require users to complete a verification process before renting or listing an RV |
| Roadside Assistance | Both companies offer roadside assistance for renters during the rental period |
| Additional Services | Both companies offer additional services for renters, such as delivery and setup of RVs |
| Reviews and Ratings | Both companies provide user reviews and ratings for RVs and owners |
| Mobile Apps | Both companies offer mobile apps for renters and owners |
Differences Between Outdoorsy vs RVShare
| Feature | Outdoorsy | RVShare |
|---|---|---|
| Types of RVs Available | Wide range of RV types including motorhomes, travel trailers, camper vans, and more | Similar range of RV types as Outdoorsy, but fewer options overall |
| Rental Fees | Set by individual RV owners, can vary depending on factors like season, location, and demand | Set by RVShare and tend to be more consistent |
| Insurance | Comprehensive insurance coverage included in rental fee | Insurance is offered as an add-on for an additional fee |
| Customer Support | 24/7 customer support available via phone, email, and chat | Customer support available via phone and email, but no chat option |
| Payment Process | Renters pay 25% of rental fee upfront, with the remaining balance due 30 days before rental start date | Renters pay full rental fee upfront |
| Cancellation Policy | Varies depending on RV owner, but typically more flexible than RVShare’s policy | Standard cancellation policy with fees based on timing of cancellation |
| User Reviews | Detailed user reviews available for each RV listing | User reviews available, but not as detailed as Outdoorsy’s reviews |
| Community Features | Allows for direct communication between renters and RV owners | Limited community features, with communication between renters and owners primarily handled through RVShare |
Outdoorsy vs RVShare FAQs
Q. Is there a cost associated with using RVShare?
What you pay for your rig plus a service fee is what RVShare charges. This is determined depending on your reservation, like many other services. You will pay extra if you reserve a larger rig for a longer time. According to them, doing so enables them to offer the greatest service possible. Furthermore noteworthy is the fact that you will be entitled to a refund in the case of an owner-initiated cancellation.
Q. If so, what is the cost to use Outdoorsy?
Indeed, Outdoorsy has fees ranging from 5 to 20%. Similar to RVShare, this is determined by the rig you reserve and the length of your reservation. It is used to pay for items like housekeeping and insurance. Owners that rent out their RVs pay a charge of about 20%.
Q. Can you cancel reservations made through RVShare or Outdoorsy?
You certainly can. The rules and conditions, however, differ according to the platform. The cancellation policy for RVShare is within the hands of the vehicle owners. Check each listing carefully because they might differ. A full refund is often offered if you cancel more than 30 days before to your trip. Everything closer to the event will be governed by the owner’s rules.
Similar circumstances apply to Outdoorsy in that each vehicle owner sets their own policy. Flexible, moderate, and rigid are the three levels. When making a reservation, take cautious to understand the specifics because the terms differ greatly. For instance, a flexible policy enables you to get a portion of your money back up to five days before to your trip. With one, the time frame is 15 days.
RVShare or Outdoorsy Final Thoughts
When it comes to taking a trip in an RV, both of these websites are excellent options. They are both competitive in terms of pricing, and they provide a wide variety of options. We suggest visiting both and paying close attention to the evaluations and ratings left by previous customers and the respective owners. They paint a far more realistic image of what to expect after booking, in our opinion.
Even though both services are nearly comparable, we have to give Outdoorsy the nod since we trust owner reviews more than we do those of the firm as a whole. That’s the same as the $1 million in overall insurance protection. Although RVShare says it has never had to pay out more than its $200,000 limit, we still find the piece of mind it provides to be worthwhile.
