Camplify: The ins and outs of hiring out your motorhome
Have you thought about renting out your motorhome while you’re not using it? If you have, but get put off by various things, then read on.
Photos by Camplify
The growing interest in motorhome renting
The idea of renting out your motorhome to Joe Public is not new. However, with the recent growing interest in motorhomes and campervans, the peer-to-peer rental service has also become more popular. This could also be to do with the rising costs of buying and owning such vehicles in recent years, too.
Basically, apply the principal of AirBnB-style short-term domestic rentals to motorhomes and that’s pretty much it.
Marie Carponi, Camplify’s Head of EU/UK Operations, says,
Traditionally, access to a motorhome or campervan was restricted to those who were in a financial position to buy one. Now, the Camplify platform has enabled consumers to access a motorhome or campervan in their local area on demand.
However, many motorhomers have concerns about this and we spoke to Marie to answer the main ones...
Q: How safe is it to let a stranger drive off in my motorhome?
Pretty safe, as it turns out. Most platforms offering a matching service for motorhomes and potential renters would have multiple tools in place to ensure renters are checked prior to handover, and are insured while they have the motorhome in their care.
Before anyone can arrive at an owner’s door looking for the keys to their vehicle, they will have been verified.
Marie assures,
DVLA checks and other essential documentation checks are performed before each booking.
Q: What if the motorhome is not returned?
A major concern is a renter not returning a motorhome.
Marie says,
A lot of this fear can be allayed by the pre-rental checks but, if a renter does not return a motorhome then, under Camplify’s insurance policy, owners are covered up to 75% of the value of the motorhome. Owners using their own policy may have different conditions.
Q: What happens if the motorhome is stolen while on hire?
If the motorhome is stolen while in the renter’s care, the insurance will remain in force even if the renter was at fault, such as leaving the keys in the vehicle.
Marie confirms,
The owner is covered by insurance, and the hirer is liable for these costs due to negligence and breach of contract.
Q: Will damage be covered under insurance?
The other major fear is the renter damaging the motorhome.
Marie assures,
This is covered by the insurance and Camplify provides full assistance on damage claims, whether you are using your own insurance or Camplify’s one.
Q: Will this affect my own insurance policy?
Owners must check with their own insurer of their intention to rent their motorhome out.
Marie says to check,
Some personal insurance policies specifically forbid hiring out. However, it’s just a matter of finding the right product that does allow that.
Camplify’s policy provides full comprehensive insurance, and it also provides breakdown assistance, as well as a team to help renters and owners all the way from listing to dealing with crashes and damage.
Q: Will my motorhome get trashed?
The risk of damage is very low, but owners have to accept a level of wear and tear as a result of usage.
However, many peer-to-peer rental services have tools in place to help reduce it, from all-important educational emails, to selecting the right hirer for your ’van, to thorough handovers/pre/post-hire checks, bond management and more.
Q: Is the handover important?
Camplify uses the owner’s knowledge (and concern) to an advantage as nobody knows the motorhome better than the owner, so, if there is a problem, who better to ask?
Marie explains,
Hirers who haven’t been on holiday in a camper, motorhome or caravan before may not be familiar with some of the things that could go wrong, and ways to avoid them, such as damage to awnings, collision when parking or moving the vehicle or refilling [with] incorrect fuel. Fortunately, hirers are in good hands with our local owners ready to give them a full handover before the start of the holiday, and our customer support team is on hand every step of the way.
Q: Why would someone use peer-to-peer rental rather than a conventional hire firm?
Rental companies cater for the majority so, while they offer uniformity and familiarity, with this comes restrictions like fixed rental locations, a limited number of layouts and models to choose from and little in the way of bespoke touches.
Peer-to-peer rental, on the other hand, offers a flexible, personal approach as well as a huge variety of models to choose from, which is why it’s so appealing.
Marie explains,
Rental companies are likely to provide an empty vehicle, meaning hirers would either have to bring in everything (pots, cutlery, crockery, cleaning products, etc) or hire them, adding a considerable cost to the final price.
With Camplify you can also take advantage of the ‘deliver/set-up’ option, whereby people who do not wish to drive but still want to experience the vanlife, whether from a campsite or a festival, get the owner to deliver and set up the motorhome or campervan ready for the holidays. At the end of the hirer’s stay, the owner drives the motorhome back.
Marie adds,
Hirers and owners are able to communicate before completing a booking, giving everyone the opportunity to find out more about each other and match their expectations and profiles.
Q: Is there a minimum amount of time the motorhome needs to be rented out for?
Owners must make their motorhome or campervan available for a minimum period annually.
Marie clarifies,
Whilst we do request a minimum of eight weeks through the year, including key dates, the majority of owners set up a full calendar availability and organise their holidays around the bookings.
Q: What servicing is needed?
There are obligations, primarily surrounding the safety of the renters.
Marie confirms,
Owners are required to have an up-to-date MoT and address any advisories before sending the ’vehicle out on hire. [There must also be] regular maintenance of the motorhome or campervan and the tyres, as well as gas and electricity certificates are all required. We accept all types of vehicles as long as they meet our safety requirements and the right information/limitations are indicated on the listing.
Q: Is there an age limit?
While you can rent out a classic model, for example, if you use Camplify’s insurance policy, your motorhome or campervan must not be older than 15 years
Q: Do I have to rent it out to anyone?
Marie confirms,
Owners have the option to talk to hirers about their trip and requirements before accepting a booking. This also means hirers can book the right vehicle for their needs.
But owners always have control over when and who can rent their vehicle.
Q: How much could my motorhome earn me?
The potential earnings are significant – a week’s rental in peak season for a four-berth coachbuilt or campervan is between £900 and £1,200.
Q: What fees are incurred?
Camplify charges owners 10% plus VAT for each rental (it also charges renters a booking fee of 12% plus VAT) and, if the owner uses Camplify’s insurance, then there’s an additional cost starting at £11 a day plus tax.
Q: Will I need to pay tax on these earnings?
This additional income must be declared to HMRC and, if applicable, the appropriate income tax paid.
Marie explains,
You may not necessarily need to pay tax on your Camplify income. This is because of the UK’s tax allowances for the sharing economy sector or your own personal financial situation. Owners should speak to HMRC or an accountant to find out more about their own requirements.
Q: Is there a specific type of model that is easier to rent out?
As with other rental companies, Camplify has found that larger six-berth motorhomes with on-board toilet facilities are proving most popular.
Q: Can you buy and rent out more than one motorhome?
Apparently, hiring out motorhomes can be addictive...
Marie says,
There is something in sharing something that you are very passionate about, and seeing others becoming passionate about it, too. We have had many owners that have put their motorhomes on the platform purely on the basis of pulling in an occasional side income, but have gone on to become what we call ‘vantrepreneurs’, purchasing second and third motorhome to create a full-time career from hiring.
About Camplify
Camplify was established by Australian, Justin Hales, just seven years ago when he saw an opportunity to put leisure vehicle owners in touch with potential renters. The company also secured the important insurance cover that allowed owners to rent out their vehicles using Camplify’s policy.
Since then, Camplify has grown rapidly and, so far, has paid over £18.5m (AU$35m) to its registered owners and has over 6,400 motorhomes and campervans on its books. The company arrived in the UK three years ago and has already seen significant growth both in owners registering with it and renters looking for models to hire.
This growth makes the UK the company’s second most important market and Camplify says it sees a lot more opportunity for it –and leisure vehicle owners – here.
