Renting Out a Caravan Could Soon Be as Easy as AirBnB

Renting out a caravan, motorhome or campervan might soon be as popular and as easy as renting out an apartment on AirBnB with the UK launch of Camplify.

Camplify is the ‘peer-to-peer caravan hire and motorhome sharing community’ which began in Australia in 2015. The service enables owners to easily rent out their caravans, motorhomes, trailer tents, campervans, holiday lodges and static caravans.

According to Camplify, most caravans in the UK are unused for 330 days a year. Given it costs, on average, £18,500 to buy a touring caravan, £350 a year to insure it and about £800 a year to maintain a caravan, renting it out for a few days a year offers owners an opportunity to earn money towards its upkeep.

Owners of a regular touring caravan could earn between £6,300 and £27,300 a year by renting it out through Camplify, according to figures on their website.

With around 550,000 touring caravans and around 225,000 motorhomes and 330,000 static caravans in the UK, Camplify sees an opening to help owners get more value out of their RVs.

It appears the Camplify is popular in Australia. Justin Hales began building Camplify in 2014. His service is probably the biggest recreational vehicle (RV) rental service in Australia, boasting a market value of AUS$10 million (about £6.1 million) after just two years in operation.

“With so many people embracing Camplify’s RV sharing community in Australia, this move seemed a natural fit. We’re excited to be expanding into the UK marketplace, with European destinations also looking probable later on.”

Concerns for owners interested in renting out their RVs and RV renters include insurance, pricing, and breakdown cover. Camplify says it will help customers and owners who want help with these worries. Camplify provides RAC breakdown cover too.

The arrival of Camplify could be good timing too with the increase of British holidaymakers choosing to stay in Britain for a ‘staycation.’ The recent devaluation of the British pound makes foreign holidays noticeably more expensive. Hiring a caravan or motorhome in the UK could soon be a more popular choice for Brits who want to make the most of the UK without the expense of having to buy their own RV.

Camplify UK does not yet have any RVs to hire but, the company stated, they are “actively working to onboard RV owners.”

Find out more about renting out your RV with Camplify here: www.camplify.co.uk