RV Cost of Ownership Calculator
Why the sticker is only the first line
RV ownership costs compound: a $75,000 rig financed over 10 years costs about $890/month before you park it anywhere. Add 8,000 miles of fuel at 10 MPG, covered storage, full-coverage insurance and annual maintenance, and the 5-year number lands in the 60,000–90,000 range. Use this sheet next to the Car Affordability Check if an RV purchase depends on your vehicle budget, or the Boat Maintenance Budget for the water version of this math.
RV 5-Year Cost of Ownership — $76,473
Benchmark estimates only — loan APR is an RV-industry average, fuel at the AAA national average, and storage/insurance/maintenance are representative ranges. Adjust every field to your actual quotes. Storage and insurance figures vary widely by state and RV class.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it cost to own an RV per year?
A representative Class C or towable RV at $75,000 with a 10-year loan runs roughly $12,000-$18,000 a year including the loan payment, fuel at the national gas average, $1,200/yr storage, insurance and $1,800/yr maintenance. Your numbers depend on the rig class, how many miles you tow or drive, and where you store it — adjust every field in this tool.
How much does RV storage cost?
Covered storage runs roughly $60-$150/month and uncovered outdoor storage $30-$80/month depending on region and RV size. That is $360-$1,800 a year — often overlooked in an RV budget.
How much does RV insurance cost?
RV insurance typically runs $300-$800 a year for a towable and $800-$1,500 for a motorhome with comprehensive coverage. Rates vary by state, driving record, and replacement value — get a real quote and enter it here.
Where do the default numbers come from?
Defaults are published industry benchmarks: 7.5% RV loan APR (RV industry average), gas at the AAA national average (retrieved 2026), 8-12 MPG typical for Class C and towable rigs, and representative storage/insurance/maintenance ranges. Nothing is fabricated per-model — every field is editable.