We get it—you want to know exactly who is renting your RV. This guide is here to assure you that you have complete control over approving or declining Guests, and it will show you the best ways to keep your listing managed smoothly.
When folks look at listing an RV on Outdoorsy, they usually have these thoughts floating around their minds:
- Am I allowed to decline potential Guests?
- Do Hosts get penalized for declining a booking request?
- Checking your listing settings
- What if I’m nervous about renting my RV?
- What kind of Guests do you get?
- Can I block off dates when I don’t want my RV rented – like when I’m using it for vacation?
- How do I block off my listing calendar dates?
The short answer to all these questions is that you, as a Host on our platform, have total control over who rents your RV and when they rent it. Let’s break down exactly how that works:
Am I allowed to decline potential Guests?
Yes, yes, and yes. You’re in the driver’s seat — you control pricing, availability, cancellation policy, and booking policies for your RV.
For example, if you have a large travel trailer, you could respond to a prospective Guest by asking them about their towing experience, gathering details on their tow vehicle, and even requesting pictures of vehicles they’ve towed in the past.
Remember too that all Guests on our platform need to pass a multi-part driver verification before qualifying to rent with us.
Do Hosts get penalized for declining a booking request?
The short answer is NO, you will not be penalized for declining a booking request. We give Hosts full discretion over whether to accept a booking or not.
However, to help you manage your listing more effectively, we have updated our standardized decline reasons. Please note that selecting certain reasons may trigger automated prompts or system actions designed to help you update your settings and prevent similar requests in the future.
Please refer to the table below to learn more about the updated decline reasons and what each one means for you as a Host.
New Host Decline Reason |
Action/Prompt for Host |
|---|---|
| I don't know enough about this Guest to allow them to book | No action required |
| The dates are unavailable | You will be asked by the system to update your listing calendar, in order to block requests that do not fit your availability |
| I'm not comfortable with a same-day/next-day request | You will be asked by the system to update your listing's availability block setting. This helps you avoid similar short-notice requests in the future |
| The requested pickup or drop-off times don't work | You will be prompted by the system to message the Guest about the times that work better |
| The Guest's trip details don't meet my requirements | No action required |
| Sub-option: Too many miles | |
| Sub-option: Prohibited destination/event (e.g., festival) | |
| Sub-option: Towing not allowed | |
| Sub-option: Boondocking not allowed | |
| Sub-option: Minimum Nights Not Met | |
| The Guest's request violates my pet policy | No action required |
| I'm waiting for the Guest to respond to my questions | No action required |
Checking your listing settings
Before you decide to decline a booking request, we recommend a quick check of your listing settings. Declining a request due to an issue that can be fixed—such as out-of-date calendar dates, incorrect minimum night requirements, or incorrect pickup/drop-off times—may lead to the system prompts or checks noted above, designed to help you quickly correct your listing.
Taking a moment to update your calendar and policies when you receive a decline-worthy request is the fastest way to prevent similar requests in the future and maintain strong Host metrics.
What if I’m nervous about renting my RV?
There is a little letting go that has to happen for all of us! But remember, many of these RVers are just like you — either looking to rent before they buy, or hit the open road to find their next adventure.
To dip your toe in a bit, you can check out thousands of Guest reviews. Also, you can always decline any request that doesn’t make you 100% comfortable.
We also have the best insurance in the business and 24/7 roadside assistance included with every rental to give you the ultimate peace of mind. Your rig will be covered by up to $1 million in insurance for each booking you make.
What kind of Guests do you get?
The RV bug is catching on with everyone, everywhere. Outdoorsy draws all types of Guests—from young millennials to retired couples, international travelers, families and sports fanatics. By renting out your rig, you’ll get the chance to meet these wonderful people and to help them feel the love for the outdoors.
Not every Guest will be the perfect fit for your RV though. That’s why you don’t have to accept every request. Talk to the Guest about their experience and plans, and respectfully decline when you feel like another vehicle would better suit them.
Can I block off dates when I don’t want my RV rented – like when I’m using it for vacation?
Yep! And you may also be asking yourself – how do I block off dates on my calendar?
The first thing to know about your booking calendar is that keeping it up to date is a vital part of being the best Outdoorsy Host you can be.
Having to decline requests due to your calendar showing availability for dates that really aren’t can trigger automated system actions designed to help you correct your availability. While we fully support your ability to decline, we encourage Hosts to keep their calendars current. Repeated declines can impact your listing's visibility and may lead to automated checks on your Instant Book status.
There are several reasons why you may not be able to rent out your rig on certain days, one of them being when you’ve finally decided to treat yourself to a vacation, so you’re using it personally.
How do I block off my listing calendar dates?
There is a simple process to make sure that your calendar is always up to date! Follow these steps to block off dates that are unavailable.
- Go to My listings once logged into your account
- Select the listing of the calendar you wish to update
- Click on “Availability”
- Input the dates that are not available and double-check that the box beside your dates says Unavailable
- Click “Set availability”
Once you have completed those steps, your calendar will be updated and Guests will no longer be able to request a booking for those dates.
If ever you need to unblock dates that you previously set as unavailable, just follow the same steps but once you get to step 4, change the box beside your selected dates to “Available” and hit the “Set availability” button. Your rig will then reappear in the search for those days and Guests can send over requests.
Pro tip – Sometimes things come up suddenly so setting a weekly reminder on your smartphone to update your Outdoorsy calendar can help eliminate the chances of forgetting to block off dates!