Recreational Vehicle (RV) Loan Calculator
Estimate the monthly payment on a recreational vehicle loan, including trade-in, tax and fees.
A worked example
Running this tool on current national benchmarks (Federal Reserve / Freddie Mac via FRED (St. Louis Fed)) — swap in your own numbers to see how the result moves.
- Solve for
- Monthly payment
- RV price
- $85,000
- Cash down payment
- $10,000
- Trade-in allowance
- $0
- Owed on trade-in
- $0
- Interest rate (APR)
- 8%
- Loan term
- 12 years
- Sales tax rate
- 6%
- Title & other fees
- $300
$80,400 financed over 144 months at 8.00%
- RV price$85,000
- Amount financed$80,400
- Sales tax$5,100
How the estimated monthly payment changes with RV price
Holding the other inputs at the example above, here is how the result moves as RV price changes.
| RV price | Estimated monthly payment | RV price |
|---|---|---|
| $42,500 | $382.65 | $42,500 |
| $85,000 | $870.29 | $85,000 |
| $127,500 | $1,357.94 | $127,500 |
| $170,000 | $1,845.58 | $170,000 |
The math behind it
The calculator taxes the RV's price after your trade-in allowance, adds title and other fees, then subtracts your cash down payment and trade equity (allowance minus any balance still owed) to reach the amount financed. That balance is amortized over your term — which for RVs can be quite long — to produce the monthly payment, total interest, and a year-by-year schedule.
Assumptions & limits
- Sales tax applies to the price net of the trade-in allowance.
- Trade equity reduces the financed amount; negative equity is rolled in.
- Title and other fees are financed rather than paid in cash.
- Insurance, registration, campground, storage, and maintenance costs are excluded.
- A fixed APR is assumed for the full term.
Typical RV loan terms
General ranges; long terms are common on higher-priced motorhomes to keep payments manageable.
| Amount financed | Common term range |
|---|---|
| Under $25,000 (towables) | 5 to 10 years |
| $25,000 to $100,000 | 10 to 15 years |
| Over $100,000 (motorhomes) | 15 to 20 years |
Common questions
Why can RV loans run 15 or 20 years?
RVs carry large balances, and lenders stretch terms to keep payments affordable — long terms are common on higher-priced motorhomes. A longer term lowers the monthly payment but sharply raises total interest and keeps you underwater longer, since RVs depreciate. Match the term to how long you realistically plan to keep and use the RV.
Do RV loans have higher rates than car loans?
Often, yes, because an RV is a recreational asset that depreciates and is easier to stop paying on than a primary vehicle. Rates depend on the loan size, whether it is secured by the RV, and your credit. Larger, secured loans on newer units usually price better — enter a realistic rate for your situation.
Can I write off RV loan interest as a second home?
Sometimes. If the RV has sleeping, cooking, and toilet facilities and the loan is secured by it, the interest may qualify as home mortgage interest, subject to the usual limits and to the RV counting as a qualified residence. Rules are specific and change, so confirm with a tax professional. This calculator does not model any tax effect.