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How to find and request a relocation: A step-by-step guide

Welcome to Transfercar! Here's everything you need to get going, from tracking down your first RV or campervan relocation to sending a request and getting it approved.

A guide that will let you know how to find and request a vehicle with Transfercar


FINDING A DEAL

Search for a relocation

Finding a deal only takes a minute. Use the search on the homepage or on the "Browse all relocations" page. They work exactly the same way.

Here are your options:

  • See everything. Click "Search" with both fields empty, or go to "Browse all relocations" for the full list.
  • Pickup location only. A good choice if you know your starting city and don't mind where you finish.
  • Drop-off location only. Great when there's a specific city you need to reach.
  • Both. Use this when you already have a trip planned.

Pro tip: keep your search wide open. The broader it is, the more deals you'll find, and you might land on a trip you never thought of, like an RV from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Most routes are in the US, and deals in Canada pop up from time to time.

You can also use "Filters" on the search page to narrow things down.

Transfercar homepage search with pickup and drop-off location fields, the Search button and the Browse all relocations link


DEAL DETAILS

Know what you're looking at

Each deal has a few conditions set by the rental company. Get to know them and you'll be able to tell at a glance whether a deal works for you.

  • Available dates. The rental company sets a window: the earliest day you can pick up the vehicle and the latest day you can drop it off. Choose any dates inside that window that suit you.
  • Days included. These are the days you get free or for $1 a day. You'll always have enough time to make the drive, and some deals give you a few extra days to explore. Check the distance and decide how many hours of driving a day feels right.
  • Optional paid days. Some deals let you add extra days at the daily price listed on the deal. They're great if you want more time on the road.
  • Vehicle type. Relocations can be RVs, campervans or cars. Check how many people the vehicle seats and sleeps so there's room for everyone and their gear.
  • Locations. Pickup and drop-off locations can be at an airport or in the city. For example, you might pick up at an airport and drop off in the city. Each deal shows the general area, like an airport, a city or a neighborhood, so you can plan how you'll get there and where you'll go after drop-off.
An RV relocation deal showing the pickup and drop-off dates, free days included, optional paid days, vehicle type and locations



NO LUCK YET?

Can't find the right deal?

Deals show up where rental companies need vehicles moved, so there might not be anything on your route right now. In that case, you have two options:

  • Set up a listing notification and we'll email you when a matching deal is published.
  • Book a rental with one of our partners. Check out RV rentals or car rentals through our partner sites.



NOTIFICATIONS

Let the deals come to you

New relocations are published every week, so the trip you're after could show up soon. Rather than checking the site all the time, set up a listing notification. Tell us the pickup and drop-off locations you're interested in, and we'll send you an email when a new relocation matches. It's that easy.

Your notifications are easiest to manage with a free Transfercar account, which you can set up in a few minutes. Once you have one:

  1. Log in to your account.

    Go to "My Transfercar".

  2. Open "Notifications".

    You'll find all your listing notifications here.

  3. Add the routes you're interested in.

    You'll get an email every time a new relocation matches.

The Notifications page in My Transfercar, where you add the pickup and drop-off locations you want to hear about



REQUESTING

How to request a relocation: what to know first

Here's how relocations work before you send your first request. Rental companies post their vehicles on Transfercar when they need them at another location. You drive the vehicle there, and it's free or $1 a day. It's a great deal for both of you.

Since relocations cost so little, you can request as many as you want. The relocation deals are published by the rental companies, though, so they make the final call. Your request is confirmed only when the rental company approves it, and that's when it becomes a booking.

Our advice: get your relocation confirmed first, then plan and book the rest of your trip, including your way back.



TOP TIPS

How to improve your chances

Some routes are in high demand, and good deals don't last long. Here are a few ways to improve your odds:


Set up listing notifications.

You'll get an email as soon as new deals are published, so you can be one of the first to request.

Request several deals on the same route and dates.

Once one is approved, your other requests for that trip are canceled automatically, so you'll never end up double-booked.

Request again if one expires.

Rental companies usually get back to you within a few hours. If a request gets no response within 24 hours, it expires. When that happens, simply send a new request for the same deal or try a few others.


YOUR ACCOUNT

Before you request: set up your account

You'll need a Transfercar account with a verified email address and phone number to send a request. Don't have an account yet? Sign up now, it only takes a few minutes. Already have one? Just make sure your email and phone number are both verified. This step matters: rental companies often reach out before pickup to confirm details, so they need to be able to contact you.


Account details showing a verified email address and the button to verify a mobile number

REQUESTING

Request your relocation, step by step

  1. Find your deal and read the details.

    Take time to go through what the deal covers, including the mileage allowance, age requirements, the security deposit and anything else listed.

  2. Choose your dates and times.

    Select your pickup and drop-off dates and times, making sure they fall inside the deal's date window.

  3. Click "Request vehicle".

    This opens your request.

  4. Confirm your trip details.

    Double-check your trip, and verify your phone number if you haven't yet.

  5. Add the driver's credit card.

    Enter a credit card in the name of the person who'll be driving.

  6. Accept the terms and submit.

    Check the box to agree to the terms and conditions, then submit your request.

The request page with the trip summary, phone verification, the driver's credit card and the terms and conditions checkbox




AFTER YOU REQUEST

What happens after you request

Next, the rental company reviews your request. As soon as they approve it, it becomes a booking. Before your pickup date, they'll reach out with everything you need for check-in.



CANCELLING

Need to cancel?

We get it, plans change. That's why requests are flexible. You can withdraw if the rental company hasn't confirmed your request yet.

Once a request has been accepted and confirmed, canceling it means paying a cancellation fee. This helps keep free or $1 a day relocations working for everyone. You can find each deal's cancellation policy in its "Policy" tab.

The Policy tab of a relocation deal, showing the security deposit and the cancellation policy



Ready to find your first relocation?

You're ready to go. Take a look at what's available right now, and if nothing works yet, set up a listing notification and we'll email you when the right deal comes up.