RV trips — generally speaking — tend to be at least three days in length, with some renters booking their RV rental for up to a month. At the short-term end of the rental spectrum, many RV rental companies (and individual owners on peer-to-peer rental platforms) do not allow customers to rent for less than three days at a time.
When planning your next RV trip, however, there are many good reasons to consider a longer duration trip (above and beyond the three-day minimum). More specifically, there are many good reasons to consider a weeklong rental.
Curious?
Before you settle on a rental term and move forward with your reservation, it’s important that you understand the basics of RV rental pricing and that you make an informed decision after weighing the advantages and disadvantages of booking a lengthier rental.
7 Day RV Rental Deals
When renting an RV, the longer your rental term, the more significant your discount will be. If you rent an RV for a week, for example, the daily rate will likely be discounted vis-a-vis the daily rate had you rented the same RV for just three days.
Whether you rent from an RV dealership or a peer-to-peer rental platform, you should expect to find 7 days RV rental prices discounted at about 10-20% (the daily rate). These savings are fairly substantial, particularly if you’re struggling with a tight trip budget.
Why do lengthier rentals lead to substantial discounts?
When an RV rental company (or owner) rents out their vehicle to a customer, there are costs associated with the transitionary period between the end of the rental and the start of a new rental. After the RV is returned, there might not be another customer lined up and ready to take on the rental. Any time that the RV is not being rented is “wasted money,” so to speak. Additionally, there are customer acquisition expenditures, such as marketing costs, or time, energy, and administrative costs, that are embedded in the process of renting out to a new customer.
To avoid these costs (and days of an RV sitting unrented and earning no revenue), owners will incentivize longer-term rentals with steep discounts. Budget-oriented renters often consolidate their vacation days to rent for a week — or more — so as to ensure that they secure the best deal on their rental.
Where to Rent an RV
RV Rental Dealerships
Dealerships are the standard for renting an RV. Dealerships maintain and operate fleets of RVs, from which the renter can choose. As fleet sizes can only be so large, selection tends to be somewhat limited. It can be rather difficult to find a specific RV configuration or niche model, for example. Prices also tend to be higher than competing peer-to-peer rental platforms, as dealerships have significant costs that are passed on to the consumer (i.e., property costs, payroll, marketing, etc.).
Dealerships do have benefits, however. Many dealerships have now started to offer unique services. Services include drop-off and pick-up services (so that you don’t have to drive the RV around and can simply enjoy it as a portable lodging solution) and one-way rentals (which can save you a substantial amount of time and money by allowing you to start and end your trip in two different locations). Further, costs can be reduced by hunting for package lodging-rental deals, seasonal discounts, and in-network benefits resulting from membership at a partner RV club.
Peer-to-Peer Rental Marketplaces
Peer-to-peer rental marketplaces are online platforms that allow renters to rent RVs directly from individual owners. No middleman is required. Owners post their personal RVs for rent on these platforms, and renters can browse through the listings, compare, and reserve when they’re ready. Not only do rental rates tend to be significant cheaper than those for an equivalent RV at a dealership, but the selection tends to be much broader — at any given time, a prospective renter has access to thousands of potential rentals, so if you have a unique RV preference, you’re more likely to find what you’re looking for on a peer-to-peer platform.
Peer-to-peer platforms are not perfect, however. Renting on a peer-to-peer platform means you have to be extra careful to ensure that the quality of the rental is up-to-par. For example, you don’t want to rent an older RV model just to find that the condition of the vehicle is poor and that the rental will not be suitable for your trip. To avoid these problems, make sure to check the reviews for your 7 day RV rental beforehand.
Tips for Renting an RV for 7 Days in the USA
Though you may be ready to rent your RV, consider the following tips before you embark on your rental journey.
- You can secure a cheaper rental by renting an older RV model, renting during a season of low demand, or renting at a partner dealership (if you’re a member of an RV club), among many other things
- Don’t be shy — if you’re renting an RV and you feel the dealership or owner will be amenable to negotiation, make an attempt to negotiate a lower rate or a stronger rental package
- A seven day rental is long enough that you may encounter some mechanical problems along the way, so bring along a toolbox and necessary supplies, and rent from a company that offers 24/7 roadside assistance — roadside assistance staff will be able to guide you through basic repairs and inspections, if necessary
- If your RV comes with a fridge or freezer, stock it with some pre-made meals before you set off on your journey — it can be a huge help if you don’t want to stretch the budget by eating out all the time, but are too exhausted to cook up a meal on-the-go
Have fun on your trip!