That motorhome parked in the driveway for eleven months of the year could be quietly paying for itself. RVshare, often described as the Airbnb of the RV world, lets American RV owners list their vehicles for rent when they're not using them — and lets would-be road-trippers rent everything from compact camper vans to luxury motorhomes without the eye-watering cost of ownership.
The platform started when a founder came back from a honeymoon RV trip looking for something to do with the vehicle between adventures. It has since grown into the largest online marketplace for RV rentals in the US, with more than four million nights booked by renters.
For owners, the setup works much like listing a spare room. You sign up, create a listing with good-quality photos (the detail that makes the biggest difference, according to seasoned hosts), and set your own rate — RVshare offers pricing suggestions, but you call the shots. Renters send enquiries, you review their profiles and chat before approving, and insurance packages are available covering both sides. You choose how often the RV goes out, so it can sit idle in peak family season and earn while you're at work the rest of the year. One caveat: listing and renting currently only works within the United States.
For travellers, it's a way to test-drive RV life before committing to a five- or six-figure purchase. You browse listings, filter by budget, size, pet-friendliness and party size, message owners directly to ask questions and agree terms, then book through the platform's payment system. On pick-up day the owner walks you through how everything works. That direct line to the owner is a genuine perk — you're effectively getting a local expert's tips on routes, campsites and RV quirks along with the keys.
Renting privately often undercuts traditional RV rental agencies, and off-peak dates can bring real bargains. There's flexibility too: some owners allow one-way trips, so you can drive a route without doubling back.
Who's this for? Two camps, really. If you own an RV that's costing you storage fees, insurance and depreciation while it sits still, renting it out occasionally can offset those costs significantly. And if you've always fancied a national parks road trip but balked at the price of buying a rig, renting one for a week or two is a low-commitment way to find out whether the lifestyle suits you — before the mortgage-sized decision. Just note that it's a US-only marketplace for now, so this applies to American owners and to travellers planning a stateside road trip.