ArcaMax

Q: I rented a Mercedes van for two weeks through RVshare, a rental company. It rained on the way home, and water leaked through the air conditioner vent. After I returned the van, RVshare kept my $1,500 deposit.

Here are a few facts about our rental: First, when it rained, the air conditioner vent would leak. The owner of the van lied and said I left the vent open. I have a video, but because they don't have a "before" and "after" video, they won't refund my deposit.

Another fact: The owner of the van put it back in service right away. So, where's the damage? I had to shorten my trip by a day because of the leaky van. And get this: I had insurance! We paid $1,372 for a policy.

I would like my $1,500 deposit back. I did not cause any damage and returned the van in great condition. They said as much when we returned it. I feel the owner did not maintain the van, which then caused the damage. Can you help? -- Aaron Olbrich, Morgan Hill, California

A: RVshare shouldn't make you pay for someone else's damage. But whose responsibility was this leak?

First, we should back up and talk about RVshare. Think Airbnb for recreational vehicles. The rental process works about the same, except that some of its policies more closely resemble those of a car rental company.

According to RVshare's terms of service, acts of God such as rain, hail and wind are the renter's responsibility. At the same time, there's an implied warranty that the RV you rent is roadworthy and that the roof won't leak.

I've examined the videos you took of the van, and to me, it appears there was some kind of leak in the roof. And you couldn't have taken a "before" video because it wasn't raining. But while you rented the van, it did rain -- exposing the problem and faulty maintenance.

I can't verify if the owner put the van back in service, but if this is true, it's a big red flag. It means the next renter might also have to pay for damages that they didn't cause.

I think you might have fixed this by sending a brief, polite appeal to one of the RVshare executives I list on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott.org. This appeared to be enough of a borderline case to merit a second look.

I recommend reviewing the terms of your rental carefully before you drive away in a car, van or recreational vehicle. If you are worried, you can always purchase insurance that will cover you in case of an accident or damage caused by inclement weather.

I checked with RVshare about your case. A representative said you did have insurance, but you chose the basic insurance policy that offers liability coverage, windshield damage and campsite liability. You also put down a required $1,500 security deposit.

RVshare says you had the option of adding a $79 security deposit waiver but declined. I think you were probably feeling a little fee fatigue at this point, which is completely understandable. If you had chosen the waiver, you would have avoided the $1,500 fee, according to RVshare.

"The owner reported that the damages amounted to $2,972 and withheld the security deposit," a representative said.

RVshare says it's been working with you during the dispute process. It says it spoke with your wife. "Due to the unforeseen weather event and the fact that it is unclear if the owner provided the proper maintenance post-trip, we are refunding the security deposit in good faith," a representative told me.

If there's a takeaway from this case, it's that you need to choose your insurance coverage carefully, especially when renting a specialty vehicle like an RV. But there's also a lesson learned for RVshare. Maybe it offers too many insurance options, which confuses its customers. Why not just include insurance in all rentals, which would eliminate future cases like yours?

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Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy (elliottadvocacy.org), a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him at elliottadvocacy.org/help/.

(c) 2025 Christopher Elliott

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