US: RV-focused insurtech company Roamly has announced that it has integrated into Wheelbase, a professional software product for RV fleet operators, to make insurance “painless, simple and economical”.
The new partnership offers Roamly directly to commercial RV rental operators, tour companies and booking agencies. In addition, Roamly is made available directly from the software for any consumer who books trips and vacations through a rental company using the Wheelbase software.
With embedded digital insurance, Roamly claims that commercial RV operators and their customers will no longer have to navigate insurance solutions that can be costly, cumbersome, and complex. It also includes trip cancellation coverage and interior damage coverage for renters.
Aaron Ammar, chief insurance officer at Roamly, said: “With the growth of commercial RV rental operations worldwide stemming from an environment where people want to travel, as well as the dominant position that Wheelbase enjoys in the professional market, this partnership made logical sense for consumers who want an easy-to-book and fully protected trip without the arduous task of sorting out insurance with agents and brokers.”
As a result, consumers will have an additional way to protect their trips, while fleet operators will be able to focus on customer operations without chasing insurance products through insurance carriers. Operators using Wheelbase software and Roamly insurance include Road Adventures by Mark Wahlberg, a rapidly expanding, Ohio-based RV rental business partially owned by Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg.
Chris Haydocy, managing member of Road Adventures by Mark Wahlberg, said: “When you dive into the RV rental business, it is a priority for your fleet to be insured both during and outside of rentals to mitigate all risks. It can be a bit gut-wrenching to hand your keys over to a stranger, and hope they will properly care for your unit.
“However, utilising Roamly insurance for both our renters and our company has cultivated a peace of mind for us. The transition was seamless and simple, and the Wheelbase team was there to help every step of the way.
“We are rapidly growing our business, so it is great to have an insurance partner that not only watches over our fleet, but helps us grow – and grows with us, too. Our focus is providing our renters with an outstanding experience at every touch point, and we feel secure knowing our insurance products add value to our shared experience,” he added.
According to Ammar, commercial rental operators are desperate to find insurance products that protect their fleets, while also protecting consumers who are engaging in travel and outdoor activities.
He said: “Our new Roamly protection product comes at a time when the world is beginning to open up again, and yet the insurance industry has not kept pace with RV and campervan travel which has now become mainstream. We are excited to be able to bring this level of coverage in a digital, embedded format for those professionals who want to grow their operations and enjoy the ever-evolving benefits of Wheelbase.”
Over the last year, Roamly has come out of beta and produced more than $7 million in written premium. Its growth has been fuelled by a $120 million raise in equity and debt financing by online RV rental and outdoor travel marketplace, Outdoorsy, which owns Roamly, in June last year.
Evan Hopkins, VP of Wheelbase, said: “Roamly is the perfect addition to the power of Wheelbase and how it impacts professional operations. Insurance is one of the biggest challenges an RV rental business faces, and Roamly is the best way to solve it.”
