RV Rental Checklist — What to Check at Pickup (First-Timers)

Before booking

Confirm the rig fits your group: sleeping spots, seatbelts, and who can drive it "Sleeps 6" often means two adults comfortably plus four small children. Count real beds and real belted seats.
Check license requirements — most rentals need only a standard license Nearly all rental RVs in the US fall under the weight thresholds requiring special licenses, but verify for very large Class A rigs.
Sort insurance: rental platform coverage, your auto policy, or credit card? Personal auto policies and credit cards frequently exclude large motorhomes. The platform’s protection package is usually the simple, safe answer — read what the deductible is.
Understand mileage limits, generator hours and overage fees Many listings include 100–150 miles/day and a few generator hours; long-haul plans can double the price via overages.
Ask what’s included: bedding, kitchen kit, camp chairs, hoses and adapters Some owners include everything; others charge for "convenience kits." A rig without a sewer hose is a problem at 8 pm.
Clarify pet policy, festival/event policy and where you may take the rig Burning Man, unpaved roads and Mexico are commonly excluded — in writing.
Book campgrounds for at least the first and last nights

Paperwork at pickup

Match the VIN/plate to the contract; verify registration and insurance docs are aboard
Record fuel level and odometer/generator-hour readings — with photos
Confirm the return conditions: fuel level, dumped tanks, cleaning expectations, late fees A "return dumped and swept" clause is standard; a $150 dumping fee for forgetting is also standard.
Get the owner’s phone number and preferred roadside-assistance procedure
Note the height of the rig and tape it to the dashboard Ask the owner for the real measured height including A/C. This is the number that keeps you out of parking garages and away from low bridges.

Document condition (photos or it didn’t happen)

Video one slow lap of the exterior, close on every existing scratch, dent and crack
Photograph the roof if you can see it, awning fabric, and all four tire sidewalls
Photograph the interior: upholstery, floors, counters, mattress, shower
Photograph the windshield for existing chips
Confirm pre-existing damage is listed on the checkout form before signing

The walkthrough — make the owner demonstrate

Fresh water: filling the tank, city connection, where the pump switch is
Water heater: how to turn it on (and the "tank must be full first" rule)
Dumping: black and gray valves, hose connection, the order (black first, then gray) Have them walk you through the full dump procedure verbally even if the tanks are empty now. This is the task first-timers fear most — ask questions until it’s boring.
Shore power: which adapter, where the cord lives, how to read the panel
Generator: starting procedure, what it can run, quiet-hours etiquette
Propane: tank valve location, which appliances use it, detector location
Slide-outs and awning: the exact procedure, and what must be clear first
Leveling: jacks or blocks, and why the fridge cares
Where everything lives: hoses, cords, chocks, spare tire, fire extinguisher

Systems test before driving away

Start the engine; check dash warning lights, A/C in cab, mirrors
Test roof A/C and furnace briefly
Run water at each faucet; flush the toilet; confirm the pump works
Light a stove burner; confirm fridge is cooling (it needs hours to get cold — ask when it was started)
Test all exterior lights with the owner watching your signals
Check tire pressures visually/with gauge, including inner duals if accessible
Confirm smoke, CO and propane detectors are present and powered
Ask: any quirks? Every rig has two. Write them down "The bathroom door sticks," "hold the water heater switch for three seconds" — owner quirks are the difference between a smooth trip and a frustrated 10 pm phone call.

Before returning the rig

Dump black then gray tanks at your last campground or a dump station
Refuel to the documented level (keep the receipt)
Sweep/wipe interior, bag all trash, check every cabinet for your gear
Photograph exterior and interior condition at drop-off, plus final odometer/fuel readings
Do the return walkthrough with the owner and get the deposit release confirmed in the app

First-Time RV Rental Checklist — printed from HitchList. Progress saved online; reprint any time.

Frequently asked questions

What should I check before driving off in a rental RV?

Four things: paperwork (VIN, insurance, fuel/odometer readings), photos of every existing scratch inside and out, a full demonstration of water, power, propane, dumping, slides and awning, and a quick systems test — engine, A/C, pump, stove, fridge, lights, detectors. If the owner seems rushed, slow down; the walkthrough is part of what you are paying for.

Do I need a special license to rent an RV?

In nearly all US states, no — rental motorhomes and trailers fall under the 26,000-pound threshold where a standard driver’s license suffices. Verify for the largest Class A diesel pushers, and expect rental platforms to require you to be 25+ with a clean record for bigger rigs.

Does my car insurance cover an RV rental?

Often not, especially for motorhomes — many personal auto policies and credit-card rental benefits explicitly exclude vehicles over a certain weight or class. Peer-to-peer platforms like Outdoorsy and RVshare sell trip protection packages with defined deductibles, which is the simplest way to be certain. Confirm before pickup; this is not a detail to discover after a hailstorm.

What happens if I return the RV with full tanks?

Expect a dumping fee — commonly $100–$250 — because someone has to drive the rig to a dump station and do the job. Most contracts require waste tanks empty and fuel at the pickup level. Dump at your final campground the morning you leave and the return takes ten minutes.