Commonly called a recreational vehicle (RV) or a camper, an RV is a fun family vehicle for a vacation that requires a long drive. As amazing as an RV is, buying one is an expensive and impractical option. As a result, RV rentals have gained immense popularity with vacationing families. You go out, pick an appropriate RV at the RV rental service, have the time of your life and when you’re done, return the vehicle to where it belongs; easy, effective and affordable.
However, for beginners or even experienced people, there are a few things that you might be missing out on as a result of which you don’t get the best out of the RV that you might have rented. With that in mind, here are the basics you need to know to streamline the rental process.
Table of Contents
1. Determine your budget
It might be a family vacation and it might happen only once in a while, but that doesn’t mean you need to put extra burden on yourself and overshoot your finances. Go online or ask the people in your social circle who’ve rented RV’s before to let you know the current market prices. Then determine what size, make and model of RV to opt for. This might come in handy since renting the vehicle is only the beginning of your expenses throughout the trip.
2. Make of list of requirements for your RV
The research part isn’t over just yet. You need to set a number like your travel budget or number of family members as the fundamental criteria to base your decisions on and then make a list of features that the RV should have. Most RV rentals provide a wide variety to choose from that offer extensive features like kitchens, washrooms, and beds. It all depends on your requirements. It is not a good bet to be extravagant just for the sake of it . If you’re going on a relatively shorter trip you can opt for an RV that doesn’t have sleep accommodations and anyone willing to dose off can use the seats which are quite comfortable as well.
3. Explore the insurance options
The RV you’re driving is a rental after all, and even if it wasn’t, accidents happen when you least expect them to. Explore your insurance options to know what sort of damages will be covered and what requirements are needed to file a claim in case the vehicle suffers a mishap. Insurance helps you avoid the extra dent that you might have to bear in terms of damages and not knowing the relevant charges beforehand can come as an utter shock in case things go south on your vacation.
4. Search for the best rental service
RV rental services have become extremely abundant throughout the country; however, some are usually better than others. The hazard with rental vehicles is that they are used by all kinds of people. The responsible business owners repair and manage their fleet regularly but others tend to ignore such issues and hope the vehicle doesn’t break down in the hands of a person who has rented it. To avoid getting into such a situation, find a reliable service early on through customer reviews and peer recommendations.
5. Be aware of the preliminary checks
An RV is a big vehicle and once you’ve been through all the steps given above and shortlisted the potential candidates, be sure to know what things to check for before actually completing the transaction. It might help if you ask a mechanic friend to tag along, but if you can’t do that there are a few things to ascertain your own. Take a complete walk around the vehicle to check for any prior accidents and point them out so they don’t get added to your bill. Check if all the accessories like lights and indicators work properly. Also take a quick drive to determine any mechanical faults beforehand.
When renting an RV, you need to start by nailing down a budget, and figuring out the necessary features you might require. Then collect any necessary insurance information. Finally, when picking the RV, check for any faults or damages so that you are not charged later. These are valuable tips that will allow you to have a vacation where you can relax and have some well-deserved down time.
