Thinking about renting a UTV this season? In this UTVtrade.com article, we cover:

->How to rent a UTV

->Requirements for renting a side by side

->Options to consider when renting a UTV

…and more!

So, if you were looking to rent a UTV, here’s all you need to know:

How much does it cost to rent a UTV?

We did a bit of searching about UTV rental costs, and here’s what we dug up:

Expect to pay ~$300 for a half-day, and ~$400 for a full-day rental give or take. You’ll also most likely need a credit card with at least a $1,000 limit for putting a deposit down.

Requirements Necessary For Renting A UTV

It’s good to know a few basic requirements you’ll need to rent a UTV. Here are a few mandatory items you won’t want to forget:

Credit card

Most rental agencies require that you leave ‘x’ amount of money (a deposit) on a credit card before making away with their vehicle.

Deposit

Typical vehicle rental conditions require the person renting to pay a deposit to ensure nobody loses out on the deal.

Driver’s license

You’ll need a valid driver’s license to properly rent a side-by-side in the US. There might be cases (like renting in Mexico or out of the country) where the renters don’t ask for a license.

Must be at least ‘x’ years of age

In many cases, the renter will require that the driver be a certain age to rent the machine. This condition is completely understandable, and you must understand that the company’s lawyer is most likely in charge of rental conditions.

Signing a waiver

You’ll be required to sign a legal waiver before renting a side-by-side. Make sure to read the waiver closely to be aware of all rental conditions.

Rental agreement

You’ll likely be presented with a legal agreement that you must sign before being handed over the keys to the machine. Be careful about what you sign—also, read the rental company’s Google reviews as this could be a huge indicator of whether or not you should rent from them.

Rental Options To Consider For UTV/ATV Rentals

The options are endless for UTV/ATC rentals, and you may be able to verbally specify options with the renter before taking the vehicles out for a spin.

Cancellation

Take note of cancellation policies just in case. Hands down, it’s important to read the rental agreement closely to make sure you stay within the terms of the contract when canceling. It wouldn’t be fun to lose out on a chunk of cash just because the weather turned bad on the planned rental date.

Half-day/Full-day rental

How long do you want the UTV for? In tourist areas like Moab that have heavy traffic, it’s likely that you’ll be able to rent a UTV for just a couple of hours for a quick joy ride. It will surely cost you a lot less money if you take a UTV for just a few hours instead of a few days.

High-Performance Level

You’ll need to consider the desired performance level for your next adventure. Take into consideration that there is a broad spectrum of UTVs, and some perform much better than others.

We recommend the highest-performing UTV possible if you plan on offroading in extreme environments.

Horsepower — Turbo/No turbo

UTVs can range in horsepower from 40hp to upwards of 220hp.

Simply put, some UTVs have turbo-powered engines, and others don’t… you decide how fast you want to go on your journey. Yes, driving a turbo UTV is a blast, but even lower horsepower machines get the job done and provide an excellent time to be had.

Ground clearance

You might ask the rental company about suspension upgrades if you’re looking to take it to the next level on your adventure. Your typical UTV has a ground clearance of about 8-inches, and that number will rise with upgrades and depending on the area.

For example, if you’re renting for dirt road use, you won’t need a lifted utility vehicle, but if you’re driving in the dunes you may want something that sits a little higher.

Seating capacity

How many seats will you need for your adventure? Four-seaters make for a great time, and larger families/groups could even rent a six-seater side by side for the ultimate party.

Make sure everyone has a helmet, and have a fun time!

Pick up

If you’re not in tourist areas like Moab, Utah, then you might have to pick up your UTV on a trailer and take it to the location where you’ll be recreating (unless the UTV is street legal).

That means you’ll need a truck with the proper tow hitch and possible even a trailer to get your UTV rental to where it needs to be (i.e., maybe you noticed in your local classifieds section that someone is renting a 4-seater UTV by the day to pay the bills but doesn’t have a way to transport it).

Inspection

Don’t forget to inspect every inch of the side by side before you take it to avoid being accused of damage. It’s also a smart idea to take 10-20 high-quality photos of the machine before you take it out for the day to assure its condition upon return.

Is Renting a UTV Worth It?

Sure, renting a Polaris RZR or Can-Am sounds fun…but wouldn’t purchasing or financing a side-by-side be a better option? Think about it— if you already have credit that’s good enough to rent a side by side, it’s likely that you’ll be able to acquire one for a cheap down payment and a low monthly cost just as easily.

Then again, if you’re on vacation in a special spot like the Grand Canyon or Little Sahara then renting for a day is totally worth it. Just be careful to plan your journey beforehand to make sure you know exactly where to go.

Don’t Forget About Safety

Safety is the first thing you should be worried about when operating a UTV (especially with passengers on board).

Your rental company will likely set you up with the essentials for the ride, like helmets and goggles, but it’s your responsibility to supply water and other emergency supplies just in case. It’s not a bad idea to ask your rental company for safety advice.

Keep in mind that rolling a side by side is extremely easy to do, so be extremely cautious if you have little to no experience driving a specific machine.

FAQ: Ask Us Your Questions

What exactly is a UTV/Side by side? Read more about the different types of side-by-side here.

Do you have more UTV rental questions? Don’t forget to ask us on our home page!