How Much Does It Cost to Transport an RV? (Towables, Motorhomes, Long Distance)
The right RV is often three states away. Here is what professional RV transporters typically charge to bring it to you, what drives the quote, and when delivery beats picking it up yourself.
By Joey Bouza, Founder, US RV Connection · Updated August 29, 2026
Buying an RV out of state is normal — inventory, prices and floorplans vary enough that the right rig is rarely in your own town. The question is how to get it home. This guide sets out the typical rates transport companies quote, what makes a quote go up or down, and how to book without getting burned. The figures are industry-typical ranges, not measured from this site's listings; your quote will depend on the route and the week.
Typical RV transport rates
| Service | Typical rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Towed travel trailer or fifth wheel, short haul (under ~300 miles) | Roughly $2 – $4 per mile | Minimums apply; short trips often quote as a flat fee |
| Towed travel trailer or fifth wheel, long haul (over ~1,000 miles) | Roughly $1.50 – $2.50 per mile | Per-mile rate falls with distance; fuel surcharges are common |
| Drive-away motorhome delivery | Roughly $1.50 – $3 per mile plus fuel | A licensed driver drives your coach; you pay the diesel or gas, and often the driver's return travel |
| Flatbed or lowboy (non-running RV, or one you don't want driven) | Roughly $3 – $6 per mile | Needed for non-running motorhomes or units without road-worthy tires and brakes |
| Enclosed transport | Premium over open transport | Rarely used for RVs outside high-value vintage Airstreams and custom builds |
| Dealer delivery | Often bundled or discounted | Many dealers on this site offer nationwide delivery — ask for a delivered price to your ZIP code |
What changes the price
- Size and weight: a 40-foot fifth wheel needs a one-ton dually and a driver with the right hitch; a 20-foot trailer can go behind a half-ton. Bigger rigs have fewer available carriers and cost more per mile.
- Route and season: popular lanes (Indiana and Texas manufacturing hubs to the Sun Belt, and the snowbird migration in spring and autumn) have more carriers and lower rates. Remote pickups and deadhead miles cost extra.
- Running condition: a motorhome that starts, drives and stops can go drive-away; one that doesn't needs a flatbed and a winch, at a much higher rate.
- Timing: a flexible pickup window lets a carrier combine your rig with others on the same lane. A fixed date costs more.
- Extras: expedited service, residential delivery on tight streets, and Canada or Mexico crossings all add to the quote.
Delivery versus picking it up yourself
If you already own a capable tow vehicle, a two-day drive to fetch a trailer costs fuel, a night in a hotel and your time — and you get to inspect the rig in person before money changes hands. For a motorhome, flying one-way and driving it home is often the cheapest option and doubles as a shakedown trip, provided the seller will let you insure and register it first. Professional transport wins when the rig is large, the distance is long, you have no tow vehicle, or the seller wants it gone before you can travel.
Whatever the route, budget the transport cost before you negotiate the purchase. A rig that is $2,000 cheaper but 1,200 miles further away is not cheaper.
How to book an RV transporter
- Collect the details: year, make, model, type, length, height, dry weight, hitch type (ball size or fifth-wheel pin), running condition, and both addresses with any access constraints.
- Request quotes from two or three carriers or a reputable broker. Compare the per-mile rate, the minimum, fuel surcharges and the pickup window — not just the headline number.
- Verify the carrier: MC/DOT number active with the FMCSA, cargo insurance in force and sufficient for your rig's value, and reviews that mention RVs specifically.
- Agree on a written condition report at pickup and delivery, with photographs. This is your only recourse for transit damage.
- Arrange insurance on the RV from the moment you own it, and confirm the seller has removed anything not included in the sale before the driver arrives.
| Type | Median asking | Lowest | Highest | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class A motorhome | $88,888 | $14,888 | $259,850 | 84 |
| Class B camper van | $97,352 | $39,750 | $166,985 | 21 |
| Class C motorhome | $80,985 | $23,777 | $339,995 | 93 |
| Travel trailer | $27,995 | $4,999 | $114,887 | 1346 |
| Fifth wheel | $59,995 | $8,477 | $176,794 | 303 |
| Toy hauler | $43,995 | $10,998 | $244,632 | 111 |
| Other (pop-ups, truck campers, park models) | $59,982 | $4,999 | $147,500 | 174 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to have an RV delivered?
- Industry-typical quotes run roughly $1.50 to $4 per mile for towed trailers and fifth wheels, and $1.50 to $3 per mile plus fuel for drive-away motorhome delivery, with higher rates for short hauls, large rigs and non-running units. Get two written quotes for your specific route.
- Is drive-away motorhome delivery safe?
- With a licensed, insured driver from a carrier you've verified, yes. You add miles and fuel cost, so for a short trip or a high-value coach a flatbed may make more sense.
- Can a regular auto transporter move a travel trailer?
- Some can, but many are set up for cars only. Use a carrier that lists RVs and has the right hitch and tow vehicle for your trailer's weight.
- Who pays for transport, the buyer or the seller?
- In private sales the buyer almost always pays and arranges transport. Dealers may include or discount delivery; ask for a delivered price to your ZIP code.
- How long does RV transport take?
- Typically a few days to two weeks from booking to delivery, depending on the lane and how quickly a carrier picks up the load. Expedited service costs more.
- Does the RV need to be roadworthy to be towed?
- Yes for towed delivery — tires, brakes, lights and bearings must be safe, and many carriers inspect before hitching. A non-roadworthy unit goes on a flatbed at a higher rate.
- Is transport damage covered?
- Only by the carrier's cargo insurance, and only if you documented the condition at pickup and delivery. Ask for the certificate and the coverage limit before booking.
- Which listings on this site offer delivery?
- Look for the nationwide-delivery badge on the listing. Those sellers will quote a delivered price; others expect pickup.
About the author
Joey Bouza — Founder, US RV Connection
Working musician and founder of Prospects International, a marketing firm that runs lead and appointment campaigns for dealers across the country.
Prices and counts in our guides come from live listings on this site and are recalculated hourly. Where we quote industry-typical figures (transport, inspection, roof reseal, tire and appliance quotes) we say so, and we never publish a number we haven't measured or sourced.