Last Updated on December 15, 2022
There are lots of recreational vehicles in the entire United States and Canada. The thing is, you may be in another state when you chance upon the right RV that suits your needs and preferences.
If you hesitate to purchase an RV from another state or country because of the logistics, you will be glad to know that there are ways to get your vehicle to your home. RV transport services are your best friend when it comes to bringing your motorhome from one place to another. This is also useful if you are moving from one state to another.
This can be pretty intimidating financial-wise, especially after spending a significant amount of money on buying the RV. So, the first thing you should know is: how much does it cost to ship an RV? Here’s what you need to know.
RV Transport Services
RV transport services are those designed to bring your RV from point A to point B. They are equipped to deal with the challenges of long-distance hauling, especially with the weight of RVs.
To perform the haul, your transporter should have all the necessary machinery and connections that can make the process go more easily and efficiently, with less damage.
In need of RV shipping? There are professional RV shipping providers that cater to different types of recreational vehicles:
- Travel trailers,
- RV, campers, and fifth-wheel trailers
- Pop-up campers
- Class A, B, and C motorhomes
- Folding camping trailers
- Camper vans
- Converted buses
- Teardrop travel trailers
- Toy haulers
- Motorcoaches
- Hybrid travel trailers
- Flatbed trailers
- Bumper pulls
Factors that Affect the Cost of RV Transport Services
If you want to know how much it would cost to transport your RV from Canada or another state in the US to your home state, then you should know that it is not a fixed deal. Several things can affect the estimated cost of the service.
The key is knowing what these factors are, so you can get an idea about the potential cost. There is no need to worry, though, because they can give you a quotation based on the information you provided. However, keep in mind that the quote is just an estimate, and circumstances during the actual service can have an impact.
To get an idea about the estimation process for the cost of the RV transport service, here are the factors they typically consider.
Distance
They have rates for every mile that your RV needs to travel to get from the pick-up to the drop-off point. Typically, this ranges from $2.00 to $2.50 per mile, but keep in mind that this can depend on the location and size of the motorhome.
One of the first things you should do is to get an estimate of the distance between point A and point B. From here, you can get an idea of how much it would cost.
What you need to remember is that these rates vary. Rates usually go down for longer distances, given that the weight and size of the RV stay the same.
Size and Weight
So, what do size and weight have to do with it? You need to remember that type of hauler to be used will depend on the dimensions of your RV, the rates for which can change.
This is why you should take the time to measure your RVs length, width, and height, as well as weight. When informing your service provider about the weight, you should remember that the mass you find in the owner’s manual is dry weight, which is different from the actual or shipping weight.
How do they differ, you ask? What you need to know is that dry weight is the mass of your RV without the people and other after-sales things added to it such as water in the tank, propane bottles, additional equipment, cargo, and more.
Meanwhile, shipping or curb weight is the mass of your vehicle with all of these onboard. So, the shipping weight will be heavier than the dry weight.
For accuracy, what you should give your service provider is the shipping weight. If you are filling out forms, check if it calls for shipping or dry weight.
Type of RV
The type of recreational vehicle can also affect the cost because it influences the dimensions of the motorhome. Remember, Class B RVs are smaller than Class A ones, and so forth. Indicating the type of RV, along with dimensions and specs, can give your service provider a clearer idea about your vehicle.
Season
The season can also affect the price. As you would know, traveling long distances can be more difficult and risky during winter, which can affect the rates.
Cost and Time to Ship Your RV Examples
To get a better idea about the cost, here is a matrix of the estimated costs from one state to another, along with the approximate time and date of arrival. Remember that different factors can affect these rates.
| Shipping To/From | Cost | Distance | Transit Days |
| New York to Columbus | $1070 | 535 miles | 2-4 days |
| Portland to San Jose | $1330 | 665 miles | 3-5 days |
| New York to Chicago | $1580 | 790 miles | 3-5 days |
| Los Angeles to Denver | $2030 | 1015 miles | 4-6 days |
| Houston to Miami | $2380 | 1190 miles | 4-6 days |
| San Diego to Dallas | $2720 | 1360 miles | 4-6 days |
| Atlanta to Phoenix | $3690 | 1845 miles | 5-7 days |
| Detroit to Las Vegas | $4030 | 2015 miles | 6-8 days |
| Seattle to Memphis | $4570 | 2285 miles | 6-8 days |
| Portland to Miami | $6510 | 3255 miles | 7-9 days |
Preparing Your RV for Auto Transport
Once you find the right RV Transport Service, you need to prepare for the haul to minimize any untoward incidents such as damages to the vehicle and the things inside, as well as the cost.
Secure Moveable Objects
Some of the best features of RVs is that they have modular furniture that you can remove and set up as needed. For example, you can stow away your dinette tables to transform the seating into a sleeping area.
Make sure to secure these moving parts to prevent them from getting damaged, or worse, removed during the haul.
Remove Personal Items
They always recommend removing personal items like pillows, valuables, and other such possessions to remove any possibility of losing them.
Empty Tanks
You want to make sure that you strip down your RV as much as possible to reduce unnecessary weight. See to it that you empty the fresh, gray, and black water tanks. You should also remove cargo and other things you store in the vehicle.
Perform General Maintenance
Your service provider might need to drive the RV from the dealership or your garage to their location where they will load it onto their haulers, as well as to your drop-off point. You want to make sure that it is in good condition to be driven, so giving it general maintenance is a good move.
Document the RV’s Condition
Once you perform your due diligence, your next step is to take pictures and videos of the vehicle, so you have a point of reference once it arrives.
Conclusion
Whether you are buying an RV from another state or country, or you are moving from one place to another, RV transport services can offer you a great deal of convenience.
