RV Transport Cost Per Mile

‍Need to move an RV because you are buying it or want it fixed? Let’s find out how much RV transport costs per mile.

An RV transport can cost anywhere from $1 to $4 per mile depending on the size of the trailer, the distance traveled, and how soon you need your RV transported. Another factor that changes without much difference in the RV is the price of gas, which could help or hurt.

There are many sources for the price of transporting an RV, and we’ve found several companies and guides that’ll help you understand the bottom line. We’ll explain many of the factors that go into why an RV transport price can have a big range.

‍RV transport cost factors

Let’s explore a few of the factors that go into RV transport prices.

Distance

Distance is among the biggest factors in determining the price to transport an RV. Longer drives take more time, and RV transport drivers try to factor in an hourly wage for their expertise and time in moving your RV.

Location

We’ll actually cover a couple of factors when it comes to location

Hard to get to

If you live off the main roads, like a dirt path or somewhere otherwise hard enough for the RV itself to reach, transport might cost more. Why? The truck that transports an RV is basically a semi that is bigger than the RV itself. The challenge of driving in a place that is especially hilly, or unpaved could raise the price.

Distance to transporter

How far does the transporter have to go from their previous stop or home location? Unfortunately, this one isn’t really easy to fix. If the transporter is hundreds of miles away (there is a decent chance they are, they do drive for a living) it might cost more for them to drive to you.

We’ll have more advice on how to work around this later, as it simply involves shopping around.

RV size

Just like an RV, the bigger they are, the more cumbersome the drive can be. In some states and highways, the RV size and length also determines which highways and roads you are allowed to take.

Another factor here is that RVs weight a lot. A bigger RV will cause the transport truck to burn more gas on the way to the destination.

Gas prices

Gas prices are a big factor that is basically out of your and the driver’s control. A transport truck takes a lot of gas normally, and an RV adds to that. As people who have traveled across states frequently know, the price of gas can be rather different in California than in Oregon or Kansas, so knowing the cost of gas is difficult for the driver without extensive planning.

Insurance

The transport company needs to include the cost of insurance in their quote. You actually might want to add more insurance, too, to cover your own needs. Check the insurance terms carefully when considering a transport and ensure that you have enough to cover RV repairs, especially if you have a higher end RV with some amenities.

Urgency

How soon do you want your RV transported? How much availability does the transporter have? For more money, a transporter might be willing to shift around other clients to get to your sooner.

Transport type

Do you want protected, covered transport? That’ll cost more to setup, plus the cost of using the large protective shield to avoid scratches. You see this more often on some higher end vehicles when the driver is particular about paint and scratches.

Condition of RV

An RV or trailer with working wheels or a transmission could be towed be a regular heavy duty truck. If your vehicle has issues actually moving, a flat bed is likely necessary and could cost more.

Shop around for RV transport prices

A couple of the biggest factors that will determine your price to transport an RV are the location of the transporter and their schedule. We suggest calling around to see who is in your area to help transport your RV, because typically a transporter that has to drive a shorter distance to get to you should be cheaper. They don’t have to drive as far to reach your RV, so they should use less time and gas getting there.

How to save some money transporting your RV

Besides shopping around and calling a few places, there are other actions you can take to lower the overall cost of transporting your RV.

Location

This works whether your RV is being brought to you or to another location, but does require a working RV. Have the transporter drop off the RV at a terminal located reasonably nearby, then just drive it home yourself. Honestly, this works mostly for people who are retired or can take some time off from work, otherwise it might not be worth the paycheck lost. Still, having the transport drive to a location that makes drop off easier and results in a shorter distance will help lower costs.

Plan ahead

Since RV transports tend to most more when rushed, we strongly suggest booking at least one to two weeks in advance. Trying a couple of weeks early helps you find a transporter with a more open schedule which reduces the chances of having to them having to shuffle their schedule, especially if you are their preferred transport.

You are also better off just asking the RV transport company when the lowest rates are. This might push your transport back a little bit, but does save money.

Timing for gas prices

This one is not easy! Gas prices change all the time - especially during the summer of 2022. If you don’t have an urgent need to transport your RV right away, keep an eye on gas prices in the area you are transporting to and from - and be sure to check on diesel because that’s probably the gas your transport uses.

Prepare ahead

There are quite a few things to do before your RV is actually ready to roll or be transported. This includes disconnecting water, gas, and other systems as well as reducing the weight in your RV. Trying to do all of this the say your RV is set to go away will increase the chance of paying more because the transport has to sit around waiting for you to be ready. Be ready ahead to save both worry and money.

Accept terms carefully

A transporter that offers you a low prices up front might be too good to be true. Transporters send to have similar costs. If they want a non refundable deposit on a low number, you might hear from them for a while because they are trying to get a driver to accept a low amount.