First-Time RV Renter Checklist: What to Know Before Pickup

First-Time RV Renter Checklist: What to Know Before Pickup

We've walked thousands of first-timers through pickup since 2009. This is the checklist we wish every renter had — every rule below is our real published policy, with nothing saved for the fine print.

Before you book

You'll need a valid driver's license (no special license required), a credit card, and full-coverage auto insurance with comprehensive and collision coverage for RV rentals — if your policy doesn't qualify, coverage can be purchased through our partner, usually $29–$59 per day. Age minimums: 21+ for travel trailers and toy haulers, 25+ for motorhomes and the overlanding Jeep. Minimum rental is three days — the weekend special is built around it.

Know the money before it moves

Weekend specials start at $295 for travel trailers, $595 for toy haulers, and $695 for Class C motorhomes, plus a $95 prep fee and tax. The security deposit is a hold, not a charge — $200 for travel trailers, $300 for toy haulers, motorhomes, and the Jeep — released after the RV comes back clean, undamaged, and on time (typically 3–10 business days). Exact date-specific totals always show live before anything is due.

What comes with the RV — and what to bring

Every rental includes the fresh-water hose, sewer hose, electric hookup cord, RV-rated toilet paper, and tank chemicals. Not included: cookware, dishes, linens, pillows, towels, stabilizer pads, and leveling blocks — bring your own, or grab the kitchen and linen add-ons when you book.

Camping without hookups? Add the generator: without one there's no way to recharge the batteries, and the AC only runs on shore power or generator power.

Lock in your schedule

Pickup is in the afternoon, scheduled between 3:00 and 6:00 PM — we contact you the Sunday before your rental to set the time. Return is by 11:00 AM. Want earlier access? The surest route is booking one extra day at the start; if the RV is free the day before your trip, we sometimes offer a discounted early pickup — never guaranteed.

Know the change policy before you book: rental dates can't be changed once reserved, and add-on changes must be requested in writing at least 10 days before departure.

The rules that protect your deposit

No smoking of any kind in any RV. Pets ride in pet-friendly units only, at $9 per pet per day with a $35 minimum. Bring the RV back at the propane level you picked it up at (unless you bought the propane refill add-on). And every trip stays under the 1,500-mile round-trip limit unless pre-approved — no Burning Man, no Mexico, no exceptions.

The walkthrough is your friend

Never hitched, leveled, or dumped a tank before? Pickup includes a full guided walkthrough — hitching, lights, brakes, leveling, appliances, tanks — and our walkthrough videos let you study the exact RV before you arrive. In Arizona heat, two habits matter: keep the thermostat around 75–78°F rather than forcing it low, and give the AC breaks so it never freezes up.

That's the whole checklist. Pick your dates at book.rvphx.com — every available RV and its exact price, with tax, before anything is due — or call 1-602-755-4808 and a real person will walk you through it.

Make a Reservation · RV Phoenix home · Call 1-602-755-4808

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