Renting Out Your Caravan: What the ATO Wants You to Know About Tax

*Important: This article is general information only and does not constitute tax, legal or financial advice. Tax outcomes depend on your individual circumstances, and the rules referenced may change. Always speak with a registered tax agent, or visit the Australian Taxation Office at ato.gov.au, before making decisions about your tax return.*

Your caravan spends a fair chunk of the year sitting in the driveway. So it’s no surprise that more Australians are looking at peer-to-peer sharing platforms as a way to offset the cost of ownership — letting other families enjoy the van when you’re not using it yourselves.

It’s a tempting idea. But the moment you start earning income from your caravan, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is interested. The good news? The rules are clearer than you might think. Here’s a plain-English look at what the ATO publishes about renting out your caravan, and why this is one area where talking to a registered tax agent is well worth the time.

If you earn it, you have to declare it

The ATO’s first principle is straightforward: any income you earn from hiring out your caravan is assessable income, and you need to include it in your tax return. That applies whether you rent it out for a single weekend a year or every weekend you’re not using it yourself.

The flip side is that you may be able to claim certain expenses as deductions — but only the portion that relates to the income-producing use of the van. This is where it gets nuanced, and where good record keeping really matters.

Private use vs income-producing use

The ATO has specific rules for caravans and recreational vehicles around how to apportion expenses between private use and income-producing use. In short: if you (or your family and friends) use the van for free or at less than market rates, those weeks are treated as private use, and the related expenses can’t be claimed.

The ATO’s published guidance walks through worked examples of how this apportionment works, including how to handle vans that are genuinely available for rent versus those held back for personal trips. You can read the full guidance on the ATO website here: Peer-to-peer caravan and recreational vehicle sharing.

Records, records, records

The ATO is clear that you need to keep records of both your income and your expenses. That includes statements from any sharing platform you use, bank records, invoices for repairs and servicing, insurance documents, and a log of when the van was rented, when it was privately used, and when it was genuinely available for rent.

This isn’t busywork. If you ever need to substantiate a deduction, those records are the difference between a clean claim and a difficult conversation.

The sharing economy is on the ATO’s radar

Digital platforms now report income data directly to the ATO, which means the days of casually pocketing rental income are well and truly over. If you’re listing your van on a sharing platform, assume the ATO already knows. Declaring everything correctly from the start is by far the easiest path.

Why a tax agent is worth it

Caravan rental sits in a category the ATO treats with specific rules, and the apportionment maths can get fiddly — especially in the first year you start renting out. A registered tax agent who understands sharing-economy income can help you set up your records properly, work out your apportionment correctly, and make sure you’re claiming everything you’re entitled to without crossing any lines.

You can find a registered tax agent through the Tax Practitioners Board: tpb.gov.au.

The bottom line

Renting out your Jayco can be a smart way to offset the cost of ownership — but it comes with real tax obligations. Get your records right, understand what’s private and what’s income-producing, and lean on a professional when you need to. Done properly, it’s a manageable part of caravan life.

Thinking about your next van? Browse the full Jayco range and find the one that fits the way your family travels — at jayco.com.au.

*This information is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not tax, legal or financial advice. Jayco is not a registered tax agent. You should obtain advice from a registered tax agent and refer to the Australian Taxation Office at ato.gov.au before acting on any of the information above. You can find a registered tax agent through the Tax Practitioners Board at tpb.gov.au.*