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RV RENTALS FAQ

Why rent an RV?Renting enables you to try various types of RVs and learn from actual experience which one best suits your particular needs. Or, perhaps you already know and enjoy the RV lifestyle but aren’t ready to own. Of course, many people rent RVs simply for the fun, freedom and flexibility of RVing without the large investment.

What type of RV should I rent?Motor coaches are the most popular rental model. Motor coaches can sleep and contain four or more people.

Do you need a special driver’s license in order to drive an RV?No. You DO NOT need any special endorsement. However, Family RV Rentals requires you to be at least 25 years of age, have a major credit card, and carry current full-coverage auto insurance in order to qualify as a driver.

Is it hard to drive a motor home?Driving a motor home is not really hard – it’s just different. There are a few things you need to be aware of, though. That’s why you are welcome to test drive any RV as many times as you wish. We want to feel comfortable with the RV you choose.

What’s the difference between Class A and Class C RVs?Class A RVs are constructed on a specially designed motor vehicle chassis. Class A RVs are the “Big Boys” of the motorized RVs, and they are the most favored motor home of full-timers. A Class C RVs are built on an automotive-manufactured van and are attached to the cab section. A Class C RV is easy to identify – in most cases, a full queen-size bed is located over the cab.

What is a “Diesel Pusher”?A diesel-powered motor coach with a rear engine.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of wide body RVs?The advantage to a wide body RV (up to 102 inches wide) is livability – there is more room inside these spacious units. The disadvantage is that there are places (rural highways, bridges, and even occasional campgrounds) where a wide body RV is not permitted. Generally, however, RVers in wide body units who travel major federal and state highways will have no problems. Travelers who plan to spend a lot of time on the secondary highways and two-lane back roads might want to stick to a standard width RV (up to 96 inches wide).

What kitchen appliances come in RVs?Everything you have at home. Microwaves, and even coffee makers, come in all but the least expensive units.

How many people to RVs sleep?Four to six on average, but sometimes less and sometimes more.

Are there special terms or conditions for renting an RV?To rent an RV, you must be at least 25 years of age, have a major credit card, carry current full-coverage auto insurance (or purchase RV rental insurance from us), rent a minimum of 3 nights, and provide us 48 hours advance notice.

Can I take my pet in the RV?Pets are not allowed in most of our RVs. However, we do have specific RVs available for animal enthusiasts. There is also an additional refundable pet deposit. Be sure to ask one of our Rental Agents for details.

Do you allow smoking in the RV?Smoking is not allowed in most of our RVs. However, we do have specific RVs available for smokers. Be sure to ask one of our Rental Agents for details.Unfortunately, smoke odors quickly absorb into the RV interior and are extremely difficult to remove. Therefore, we must impose very stiff penalties for any smoke damage, no matter how minor. If you want to smoke, we recommend you go outside on the downwind side of the RV.

How much does it cost to rent an RV?Prices start at $180 per day.

Do you require a deposit for a reservation or damage?Yes, we require both. A reservation deposit will be charged to your credit card at the time of your reservation. This reservation deposit will be applied to the total rental fee on the day of pickup.A damage deposit will be charged to your credit card at the time of your departure, and varies according to the size of the RV you are renting. Your damage deposit will be refunded barring any damages. However, any extensive mileage or generator usage will be deducted from your damage deposit upon return.

Are there any additional charges to anticipate?In addition to the rental fee, there is a prep fee. Other potential fees that can incur would be for generator usage, mileage, damage, gasoline and tax.Typical generator usage averages 1.5 hours per day. A generator runs the electrical devices in the RV. However, you can minimize this expense by staying in a campsite that provides electrical hookups.Mileage fees are calculated in house per destination. Consult one of our Rental Agents for further details.Naturally, your travels will require you to purchase gas. You can estimate between 8 to 12 miles per gallon under normal conditions. Remember, the generator also uses this same gas resource.To take the hassle out of estimating the price for your trip, call us. Family RV Rentals has trained rental agents that will be happy to calculate the total price for your rental.

While traveling, how many people are allowed to ride in the RV?The number of people allowed to ride in an RV equals the number of seatbelts in the RV. Typically, this ranges from 4 to 10 people. Call us and we can help you determine what RV size you need.

