How could you earn money from your motorhome?

If you’re a motorhome owner, we’re sure your vehicle already brings you plenty of joy.

Your transport and accommodation on many trips away where memories are made, you’ll know your motorhome or campervan inside out and cherish the freedom it gives you when the mood suits.

But have you considered that your motorhome could do even more for you? It might even be able to help you earn a bit of extra money – perfect for reinvesting into the trips that you want to take in it.

The rising numbers in motorhome ownership show that staycations on the road might be here to stay, having become something of a pandemic necessity for many.

Many might not want to take the plunge of motorhome ownership and instead opt to hire a vehicle for the duration of the break – if yours is sat patiently on the driveway, this is when opportunity knocks.

There’s a lot to think about before you rent out your motorhome, especially how you will protect it while it’s in the hands of others.

If you’re an existing Comfort motorhome or campervan insurance customer and choose to rent out your vehicle, when the person borrowing your vehicle takes out a Comfort Discover Hire policy, you’ll have that invaluable peace of mind that your motorhome or campervan, the person borrowing your vehicle and any additional declared drivers are fully covered in the event of something going awry.

Renting to family and friends

If you’d rather make sure your vehicle is only driven by people that you know well, you might want to limit doing so to your close friends and family.

You might have a mate that is keen to give motorhome life a go but can’t afford to pay for a vehicle of their own long-term. If you typically avoid the school holiday rush, you might know a younger family keen to get a slice of motorhome life – so you miss the crowds and bank some cash all at the same time!

It is also a great way of getting to grips with the nuances and processes of renting out your motorhome. This includes elements like drafting hire agreements – a crucial part of renting out your vehicle. In your hire agreement, you should state the condition of your vehicle inside and out before it is handed over as well as clear terms regarding how long it will be rented for. This protects both you and the person you’re renting to and ensures there are no surprises when it comes to handing the keys back over.

Putting a friend at the wheel also gives you more of a chance to accompany them on a test drive if need be, fully explaining matters such as how to handle a larger vehicle, the speed limits they will have to adhere to, as well as how appliances in the living quarters are operated.

Benefits of renting to family and friends

• Less trepidation in having someone you know and trust at the wheel of your vehicle.
• More opportunities for thorough guidance and debriefing around how your vehicle works and how it performed on the trip.
• Updates from the trip as it goes on, letting you know your motorhome is ticking over.

Renting to others

If you only use your motorhome on sparing occasions throughout the year, you may be able to maximise its earning potential by renting it out to other holidaymakers who are looking for an adventure on the road.

This can seem daunting at first, not least if you’re wondering how exactly you will go about finding these folk who are looking to rent a vehicle.

There are several platforms that can do all the hard work for you. Listing your vehicle on these sites can put you in touch with potential renters – but on your terms.

If you’d rather not have children or pets in your campervan, you can specify this on your listing. It also gives you a chance to maximise your earnings by seeing what owners of similar vehicles are charging when renting theirs out.

When listing your motorhome for rent, there may be the option of taking out an insurance policy as part of your listing. Be careful however that any other hire insurance dovetails with your annual motorhome insurance and that there are no gaps, or duplications in cover. If you’re an existing Comfort Insurance customer, a Comfort Discover Hire policy gives the person renting your vehicle  comprehensive cover while your motorhome is out of your hands and dovetails perfectly with your annual Comfort motorhome insurance cover.

Benefits of renting to others

• Less temptation to offer ‘mates rates’ means you can set a price that works for you.
• Offered through formal channels, provides extra layers of protection.
• Motorhome and campervan hire is a booming industry and renting through a platform maximises your opportunity to generate income.

Peace of mind when parted from your motorhome

You’ll no doubt have given plenty of thought into renting out your motorhome – whether it’s someone familiar to you or not.

But you shouldn’t have to worry about being left out of pocket or footing the bill if the worst is to happen while your motorhome is being rented out.

Our temporary motorhome and campervan insurance means you can relax safe in the knowledge that everything is catered for.

For more information about renting out your motorhome and protecting it in the process, call 0208 984 0666, email info@comfort-insurance.co.uk or reach out via our online form.