RV Transport Companies

RV transport moves a motorhome, travel trailer, fifth wheel or camper by road when driving it yourself is not the answer — a cross-country relocation, a dealer purchase several states away, a unit that is not currently roadworthy, or simply not wanting to add thousands of miles to a vehicle you intend to keep.

Genius Auto Trans is a licensed and bonded property broker — USDOT 3674601, MC 1274912, Broker Property, ACTIVE with the FMCSA, arranging transport since 2021. We do not own trucks. We source from a vetted network of more than 10,000 carriers.

Height is usually the number that matters

Owners lead with length, because length is how RVs are described and sold. Height is what actually decides whether your unit moves as a routine load or a permitted one.

Height. As it will travel, including roof air-conditioning units, satellite domes, vents and racks. On a Class A this is frequently the measurement that triggers permits and restricts which routes are legal.

Width. Slide-outs retracted, but mirrors and awnings still count.

Length. Matters for equipment selection and manoeuvring, less often for permits.

Weight. Dry weight from the brochure is not what will roll onto the scale. Tanks, batteries, generator, fuel and anything stored inside all count.

Also tell us: does it drive, does it tow, are the tyres and brakes serviceable, and is the unit currently registered.

How RVs move

Towed behind a truck. For travel trailers, fifth wheels and pop-ups with their own running gear. The most economical method when the unit is genuinely roadworthy — and that qualifier does real work. Tyres that have been standing for years, seized bearings and non-functioning brakes are the most common reason a collection fails on the day.

On a flatbed, step-deck or lowboy. For units that cannot safely tow, are not roadworthy, or are tall enough that deck height matters. Also the answer for truck campers and anything without its own axles.

On a specialist RV trailer. Sized for the unit rather than adapted from general freight.

Why we do not offer drive-away

Several RV transport companies lead with drive-away — a hired driver gets into your motorhome and drives it to the destination under its own power. It is cheaper, and it is worth understanding what you are buying.

Drive-away puts every mile of the journey onto your engine, transmission, brakes and tyres. A cross-country move can add a substantial slice of a service interval to a vehicle you intend to keep, and the wear is yours whichever way the trip goes.

We do not arrange drive-away. We arrange transport where your RV travels on or behind someone else's vehicle rather than under its own power. If drive-away is what you want, another company is the right answer and we would rather say so than sell you something adjacent.

If you have seen Genius Auto Trans listed as offering drive-away on a third-party directory, that listing is incorrect and we are having it corrected.

What we do not do

• No drive-away service, as above
• No Canada, Mexico or international transport
• No Alaska or Hawaii
• We do not sell RVs, insure RVs, or advise on RV purchase

Road transport within the 48 contiguous states and Washington, DC.

What RV transport costs

We do not publish a per-mile rate. You will find several on this search, quoted with confidence and disagreeing with each other by more than double — which tells you what a per-mile average is actually worth on a load this variable.

What drives your quote:

• Height and width — whether the unit needs permits at all
• Weight and length — equipment class and how many axles are needed
• Towable or must be carried — the single biggest cost fork
• Roadworthiness — tyres, bearings, brakes and lights on a towed unit
• Distance and corridor — RV-capable carriers are a smaller pool than car carriers
• Access at both ends — RV parks, storage lots and dealerships vary, and a long tow needs room to turn
• Season — spring outbound and autumn return concentrate demand, and snowbird corridors tighten hard

Where a unit needs permits, that is real cost and real lead time. We tell you at quote stage.

Cost detail: FAQ — Cost & Pricing.

