RV Shipping 101: How to Transport Your RV Without Driving It Yourself

• April 28, 2026

Last updated on April 28, 2026

You bought an RV three states away. You’re retiring and moving to Arizona without the energy for a 2,000-mile drive. You need your Class A motorhome at a winter destination without putting miles on it. Whatever the reason — you need your RV moved without you driving it.

Here’s how RV transport works, what it costs, and how to avoid the common mistakes.

Why RV Shipping Is Different From Car Shipping

A standard car goes on a multi-car open carrier and shares the trailer with 7-9 other vehicles. It’s efficient, cost-effective, and how most auto transport works.

An RV doesn’t do that. Most RVs are too tall, too long, or too heavy for a standard car hauler. Depending on the type and size, your RV ships via one of three methods — and picking the wrong one for your situation wastes money or creates damage.

The Three Ways to Move an RV

1. Drive-Away (Professional RV Driver)

A professional driver picks up your RV and drives it to the destination — essentially delivering it the same way you would, except they do it for you.

Best for: Class A, Class B, and Class C motorhomes that are fully road-legal. The RV needs to be licensed, insured, and mechanically sound.

Cost range: $0.30-$0.75 per mile, depending on distance, driver availability, and the size of the RV. For a 1,500-mile move, expect $450-$1,125 in driver costs, not counting fuel. Some drive-away services charge fuel separately; others bundle it.

Advantages:

• Usually the least expensive option for operable motorhomes
• No loading/unloading process
• Driver can make trip-specific adjustments (route changes, weather avoidance)

Considerations:

• Puts miles on the odometer
• Driver vetted through the transport company, but you’re still trusting someone with your home on wheels
• Insurance coverage during transit must be confirmed — your existing RV policy may or may not cover a drive-away situation. Check before booking.

2. Open Flatbed Transport

Your RV is loaded onto a flatbed trailer and hauled to destination. This works for travel trailers, fifth wheels, pop-up campers, and smaller towable RVs that fit within flatbed dimensions.

Best for: Travel trailers and fifth wheels under about 13.5 feet tall and 48 feet long. Smaller toy haulers. Pop-ups.

Cost range: $2.00-$3.50 per loaded mile. For a 1,000-mile move, that’s $2,000-$3,500. Distance, weight, and width all affect price.

Advantages:

• No miles added to a towable (towables don’t have odometers, but slides and systems still benefit from not being used)
• More controlled than drive-away — the RV doesn’t move independently during transit
• Works for RVs that can’t be driven (mechanical issues, no registration, being bought to repair)

Considerations:

• Exposed to road debris and weather (same as cars on an open carrier)
• Size limits apply — larger slides-out rigs may exceed flatbed width permits
• Pickup/delivery requires a location where a truck-trailer combination can access

3. RGN (Removable Gooseneck) Transport

An RGN trailer has a detachable front section that lowers to the ground, allowing very large or very heavy equipment to drive on rather than be craned or loaded. For RVs, this is how you move a very large Class A motorhome, a bus conversion, or a high-roof Class B on a flatbed-style move without driving it.

Best for: Large Class A motorhomes that are too heavy or too long for standard flatbeds. Custom conversions. Bus RVs. Anything over 48 feet or with unusual weight distribution.

Cost range: $3.50-$6.00 per loaded mile, plus permits for oversize loads when applicable. A 1,500-mile move on an RGN for a large Class A can run $5,000-$9,000+ depending on permits needed.

Advantages:

• Handles very large units that have no other transport option
• Professional rigging and securement
• Lower damage risk compared to drive-away for vehicles that shouldn’t be driven far

Considerations:

• Most expensive option
• Permits required for oversize loads add cost and time
• Carrier pool is smaller — not every auto transport carrier handles RGNs

What Affects the Cost of Your Move

Distance. The biggest variable. Transcar moves RVs anywhere in the continental US, including to/from Alaska and Hawaii via connecting services.

Size and weight. Longer, taller, heavier units require larger equipment and sometimes permits. Width is another factor — RVs with slideouts extended or unusually wide units may require oversize permits even if within normal length.

Fuel. Diesel at $5.40/gallon is baked into current rates. Our fuel surcharge is 16% on top of base carrier rates. This is not a surprise — it’s in your quote upfront.

Timing. Spring through early fall is peak RV transport season. If you can ship in October through February, rates tend to be lower and carrier availability is better.

Origin/destination accessibility. If you’re in a major metro area, carrier access is easy. Rural properties with narrow driveways or low-clearance roads need to plan for a nearby staging area.

Preparing Your RV for Shipment

Regardless of which method you use:

Reduce weight. Remove personal belongings, water, food, and anything not bolted down. Drive-away carriers have weight limits. Flatbed and RGN carriers charge by weight in some cases. Lighter is cheaper.

Document existing condition. Take photos and video of the entire exterior and interior before handoff. Every scratch, ding, and stain documented before transport protects you if something happens in transit.

Retract all slides. If shipping via flatbed or RGN, slides must be fully retracted. For drive-away, confirm with the carrier.

Check tire pressure and propane. Propane tanks should be turned off at the valve. Tire pressure should be at proper operating specs before transport.

Disable the auto-leveling system. If your RV has an auto-leveling system, disable it so it doesn’t activate unexpectedly during transport.

Insurance During Transport

This is the question most people forget until it’s too late.

Drive-away carriers carry commercial motor vehicle insurance, but coverage limits vary. Your existing RV insurance policy may suspend coverage during commercial transport. Read your policy or call your insurer.

For flatbed and RGN shipments, the carrier’s cargo insurance covers the vehicle while it’s on the trailer. Confirm the coverage limit against the value of your RV.

Transcar can walk you through what coverage applies for your specific shipment before you book.

What Transcar Handles

We book RV transport for all unit types: Class A motorhomes, Class B vans, Class C, travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers, and pop-up campers. We match your unit to the right transport method based on size, operability, and budget.

We have carrier relationships across the country, including for RGN transport of large Class A units — a carrier type that’s harder to source through generic brokers.

Start with our online quote tool and specify your RV type and dimensions. Or call us and describe what you have — we’ll figure out the right equipment and give you an accurate price.

More information on our RV transport service: transcar.com/rv-transport/

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Get an RV shipping quote:

📞 (682) 252-4654

Or request a quote online: transcar.com/#quote

Tell us the unit type, dimensions, origin, and destination. We’ll match you with the right carrier and give you a real price.