This is the first step to moving a vehicle the smart way!

To determine vehicle shipping costs, transport companies need…

• your vehicle make and model
• your location, destination, and move date
• how you would like to receive your quote

Often shipping your RV or camper makes more sense than driving it. If you are going on vacation and are pressed for time, consider having your RV waiting for you at your destination rather than driving it there. If you are transporting your RV to a distant destination consider shipping your RV as the shipping cost may be far less than the gas it takes to drive there, especially with larger, gas-hungry models. So how do you go about shipping an RV? Below we've put together a short guide to RV shipping to help you through the process. Shipping a camper is really very easy; just follow these simple steps:

Get Camper Shipping Quotes. This can be intimidating as there are literally hundreds of trucking companies out there which ship RVs. One word of advice on this: Pick a reputable carrier! There are many one-man, fly-by-night campers shippers out there. Select an RV shipper which has a reputation for moving RVs on time, on budget and without damage. The short form on the right will get you quotes from a number of top RV shipping companies. You can then compare the rates for yourself while being assured you are dealing with some of the most reliable RV shipping companies in the business.

Book Your Camper Shipment. Once you've gone through the quotes from the various camper shipping companies select a company which fits your budget and time constraints. You will want to inquire about insurance and this is something you definitely want to consider as it covers your camper against damage en route to its destination. It is also advisable to check the references of the camper shipping companies you are considering as all reputable camper shippers will be willing and able to offer you references from previous customers. If they are unable or unwilling to offer references select another company. Finally, also consider whether your camper will be towed, loaded onto a truck or driven to its destination. Different camper shipping companies offer different types of transport. Obviously trucking the camper saves wear, tear and mileage which may be worth the additional cost.

Prepare Your Camper For Shipping. Any alarms should be turned off during shipping. Secure the latches on all doors, windows and cabinets. Remove loose items from the walls inside the camper and stow all loose items appropriately. Make sure all appliances and electronics are off and disconnect the power supply and gas lines. Secure all exterior cargo doors and pop-outs. The camper should have sufficient gas to be loaded and unloaded (if it is being loaded onto a truck) and all doors should be locked and secured. If the camper is to be towed make sure the tow bar is properly installed and securely latched. It is also not recommended that you fill your camper with small items to be shipped. This may seem like a good way to save on shipping the small items but actually makes your camper more attractive to burglars en route.

Ship Your Camper. Make sure you are on time for the camper pickup and receipt of your camper. Please note that if your RV is being trucked shipping trucks are usually very, very large so if space is limited at either the RV pickup or destination point, a spacious nearby location should be selected such as a grocery store or mall parking lot. This can save much hassle in both the loading and unloading of your RV and is much appreciated by the drivers.