What an RV Pre-Purchase Inspection Costs in America

An RV pre-purchase inspection in the United States usually costs between $300 and $1,500. That's a wide range, and it's wide for a reason. An RV is a vehicle and a small house in one, and the bigger and more complicated it is, the longer the check takes.

Typical price ranges by RV type

Small towables cost the least. A pop-up or a short travel trailer often lands near the bottom of the range, around $300 to $600. A larger travel trailer or fifth wheel with slide-outs usually sits in the middle.

Motorhomes cost more, because the engine, transmission and chassis get checked on top of the living space. A Class B or Class C commonly runs $500 to $1,000. A big Class A diesel pusher with several slides and a generator is where you see $1,200 to $1,500 or more.

What moves the price

Length is the first thing. Many inspectors add a fee once a coach passes about 35 feet. A diesel chassis, a second bathroom, a generator and extra slide-outs each add time, and often a line item.

Travel is the second. A mobile inspector who drives two hours to reach a private seller will usually charge mileage or a trip fee. Lab work is the third. Sending oil, coolant and transmission fluid samples to a lab typically adds $100 to $200, and the results take a week or so to come back.

What you get for the money

A full RV inspection takes anywhere from three hours to a full day. A good one covers the roof and seals, signs of water damage in the walls and floor, the slide-outs, propane leaks, the electrical and plumbing systems, appliances, tires and their age, and, on a motorhome, the engine and drivetrain. You should get a written report with photos, not just a phone call.

Why it's worth it

Water damage alone can turn a used RV into a five-figure repair. Roof rot, delaminated walls and a soft floor hide well under fresh caulk and a clean interior. Spending a few hundred dollars before you hand over tens of thousands is the cheapest insurance in the whole purchase.

An inspection report also gives you leverage. If it finds a leaking slide seal or ten-year-old tires, that's a number you can take back to the seller.

Buying in Southern California

If you're shopping for an RV around the Inland Empire, you can book an RV pre-purchase inspection from WeRV, an RV rental agency in Hemet. A rental yard sees what wears out on real trips, which is useful when you're judging a coach someone else has been living in.

Where we fit

PPI Auto does RV pre-purchase inspections on motorhomes, travel trailers and fifth wheels in all 50 states. Because an RV takes more time than a car, we quote it on the call once we know the type, length and where it sits. The quickest way to get a price is the RV inspection request form. To see every item we check, open the RV inspection form, the same checklist our inspectors fill in. You can see how we price everything else on our cost page.

Common questions