“If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” You probably heard this from your mom or your elementary school teacher when you were just a few years old. In general, it’s a solid principle, but in reality it doesn’t always hold up. While it sounds crazy, there is a way to take the road trip of your dreams in a $1 RV rental.
You won’t believe it until you see it with your own two eyes, but plenty of major RV companies offer dollar RV rental for people who help them drive RVs from one location to another. If you’re looking for an excuse to take a spontaneous road trip in a camper or motorhome, there’s absolutely no better deal. In fact, some people even say it’s the best-kept secret of the RV world.
These days, the good news is that there are plenty of cheap daily RV rentals no matter where you’re traveling. Read on to learn more about how to take advantage of the best new deals for your RV road trip.
Dollar a Day RV Rentals
For an RV rental 1 dollar a day isn’t bad at all. If you still haven’t gotten over the sticker shock of such a low price, check out sites like Jucy USA or iMoova to see for yourself. The deals are incredible — think a dollar RV rental for a six-day trip from Orlando to New York, or a three-day jaunt from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for just as little.
But first, a bit of explanation on why one-way relocation deals have become so popular in the first place. Because of ever-changing demand and the fact that not everyone who rents an RV picks it up and drops it off in the same location, rental companies often have the dilemma of having too many RVs in one location and not nearly enough in another.
In theory, companies could pay their employees to drop off the RVs, but many of them have come up with a workaround: Instead of paying an hourly worker to drive the RVs, why not offer them up to travelers who would actually appreciate the opportunity to get behind the wheel?
Here’s the rub: You’ve got to be willing to be a little flexible with dates and locations. You’re getting the deal of a lifetime, so you have to go with the flow and be willing to take a one-way trip with only a few days’ notice. But for RV rental $1 a day is almost always a deal worth your trouble.
Once you get to your destination, you can try to find another RV relocation back home, or you may have to fly. As an alternative, you could always try to find a one-way RV travel deal at the end of your planned vacation, so you basically have a free way to get home.
When it comes to RV rental 1 dollar is a steal, but there are sometimes other costs to consider. You’ll still have to pay to gas up your RV, and companies may charge you a mileage fee or a fee to use their linens and dishware. You may also have to put down a security deposit or bond so the RV rental company can be sure you don’t drive off with their vehicle, never to be seen again. Be sure to ask about the possibility of these extra costs so you know what you’re in for before you make the arrangements.
Cheap RV Rental
Maybe the idea of helping relocate an RV on someone else’s schedule doesn’t interest you. Or perhaps you’re willing to pay a bit more for the ability to call your own shots. That’s okay, too! There are still plenty of other ways to find great deals on an RV rental.
If one-way relocation deals are the best-kept secret of RVs, peer-to-peer rental sites are the next best secret. If you’ve ever used Airbnb, you know how easy and convenient it is to book a room in someone’s apartment, or even their entire house, in almost any city around the world. Peer-to-peer RV rental platforms work the exact same way by connecting RV owners with people looking to rent those RVs. Because they’re just regular people looking to make some extra money, you can almost always snag a great deal.
Think about it: Unlike a major RV rental company, RV owners have no overhead costs, no payroll, and no shareholders to please. Because RV owners live anywhere, you’re almost certain to find one in your area who’s willing to rent it out for the week or weekend. And when you actually go to pick up the camper or motorhome, you’ll be able to get tips and tricks for driving and operating the vehicle from a person who is intimately familiar with it. Plus, in most cases you can see reviews from other customers for the exact RV or motorhome you’ll be renting.
Daily RV Rental Rates
Don’t freak out if you’re looking to rent an RV and seeing daily rental rates far over $1 per day. Most of the time, it costs significantly more to rent an RV, especially if you’re traveling during the peak summer months. But depending on which type of RV you’re interested in, you can almost always find something for less than $100 per day.
Small campers that tow behind your truck or SUV usually are fairly cheap to rent if you’ve already got a vehicle capable of hauling it down the highway. You can also look at older model RVs, which tend to be more reasonable to rent than the newest models on the lot.
And if saving money is a priority, don’t forget to factor in discounts when you’re comparing prices. Many RV rental companies offer special promotions or deals throughout the year, such as a free night when you book for a week, or a hundred free miles per day. AAA members also get a small discount when renting, so remember to tell the rental agent that you’re a member to redeem your savings.