OWNER MANAGER PROGRAM FAQ

How do I know my coach won’t get torn up?This is the single biggest concern of RV owners. The long and the short of it is the renter is responsible for almost everything. The only exceptions are the normal wear items. Each renter is screened extensively. We get their addresses, phone numbers, driver’s license information, auto insurance binders plus any other information that seems pertinent.Each renter is given an extensive walk-through on the coach and must sign the Check-Out sheet. This keeps them from coming back later and saying the reason something broke or got damaged was because we didn’t tell them how to operate it. We also take a video tape of each unit just before it goes out. In addition, each renter is required to read the Terms of Conditions and sign them. These terms and conditions were written to protect the coach, the owner of the coach and Family RV Rentals. They clearly spell out the renter’s responsibilities and any penalties involved if the renter doesn’t comply.Every coach is clean, full of gas, full of water and thoroughly inspected before it leaves. We do a video for every rental unit just before it goes out so there is no question of its condition. The customer signs that it’s in good condition and they agree to return it full of fuel and clean. If they don’t we clean it and/or gas it and charge the renter. On the Vehicle Check-Out form and our contract, it clearly states that we have 21 days to inspect the unit before refunding the renters deposit. This gives us enough time to check the unit carefully for anything that might be hidden.None of these things are of any use if we can’t collect from the renter if damage occurs. To make certain we will be able to collect, each renter must pay for the rental in advance plus leave us a $500-$1000 deposit. The renter must sign a blank credit card ticket authorizing us to charge any balance due on their credit card. With this authorization, the customer can’t successfully dispute our charges to their card company. Some credit cards we accept are: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

What if I want to use my RV?It is very simple. When you know you want to use the coach, call us and we’ll reserve it for you as though you were any other renter. When you pick it up, it will be full of fuel, water and propane. We will start the refrigerator, water heater for you, check all appliances and generator, etc. All we ask is that you return it full of fuel and propane, cleaned, and with holding tanks dumped so that it’s ready to go out on the next rental.

What about Insurance?Good personal RV insurance is available from MBA Insurance. In addition, all renters are required to have full-coverage auto insurance or purchase RV rental insurance from MBA Insurance.

How do I know my coach will be properly maintained?In most case, our maintenance procedures are far more strict than the average owner’s. When a motor coach goes into the program, we fill out a vehicle information screen in our computer. One of the questions it asks is how often we want to perform maintenance on this vehicle. We also are required to center the mileage when we receive the coach and computer keeps track of how many miles are put on it. Each time a renter picks up the unit, we record the actual mileage and generator hours. When they return, we again record the mileage and generator hours. When the unit has 3,000 miles on it since the last service, the computer automatically prompts us to let us know it’s time to service this unit. When so prompted, we will change the oil and filter, check the transmission fluid, radiator coolant, brake fluid, batteries, and tires for proper wear.

Are people allowed to smoke in my coach?NO!! We DO NOT allow smoking in any of our rental units. There is far too much risk that the upholstery or carpet could be damaged and many people are sensitive to the smell of smoke. Every renter must sign a sheet that clearly states that there is no smoking allowed in the coach. If they choose to ignore this rule, they will be charged a minimum of $250.00 so that the coach can be fumigated and professionally cleaned to remove the after-effects from the smoke. This charge is purposely high to deter even the most stubborn renter.

Who is allowed to drive my coach?Only the renter and those persons designated at the time reservation is taken. Each designated driver will be required to give us their full name, address, driver’s license number and expiration date. The renter understands that they’re the responsible party and will be charged for any damage or repairs due to negligence.

What happens if my coach breaks down?Every renter is told that they can repair anything that breaks and bring us the receipt for reimbursement for anything up to $100.00. If the repairs are for more that $100.00, they MUST call us for approval and instructions. Our liability is limited to the reimbursement for any full rental days lost due to breakdown and does not include any other expenses the renter might incur. Our contract specifically states that such things as the refrigerator, generator and air conditioner, etc. DO NOT constitute a breakdown and no reimbursement will be forthcoming. We also provide 24 hour Roadside Assistance to all our customers.Once the unit has been repaired and returned to us, we will make the determination as to whether the breakdown was due to mechanical failure or negligence on the part of the renter. If we determine it was due to negligence or misuse, we will either send the renter to an authorized warranty station or file the claim ourselves warranty, the owner and Family RV Rentals will be charged for their repair on a 50/50 basis as a part of normal maintenance.

What if my unit does not rent?How often your unit rents depends largely on what it is. Currently, demand is far greater than our supply. Our motor homes are averaging over 70 days per year. While we can’t guarantee the number of rentals your unit will have, we will cap the number of units. We are committed to our coach owners and will not allow our supply to dilute the owner’s income.