My Complete Review of RVezy RV Rentals After 10+ Years Testing These Services
As someone who has rented RVs across North America for over a decade, friends constantly pick my brain on suggestions before their trips. That‘s why I decided to finally consolidate everything I‘ve learned by testing and comparing RV rental platforms into this complete guide.
I‘ll cut through the promotional fluff with transparent pros/cons from an average consumer‘s perspective. My criteria for evaluating peer-to-peer RV marketplaces like RVezy spans over 15 factors – from selection and fees to policies, support and my own rental experience.
By the end, you‘ll understand exactly how RVezy works along with insider tips to simplify your vacation rental search. Let‘s hit the open road!
My History Renting RVs
Before digging into RVezy, I want to share some background that shapes my viewpoint…
I first started RVing in my mid-20‘s when a buddy invited me on a spur-of-the-moment trip to a music festival. I was pleasantly surprised by the convenience, autonomy and cost savings compared to alternatives like hotels or flying.
While that initial campervan rental had some major flaws (hello faulty A/C and non-working fridge!), the experience showed exciting potential. So I committed spending a month RVing solo each year to indulge my inner nomad through obscure mountain towns and desert landscapes not possible otherwise.
Over 10+ years now, I‘ve rented from over a dozen platforms across the US and Canada. My adventures have covered 28 states, 5 provinces and almost 50,000 miles tracked!
From shady peer-to-peer classifieds to commercial mega-fleets, you name it and I’ve probably tested it. While I still prefer my own bed and plumbing, RV rentals offer a thrill that’s hard to replicate.
Through trial and error, I’ve learned how to spot sketchy listings, negotiate better rates and evaluate amenities that are must-haves versus nice-to-haves. I’ve also assembled tips to dodge common regretful renter mistakes that could dampen your epic journeys.
So if you’re even half as outdoorsy as me, you’ve probably googled something like “rv rentals near me” while daydreaming from your office cubicle. If RVezy popped up in your search, this review is exactly what you need to decide if they’re your roadtrip soulmate or just another RV rental dud.
How I Evaluate RV Rental Platforms
When comparing RV marketplaces, I focus on 7 key factors weighted by importance to gauge if a provider is legit or just looking for a quick buck from unsuspecting travelers. Each criteria gets rated on a scale of 1-10 before tallying an overall score:
| Evaluation Criteria | Importance |
|---|---|
| Selection of listings | High |
| Rental rates & fees | High |
| Reservation ease | Medium |
| Platform features | Medium |
| Policies & protections | High |
| Support channels | Medium |
| First-hand rental experience | High |
I determine importance based on the potential trip disruption caused by shortcomings in each area. For example, limited inventory makes it impossible for you to even book in the first place. But spotty support just means your questions might take longer to answer.
To showcase how this scoring rubric works in practice, let’s quickly apply it to my best and worst platform experiences:
[Positive Example]
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Selection of listings | 10 | High |
| Rental rates & fees | 8 | High |
| Reservation ease | 10 | Medium |
| Platform features | 9 | Medium |
| Policies & protections | 10 | High |
| Support channels | 9 | Medium |
| First-hand rental experience | 10 | High |
| Overall Score | 9.3 |
With abundant listings at fair prices, robust platform features that simplified booking and exceptional service managing a breakdown, this rental experience was nearly flawless outside of moderate fees.
[Negative Example]
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Selection of listings | 1 | High |
| Rental rates & fees | 3 | High |
| Reservation ease | 7 | Medium |
| Platform features | 5 | Medium |
| Policies & protections | 1 | High |
| Support channels | 1 | Medium |
| First-hand rental experience | 2 | High |
| Overall Score | 3.0 |
Between inaccurate listings with doctored photos, misleading fees that ballooned costs and refusal to cover damages, this trip was a mess. Despite initial website convenience, major issues plus non-existent policy protections and support equated to an awful experience.
So with that framework explained, let’s see how RVezy stacks up!
RVezy Pros
Starting with positives, RVezy earns top marks in a few areas:
Huge selection of rental RVs across North America
Out of all the rental marketplaces I’ve used, RVezy has the single largest inventory by far at 8,000+ vehicles. Whether you’re looking for a basic camper or decked out motorhome, their results span all budgets. RVezy also covers destinations across Canada, the US and even Alaska most competitors miss. No matter what journey you’re considering, chances are solid you’ll find a listing that fits.
Score: 10/10
Smooth website and mobile apps
I’m admittedly very particular about website design and functionality. But I was impressed by RVezy’s polished interface, sorting/filtering options and detail provided for each listing like photos and amenity checklists. Their mobile experience is just as intuitive – a must for on-the-go trip planning. Responsiveness was snappy allowing me to toggle search tweaks without losing precious vacation energy.
