Outdoorsy.. Any Good?

While looking for a nice picture of an A class Motorhome for inspiration, I came across the Outdoorsy website. To be honest with you, I really didn’t know that this company operate not just in the US, but worldwide.

Just for fun I entered my motorhome description and to my surprise, well let just the picture do the talking..

In just one rental I could make $2520.. Is that gross or clear profit? While it does seem a nice figure, it doesn’t really mean anything without details.. I know that for around $200 I can rent a class B motorhome for one day. So what time length is $1260 dollars for? After checking the entire site, including the FAQs section I still don’t have a certain answer.

I also checked the review page where it claims they have 55000+ reviews. I could only see 24 of them, and they are all 5 stars. That bit of information alone, does make me wonder a lot, because when a company only shows the 5 stars, you start to think that it could be bad news.

After googling Outdoorsy reviews, I did manage to see that on Trustpilot, they are averaging still 4.5 stars. That’s not bad.. But I wanted to be sure, that I did learn all I need it to know..

To me, the most important part, regardless if I rent or List my vehicle, is the actual insurance. Outdoorsy claim that if I list my vehicle with them I’m covered with their 35 Million dollars liability insurance, but I want to know what insurance I have for damage and breakage of the vehicle from the renter.

And this is where it gets a bit ugly. For start, they only cover vehicles not older than 2000, then if you keep reading it gets even better..

Outdoorsy’s insurance policy doesn’t replace your personal insurance policy.

Interior damage is not covered under the Outdoorsy Comprehensive and Collision coverage, optional Damage Protection coverage can be purchased for interior damage protection.

Losses caused by mechanical failures, wear and tear, lack of maintenance, or damages occurring over time, are not covered.

Collision policy goes back as far as we elect on newer motorised vehicles, but a rate charge may apply.

Oh dear, that’s not really what I was hoping for… Other than internal damage and cost involved in recovering the vehicle after a mechanical problem, I can’t really see how this insurance is actually designed to protect either sides of the party.

Lets now look at the Outdoorsy’s Windshield Coverage..

Windshield Coverage included under the Peace of Mind Protection Package covers minor chips to your windshield that don’t require windshield replacement. 

For example, 1-2 minor chips (not in field of vision) caused by a collision or comprehensive event are covered with no deductible with the purchase of our Peace of Mind Protection Package.

So is the windshield cover by the protection package or not? If the chips are very small, than the insurance does cover the windshield. If the chips are too big too required a windshield replacement, then no. Clear?

The list is endless, but I think we can clearly see that not much, if anything at all, is covered by the insurance, to the point that Outdoorsy clearly state that:

Outdoorsy’s insurance doesn’t cover any damage that isn’t the result of a collision. For example, interior damage and losses caused by mechanical failures due to a lack of maintenance are not covered (e.g. scuffs, broken cabinets, cleaning, etc). These are covered by the security/damage deposit. All renters agree to a security deposit set by the owner that accounts for any minor damage to the interior of the RV or overages.

So all you have is a bond of $1500 to cover a vehicle that can cost in excess of $100,000.. Those $1260 dollars, don’t look really appealing any more.. Here in Australia they use CGU for insurer but it is not clear if this insurance follow Outdoorsy policy or not? They obviously are force to cover third party with those original $35 millions, but there are no details, of what the owner of the vehicle is covered for, in case of damage afflicted by the people renting the vehicle..

Finally, in this page you get told how is your vehicle cover from user damage.. Security Deposit

In the end, if you have a vehicle that sits around the $20-30,000 dollars, perhaps a $2000 dollars deposit could do it, but for an A class vehicle, to be safe, you would have to ask so much more, that it would make it impossible to rent it..