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The cost of an RV goes beyond the price tag in the showroom. You’ll also need to budget for the following hidden costs of owning an RV.

• Taxes: When buying an RV, you’ll need to budget for sales tax. The sales tax rate will vary from state to state: For example, in Texas, the tax rate is 6.25%, so the sales tax on a $50,000 RV would be $3,125. Meanwhile, in South Dakota, the sales tax is 4%, so you’d have to pay $2,000 for an RV of the same price. However, you may be able to deduct the cost of sales tax from your tax bill.
• Fuel: There’s no getting around it: RVs are gas guzzlers. Even a standard-sized vehicle only averages about 10 to 15 miles per gallon. Depending on the price of fuel, gas could eat up a large chunk of your budget.
• Insurance: RVs require insurance, just like any other vehicle. The amount of coverage you’ll need will depend on the state you live in. Some states, for instance, have a 20/40/10 liability coverage requirement, which is a guideline for how much auto insurance you need in an accident — up to $40,000 for everyone injured (limited up to $20,000 per person) and $10,000 for any property damage.
• Maintenance: You’ll need to maintain your RV to keep it running smoothly. The larger and older the RV is, the more maintenance it will likely require.
• Storage: Your homeowners association (HOA) probably won’t allow you to park your RV in your driveway; if this is the case, you’ll need to find a place to store it, which can come with monthly fees. And while you’re on the road with your motorhome, you’ll also need to consider costs like parking and campground fees.
• Towing: A towing service may charge you anywhere from $135 to $150 per hour to move your RV. (In some cases, depending on where you are, the price may be even higher.)

How much you spend on an RV will depend on how you plan to use it. There are several types of RVs to choose from:

  Motorhomes

Motorhomes are a type of RV that are classified based on size. There are three types of motorhomes you may be considering:

• Class A motorhomes are among the largest and most expensive RVs you can buy. These types of RVs are typically 26 to 45 feet long and are capable of towing other vehicles, including cars and boats.
• Class B motorhomes generally range from 21 to 24 feet. They are the smallest of the three types of motorhomes and are sometimes called camper vans.
• Class C motorhomes are mid-sized RVs that can be 21 to 41 feet long. These vehicles offer more storage and amenities than Class B vans, but are easier to drive and park than Class A.

  Towable RVs

Instead of sitting behind the wheel of your RV, you can hitch it to your vehicle and tow it to your location.

• Fifth-wheel trailers are the heaviest vehicles in the towable RV family. The trailer connects to a hitching system installed in the bed of a pickup truck, which provides stability and maneuverability. They range from 25 to 40 feet and can be very luxurious and spacious.
• Travel trailers are the most common types of towable RVs. They range from 13 to 40 feet and can be towed by a vehicle other than a pickup truck, like another RV or a van. Travel trailers can be detached from your towing vehicle once you reach your destination, allowing you to use your vehicle for local transportation.
• Pop-up campers are the lightest RVs of this category. These collapsible campers are easy to store and tow, since they can be as small as three feet tall when folded down. But despite their compact profile, pop-up campers provide basic amenities for camping, while being more affordable and maneuverable than larger RVs. This type of RV is commonly eight to 16 feet long.

  Toy haulers

In addition to hitting the road in an RV, you may also want to bring along any powersport vehicles you have, like a motorcycle, ATV, jet ski or snowmobile. These RVs offer both a living space and a rear cargo area for your toys, separated by a wall or partition. This versatility enables outdoor enthusiasts to hit the road and not have to leave any of their powersport vehicles behind.