How to rent out my motorhome in NZ

Maybe your motorhome has spent the past six months gathering dust in the driveway. Perhaps you don’t even own a motorhome but have heard about the profit your neighbour’s been pocketing from his rental. And now you’ve found yourself researching ‘how to rent out my motorhome’.

Approach it the right way and you’ll have yourself an affordable, convenient and lucrative motorhome rental venture. And the best part is, you can set up shop for next to nothing if you use your existing caravan, motorhome or campervan and an online rental platform like Camplify.

Start earning a return on your investment and generate passive income from the comfort of your own home. Check out our guide to renting out your motorhome below!

How to rent out my motorhome: 10-step guide

1. Make sure the motorhome meets safety standards

Before you can rent out your motorhome, you’ll need to ensure that it meets New Zealand's road safety standards and obtain a Certificate of Fitness (CoF) to prove it.

The specific standards and safety requirements that your motorhome must meet will depend on the year model, gross vehicle mass (GVM), number of seats and vehicle class.

If the motorhome has been modified, you may also need to arrange for a gas and electricity safety inspection by a certified professional who will issue you with the relevant safety certificates.

2. Register the motorhome and pay road user charges

Your motorhome must be both registered and licensed before it can be driven on the road in New Zealand.

To register your motorhome online, visit the New Zealand Transport Agency website.

If your motorhome is considered a light diesel vehicle or a heavy vehicle (GVM of 3500kg or more), you may also have to pay road user charges.

3. Purchase insurance and roadside assistance for the motorhome

Normally when renting out your motorhome, you would have to purchase a comprehensive insurance policy that covers third parties hiring and driving your vehicle, which can be costly.

But when you rent out your motorhome through Camplify, we provide your hirers with comprehensive hire insurance at no additional cost. This significantly reduces your own costs and allows you to enjoy peace of mind knowing that your motorhome is covered if things take a turn.

In addition to comprehensive insurance, we also provide hirers with roadside assistance. Camplify is partnered with the AA and provides all bookings with 24/7 nationwide breakdown coverage. This reduces your costs even further and means that you’ll have less to worry about should the person hiring your motorhome need help in an emergency.

On top of all this, Camplify also has a New Zealand-based support team that is always here to help you and your hirers. If anything goes wrong, give us a call and we’ll walk you through the resolution step-by-step.

4. Include all the motorhome essentials

People want to hire a motorhome that comes with all of the essentials they need for a stress-free holiday. Make sure that your vehicle is ready for a camping trip by including all of the recommended motorhome necessities.

Most importantly, this should include:

• Fresh water and waste water hoses and fittings

• A 240v power lead

• A smoke and carbon monoxide detector

• Torches

• A basic toolkit

• First aid kit

• Fire extinguisher

• Bin bags

• Kitchen utensils

• Toilet paper

• Cleaning products

Spend a night in your motorhome and take note of whether you find yourself needing items that you haven’t yet included.

5. Clean, maintain and decorate the motorhome

First appearances count for everything, so it’s crucial to have your motorhome looking spick and span. Start by decluttering the interior and removing all personal items. If you think your motorhome could use a facelift, you might also want to check out our guide on how to decorate a motorhome.

Move on to clean the exterior of the motorhome, giving it a good wash and shine. This should be done between each booking so that your customers are blown away when they come to arrive for pick-up.

Inspect your motorhome regularly for any problems and fix them as soon as possible. Similarly, have your motorhome serviced at regular intervals by a professional mechanic who specialises in motorhomes.

6. Add some unique selling points

It’s easier to rent out your motorhome if you can make it stand out from the crowd. Think about how people will likely use your motorhome and throw in some finishing touches that will seal the deal.

For example, if you think your motorhome is likely to be used for family holidays by the beach, you might want to include a paddleboard or a bucket and spade. Alternatively, if you think couples will be using your motorhome for romantic getaways, you might be better off supplying a bottle of wine and some chocolates.

