How to use this calculator
- RV price: the agreed price before tax and fees.
- Down payment and trade-in value: both reduce what you borrow.
- Interest rate and loan term: the APR and number of years (up to 20) from your loan offer.
- Under Sales tax, fees & start date, enter your sales tax rate, any cap your state puts on the tax, title, registration and dealer fees, and whether those costs are paid upfront or added to the loan.
- Under Cost of ownership, enter yearly insurance, monthly storage and yearly maintenance and repairs. Set them to 0 if you only want the loan.
You get the monthly payment, the all-in monthly cost, the amount financed, total interest, a balance chart and a downloadable amortization schedule.
The formula
The amount you borrow covers whatever your down payment and trade-in don’t:
The monthly payment uses the standard amortization formula, with r as the APR ÷ 12 and n as the number of months:
The all-in monthly cost adds one-twelfth of the yearly insurance and maintenance, plus monthly storage, to the payment.
Worked example
You buy a $90,000 motorhome with $18,000 down (20%). Sales tax is 6% and fees are $800, both added to the loan, which is 8% APR for 15 years.
- Sales tax: 6% × $90,000 = $5,400
- Amount financed: $90,000 + $5,400 + $800 − $18,000 = $78,200
- Monthly payment: $747.32 for 180 months
- Total interest: $56,318
- Total cost of the RV (price, tax, fees and interest): $152,518
Add $1,200 a year of insurance, $100 a month of storage and $1,500 a year of maintenance, and the RV costs $1,072.32 a month. Over 15 years, those ownership costs add up to $58,500, about as much as the interest.
Payments by loan term
On the same $78,200 at 8%:
| Term | Monthly payment | Total interest | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 years | $948.78 | $35,654 | $131,854 |
| 12 years | $846.48 | $43,693 | $139,893 |
| 15 years | $747.32 | $56,318 | $152,518 |
| 20 years | $654.10 | $78,782 | $174,982 |
Stretching from 15 to 20 years saves about $93 a month but adds about $22,464 of interest. RVs, like cars, generally lose value as they age, so a long loan makes it more likely you’ll owe more than the RV is worth if you sell early.
How the down payment changes things
A $90,000 RV at 8% for 15 years, with 6% tax and $800 of fees in the loan:
| Down payment | Amount financed | Monthly payment | Total interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| $9,000 (10%) | $87,200 | $833.33 | $62,799 |
| $18,000 (20%) | $78,200 | $747.32 | $56,318 |
| $27,000 (30%) | $69,200 | $661.31 | $49,836 |
Each extra $9,000 down cuts the payment by about $86 a month and saves about $6,481 in interest.
Tips before you sign
- Price the whole lifestyle. Beyond the loan, budget for insurance, storage, maintenance, tires, campground fees and fuel. The gas cost calculator estimates fuel for a trip; enter your RV’s real MPG.
- Compare lenders. Get quotes from banks, credit unions and RV lenders at more than one term, and compare the APR, not just the payment.
- Check the tax rules. IRS Publication 936 treats a house trailer or similar property with sleeping, cooking and toilet facilities as a home, so the interest on a qualifying RV loan may be deductible if you itemize. Sales tax rules for RVs also vary by state.
- Keep the debt manageable. Our debt-to-income ratio calculator shows how the new payment affects your overall budget.
For a towable trailer, you may also need a tow vehicle; the auto loan calculator covers that. For boats, use the boat loan calculator.
Assumptions and limitations
The calculator assumes a fixed-rate, simple-interest loan with level monthly payments, interest at APR ÷ 12 and payments rounded to the cent, with the last payment adjusted for rounding. Fees aren’t taxed, and sales tax is charged on the price minus any trade-in. Ownership costs are held flat for the whole loan, with no inflation, and fuel, campground fees and depreciation aren’t included.
Sources
- Internal Revenue Service, Publication 936: Home Mortgage Interest Deduction (for 2025 returns)
This calculator gives estimates for general information. Your lender’s disclosures show the exact payment and APR, and a tax professional can tell you whether the interest is deductible.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate an RV loan payment?
Add the sales tax and fees you're financing to the price, subtract your down payment and trade-in, and apply the standard loan payment formula with your APR and the number of months. Financing $78,200 at 8% for 15 years comes to $747.32 a month.
How long can you finance an RV?
RV loans often run longer than car loans, and terms depend on the lender, the loan amount and the RV's age. This calculator handles terms up to 20 years. A longer term lowers the payment but adds a lot of interest, so ask each lender for rates at several terms.
How much does a 20-year RV loan cost compared with 10 years?
On $78,200 at 8%, a 10-year loan costs $948.78 a month and $35,654 in interest. A 20-year loan costs $654.10 a month but $78,782 in interest, more than double, and more than the amount you borrowed.
How much should I put down on an RV?
More is better, both for the payment and to avoid owing more than the RV is worth as it ages. Lenders set their own minimums. On a $90,000 RV at 8% for 15 years, going from 10% down to 30% down lowers the payment from $833.33 to $661.31 and saves $12,963 in interest.
Can I deduct the interest on an RV loan?
Possibly. IRS Publication 936 counts a house trailer or similar property with sleeping, cooking and toilet facilities as a home, so a loan secured by a qualifying RV may be treated as a main or second home mortgage. You have to itemize, and limits apply. Ask a tax professional about your situation.
What does it really cost to own an RV?
The loan payment is only part of it. Insurance, storage, maintenance, campground fees and fuel add up. In our example, $1,200 a year of insurance, $100 a month of storage and $1,500 a year of maintenance add $325 a month, bringing the all-in cost to $1,072.32 a month.
Updated November 2026. Results are estimates for educational purposes and depend on the inputs you provide.