If you’re a road tripper at heart, there’s something kind of dreamy about the idea of piling your family into an RV and hitting the country’s highways. Believe it or not, cheap RV rentals are a thing. While these massive vehicles might cost a heft sum to purchase, you can score one for a week or more at a great rate if you play your cards right. And considering how expensive it is to fly anywhere, exploring the open road might be the most economical option for a getaway.
In fact, what if I told you that you could rent an RV and take your family on a radical road trip for $5 a day or less? Would you think that sounds too good to be true? One-way destination RV rental trips are quickly growing in popularity as a thrifty alternative to traditional vacations. But wait! Before you pack your bags and load up the family, consider these tips.
Download the KCL app for more money-saving tips, deals, and coupons.
1. Find cheap RV rentals for as low as $1 a day.
You can find many different RV rental or RV relocation companies out there that offer these fantastic deals. Here is a compilation of some of the best and most reputable ones:
- Imoova.com – Imoova offers one-way relocations of both campers and cars for $1 a night plus applicable fees. This option is perfect for bigger families where they want some additional space or an easy option to run into town for supplies without taking the big vehicle. It’s also for tent campers or road trippers who need a car but not the bulk of an RV.
- Transfercar.com – This relocation service helps rental companies shuttle their vehicles between branches by renting both recreational vehicles and cars at $5 or less per day for one-way trips.
Though higher priced than the desirable $5 rates, RVshare, Road Bear RV, Do It Yourself RV, and El Monte RV are four other companies that offer similar one-way services at significantly discounted rates and are available in a wider variety of cities.
TIP: Watch Groupon for RV deals like up to 25% off your booking.
2. Book your RV rental quickly and arrange your return travel plans.
One-way RV rentals are super trendy right now, and reservations go quickly. Worst case scenario, you can be placed on a waiting list, which is helpful if your travel dates are somewhat flexible.
Since these are one-way trips, you’ll also need to arrange return travel plans. Some rental companies will offer shuttles to an airport if it’s in a major city, but this varies between companies. You might get lucky by contacting the rental company to see if they have more cheap RV rentals going back your way.
3. Be prepared to drive the distance.
Most of these rental companies have pick-ups within major cities, so if you’re not near one of these origination spots, this type of vacation deal might not be for you. You should be aware that your trip cannot be partial. You have to take the RV rental the full route, from pick-up to delivery point as laid out in the contract.
4. You’re responsible for any fees incurred along the trip.
You’re responsible for any fees incurred along the trip, like toll road fees, campsite fees, and, of course, any speeding or parking tickets. There are also fees associated with “no shows” or for last-minute cancellations, usually within 48 hours of your contract date. Basic insurance is included, but if you’re in an accident, you’re responsible for any costs beyond that coverage.
5. Pay attention to the child restraint guidelines.
If you are planning to travel with children, there are specific requirements to consider before renting. In the case of Apollo, children under the age of 12 months are not permitted to travel in the vehicles. Additionally, there are child restraint guidelines that change depending on the vehicle model.
There are also driver age requirements that vary with each company. Generally speaking, an approved driver needs to be eighteen years old, and some companies require drivers to be twenty-one and have at least a two-year driving history. Several companies have a minimal charge per day for additional drivers beyond the primary.
6. Use the best travel apps and tools to plan an epic trip.
- Know where to park and camp for the night with Freecampsites.net and the Camp & RV app.
- Stop at cool and interesting destinations using Trip Advisor’s Travel Inspiration tool, FreeMuseumDay.org, and Travel Channel’s Top 10 Amusement Parks.
- Eat at the best spots according to these lists: 101 Best Restaurants in America and Food Network’s 50 States of Must-Try Food.
- Be an RV pro with Do It Yourself RV’s guides.
Tell us what you think