You might want to also think about what makes your motorhome unique. Is it designed for large families? Is it a luxury model? Is it built for off-roading? Who is your ideal hirer?

1. Take quality photographs of the motorhome

Give potential hirers a good idea of just how comfortable, clean and well-maintained your motorhome is. Take some high-quality photos that show people every aspect of your motorhome. Make sure you take the photos on a bright and sunny day so that you have decent lighting.

Start with the interior, photographing the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and dining area. Next, grab a shot of the front driving cabin. Head outside and grab a photo of the front, back and sides of your motorhome. You may even want to grab a photo of the roof if your motorhome has solar panels or other add-ons like ski or bike racks. Finally, take some photos of the accessories that come with your motorhome rental, such as camping chairs, awning, etc.

8. Set a fair rental price for the motorhome

Now that your motorhome is ready to be rented out, you need to determine its rental value. Ultimately, you want a rental price that is competitive but fair, affordable yet profitable.

Start by reading our guide on the cost to hire a motorhome. Then research the rental price of similar motorhomes on Camplify.

Note that some people find it easier at first to set their rental price lower than their competitors. This gives you a chance to earn some great reviews before later raising the price to match your competitors.

Don’t forget to also consider your ‘service fee’. This covers the cost of preparing and administering each booking for your motorhome. The fee should include the cost of any expenses, such as supplies, cleaning products, gas bottle refills, etc.

When setting a rental price for your motorhome, you can also consider seasonal demand. During peak seasons, you may raise the rental price to meet high demand. Similarly, during the off-peak seasons, you may lower the rental price to remain competitive.

9. Post the motorhome on an online rental platform

Now comes the easy part! Sit down on your computer, tablet or phone and sign up to Camplify. Our platform makes it quick and simple for you to market your motorhome rental, organise bookings and exchange funds, all in one place. That means more savings and fewer headaches!

Once you’ve signed up, it only takes a matter of minutes to set up your listing and upload the photos of your motorhome. People searching online for rentals want to know if your motorhome will meet their needs, so include as much information as possible.

To prevent any confusion or conflict down the line, make sure that you set out clear terms and conditions in regard to your motorhome rental.

How should customers treat your motorhome? When and where should the rental be picked up and dropped off? Should it be returned with a full tank of fuel or diesel? What’s the process if anything goes wrong while they’re on the road?

Make all of these points as clear as possible.

10. Get some great reviews!

You might start receiving enquiries on your motorhome rental soon after posting your listing. You can gain an advantage over your competitors by responding to enquiries as quickly as possible.

Once the booking is in the bag, continue to provide great customer service and do what you can to make the hirer’s holiday memorable and hassle-free. Treat them right and they are likely to reward you with a five-star review - which will go a long way to winning over more bookings or justifying a rental price increase in the future.

Why rent out my motorhome?

With the above guidance, it’s no longer a question of ‘how to rent out my motorhome’ but why it’s a great idea to do so.

There’s a reason why more and more people are choosing to hire motorhomes when holidaying around New Zealand. Way back in 2011, it was estimated that 64,000 motorhomes and campervans were hired by both international and domestic tourists when travelling around the Land of the Long White Cloud.

More recently, in 2019, that number has ballooned, with almost 200,000 international tourists alone using a rental motorhome or campervan to travel around the country. That’s 200,000 opportunities for you to rent out your motorhome and generate passive income from the comfort of your own couch.

And the best part is, you can still use your motorhome whenever you like - just block out some dates on the booking calendar!

Why use Camplify to rent out my motorhome?

Each year, heaps of Kiwis earn up to $10,000 by renting out their motorhome through Camplify. It provides a quick and easy way to generate long-term passive income and earn a return on their investment.

And the best part is, Camplify takes care of many of the expenses involved in hiring out your vehicle, including:

• Comprehensive hire insurance.

• 24/7 AA nationwide breakdown cover for hirers.

• Dedicated customer support.

If you’re interested in joining Camplify as an owner, try our earnings calculator and see how much income you could generate each year if you rent out your motorhome!