What we move

Class A motorhomes · Class B camper vans · Class C motorhomes · Travel trailers · Fifth wheels · Toy haulers · Pop-up and folding campers · Truck campers · Teardrops · Park models where road-legal

Preparing your RV

• Empty fresh, grey and black tanks. Water is heavy and it moves.
• Retract slide-outs, awnings and levelling jacks, and confirm they are locked.
• Secure or remove roof items where possible — this is where height savings come from.
• Turn off and disconnect gas, and close the valves.
• Disconnect batteries where the carrier asks.
• Latch and secure interior cabinets, fridge and doors. Anything loose inside becomes a projectile.
• Check tyres, bearings, brakes and lights if the unit is being towed. Do this a week ahead, not the night before.
• Remove personal belongings. Federal regulation prohibits carriers from moving household goods in a shipped vehicle and cargo insurance does not cover them.
• Photograph everything, dated, inside and out, including the roof if you can access it safely.

More: FAQ — Vehicle Preparation

Permits and oversize units

Large motorhomes and wide fifth wheels can exceed legal limits, which means permits and sometimes route restrictions or escorts. Thresholds differ by state and a multi-state move can involve several sets.

We confirm what your specific route requires at quote stage rather than quoting a general figure. Permitting on an oversize move is executed by the assigned carrier; we coordinate it and tell you what is included before you book.

Insurance

We are a licensed and bonded broker, not the carrier. Every carrier we assign is required to hold active cargo insurance, and we will provide that carrier's certificate on request.

RVs carry high replacement values, so request the certificate and read it against what the unit is actually worth. More: FAQ — Carriers, Insurance & Safety.

Where we ship

The 48 contiguous states and Washington, DC. Alaska and Hawaii are not served.

Locations Hub · Routes Hub · Services Hub · Door-to-door collection

Also arranged: Heavy Equipment Transport · Boat Transport · Motorcycle Transport · Seasonal Car Relocation

Frequently asked questions

How do RV transport companies move a motorhome? Either towed behind a truck if the unit has serviceable running gear, or carried on a flatbed, step-deck or lowboy if it cannot safely tow or is too tall for a standard deck. Which one depends on height, width, weight and roadworthiness.

How much does it cost to transport an RV? It depends on whether the unit tows or must be carried, its height and width, whether permits are needed, the corridor and site access. We quote the actual move rather than a per-mile figure — the published averages on this search disagree with each other by more than double.

How much does it cost to move a fifth wheel? The same factors apply. A fifth wheel with serviceable tyres, bearings and brakes tows and prices accordingly; one that has been standing for years may need carrying, which is a different equipment class and a different figure.

Do you offer drive-away service? No. We arrange transport where your RV travels on or behind another vehicle, not under its own power. Drive-away puts the full journey's wear onto your engine, transmission and tyres, and it is not a service we provide.

Can you move an RV that does not run? Yes. A non-running or non-towable unit is carried rather than towed, which needs a larger trailer and often a winch. Tell us at quote stage whether it rolls and whether the brakes work.

Does my RV need permits? It depends on height and width and on the states along your route, and the thresholds genuinely differ between them. We confirm what your route requires at quote stage rather than quoting a general limit.

Do I need to empty the tanks? Yes — fresh, grey and black. Water is heavy, it shifts in transit, and its weight counts toward whether the load is legal.

Can I leave my belongings inside? No. Federal regulation prohibits household goods in a shipped vehicle and cargo insurance does not cover them. Anything loose inside also becomes a hazard on the road.

How far in advance should I book RV transport? Earlier than for a car, and considerably earlier for spring outbound and autumn return. RV-capable carriers are a smaller pool and oversize units need permit lead time.

Do you transport RVs to Canada or Mexico? No. Road transport within the 48 contiguous states and Washington, DC only.

Can you collect from a dealership or storage lot? Yes, and those are usually easier than residential addresses because they are built for large-vehicle access. We need the site contact and any release requirements. See the car dealer discount.

Is my RV covered in transit? The assigned carrier holds the cargo insurance that applies, and we provide its certificate on request. We are a broker and do not insure vehicles ourselves.

More answers: Car Shipping FAQs · FAQ — Specialty Transport

Have your height and weight ready? Call (800) 780-1113 — answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Related pages

• Car Shipping (core hub)
• Open Auto Transport