Score: 9/10
Protection resources for peer-to-peer newbies
RVezy provides several assurances around vetted renters, insurance plans and 24/7 roadside assistance that minimize risks renting from individuals versus companies. While not immune to issues that crop up with peer-to-peer services, their damage coverage, helplines and discharge protocols made me feel safer than alternative platforms lacking this infrastructure.
Score: 8/10
RVezy Cons
That said, RVezy has some drawbacks to watch based on my analysis:
Steep service & platform fees
RVezy tacks on a 8-12% service charge to all bookings on top of taxes, insurance and other costs. These add-on fees quickly increase nightly rates, especially on shorter rentals. Given you still handle pickup/dropoff coordination as a peer-to-peer platform, I felt these substantial charges were overkill to simply facilitate a marketplace transaction. Other booking sites charge nearly half for connecting users.
Score: 4/10
Unpredictable booking process
A common frustration referenced in reviews is the fickle rental request workflow on RVezy. You submit dates which owners can approve or deny freely based on their preferences rather than firm availability calendars. Several times my initial requests got rejected before eventually finding willing owners after repeated tries. I appreciate supporting entrepreneurs’ flexibility but the uncertainty left me anxious after being accustomed to instant booking confirmation elsewhere. Have backup rentals lined up in case your first choices fall through.
Score: 5/10
Regional inventory gaps
Particularly with newer peer-to-peer platforms gaining traction, location availability plays a major role that national chains solve by aggregating fleets. So while rapidly growing, RVezy’s listings remain scattered in pockets despite attempts to fill holes through expansion efforts. If your exact destination or date combination surfaces spotty vehicle matches, seeking out alternatives provides another option to avoid a trip derailment.
Score: 6/10
How RVezy’s Peer-to-Peer Model Works
If you’re new to sharing economy services, understanding the peer-to-peer approach versus traditional companies unlocks why RVezy operates uniquely in some areas:
- RV owners list their vehicles for rent like an online classified ad with pricing, availability and amenities.
- Interested renters browsing RVezy submit trip requests for specific dates which the owner approves or denies.
- Once a request gets approved, the renter and owner exchange messages to coordinate logistics and finalize details.
- RVezy collects payments from the renter including platform fees and taxes before distributing the earnings minus their cut to owners.
- The renter picks up the RV directly from the owner when the rental starts before dropping back off at the end per their instructions.
Unlike large national rental fleets where everything gets standardized company-wide, RVezy simply enables individuals to transact through an online meeting place. This leads to some one-off kinks around scheduling, costs and inventory lows. But the upside is unlocking RV owners’ unused vehicles to create affordable options in more areas.
6 Insider Tips for First-Timers on RVezy
Based on my hard-knock lessons, here are a few key pointers to kickstart your maiden voyage if you’re new to peer-to-peer RV renting:
Submit early requests 4-8 weeks out – Last minute bookings 1-2 weeks before your ideal date will surface limited selection after popular RVs get snatched up.
Remain flexible – Given owners confirm trips, keep open minded on locations, dates and vehicle types as backups in case initial requests get denied.
Ask detailed questions – RVezy listings aren’t maintained by the company so clarify must-have amenities, mileage limits, pet fees etc. with the owner before sending money.
Review procedures – Understand where/how to access the RV, return condition expectations, fueling etc. to avoid surprises that differ by owner.
Consider road readiness – Practice vehicle inspections, weigh station tips, changing tire techniques and other RV safe driving fundamentals to brush up even as an experienced driver.
Backup critical items – Pack duplicates of essential medications, phone/laptop chargers and other irreplaceable trip necessities in case anything gets left behind after drop-off.
The Bottom Line: Is RVezy Right for Your Next Adventure?
When tallying everything up, I gave RVezy an overall 7 out of 10 in my rubric. For context, the average across all platforms I’ve tested is a 5.
RVezy absolutely provides exceptional inventory breadth and decent platform foundation as a relative newcomer disrupting the rigid RV rental industry. Don’t get me wrong – the core value prop shines bright by unlocking everyday owner vehicles to open up more wallet-friendly choices off the beaten path.
However, issues around uneven listing availability in some markets and unreliable booking workflows demonstrate growing pains. First-timers should set proper expectations around the quirks inherit to peer-to-peer marketplaces. If these concerns give you pause, established national rental companies promise a more seamless yet pricey experience.
But RV roadtrip devotees able to sacrifice some consistency for affordability, character and flexibility will find RVezy unlocks simple, creative tailor-made adventures not possible otherwise. Patience pays off as RVezy actively improves their model to strike the right balance benefiting both renters and owners.
If you’re still undecided for your next vacation, I’m happy to chat 1-on-1 to help think through your options, priorities and travel vision to match an RV rental platform that fits your trip and risk tolerance. Just reach out anytime – I’m here to help as your resident road warrior guru!
