Summer vacation planning is underway for many Americans, and there are few better ways to see the country than driving along U.S. highways and byways.
One option that can save you a bundle of money — by serving as both transportation and lodging — is the all-American recreational vehicle. RVs can be rented for cheap — sometimes as little as $1 per day — if you know where to look.
Yes, it’s true. They’re called relocation deals.
The basics
Relocation deals are when, in exchange for allowing you to use a vehicle at a rock-bottom rate, RV and car rental companies make use of you as cheap labor to deliver their vehicles to specified destinations.
Rental companies sometimes need to balance out their inventory, because they end up with a glut of vehicles in one area and too few somewhere else thanks to seasonal demand. You get the screaming deal because you’re helping get vehicles to where they are needed.
So, to get one of these bargains, you have to be flexible about when and where you travel.
The time frame the rental company allows for delivery of the vehicle can be as short as a few days or as long as a few weeks. Also, the deals can pop up with just a few days’ notice, so be prepared to jump on one.
The actual $1 rentals can be fairly rare, but you’ll find more deals if you can pony up, say, $25 per day.
If this sounds like an adventure you’d like to take on, check out some options. All of these companies offer relocation deals:
- Apollo Motorhome Holidays: Located in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand
- Imoova.com: U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe and New Zealand
- Jucy RV Rentals: U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand
Other costs to weigh
One of the great advantages of traveling by RV is that it provides relatively cheap lodging at campgrounds or RV parks — which typically charge modestly for a parking space, electrical hookups and water service. Plus, RVs often come with a kitchen, so you can save money by cooking your own meals.
But even if you get a dollar-a-day deal, be sure to factor in other costs before pulling the trigger. Since relocation deals are one-way, you will face additional travel arrangements — either getting home from the end point, or getting out to the starting point.
Some companies renting RVs don’t care about the mileage you put on the vehicle, as long as you get it to its destination within the allotted time frame. But in other cases they may add mileage costs.
Insurance is another wild card. Company policies vary, but generally they include some level of insurance embedded in the rental price. Also check whether your existing auto policy, or even your credit card, might already give you some coverage.
Be sure to ask about fuel consumption, too. RVs generally don’t get many miles to the gallon.
Another option
If you don’t think RV relocation deals suit you but you like the idea of traveling across the country relatively inexpensively, check out RVshare.
It’s an RV rental marketplace, an alternative to traditional RV rental companies and dealers. As such, RVshare connects owners whose motor homes may sit idle much of the year with travelers who want to rent an RV — kind of like Airbnb for motor homes.
Have you ever gotten a cheap rental with a relocation deal? Share your experience in the comments or on our Facebook page.
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