RV and camper donations
Donate an RV that has not been camped in for years
An RV stops being a holiday and starts being a bill: storage, insurance, tires that age out whether you drive them or not. Whether it is a Class A that no longer suits your health, a fifth wheel after a change of plans, or a camper that came with a property, we will come and get it.
- Driven or towed from storage, a driveway or a campground, at our expense.
- Any age accepted, including units that have not run in a decade.
- Slide-outs, awnings, water damage: tell us and we plan around it.
Know the length and whether it runs? Call (888) 228-7320.
Find the kind of RV you have
A Class A motorhome and a pop-up camper are different sales entirely, from transport to what a buyer will pay.
Not on the list? We also accept hybrid and expandable trailers, truck-camper shells, ice-fishing and sled trailers with living space, and tow dollies and towed vehicles alongside a coach. Running or not, we will be straight with you about whether the haul is worth it before anything is scheduled. Related: trailer donations, no title, tax benefits.
Why RVs get donated rather than sold
Health and time, mostly. People stop traveling before they stop owning the RV, and a unit that sits is a unit that deteriorates. Others inherit one and discover storage costs more than they expected. Some bought during a boom, used it twice, and now face a resale market full of nearly identical units. And plenty have one with a known problem, a soft floor or a failed slide, that makes a private sale a series of uncomfortable conversations.
The practical case for donating is that the carrying cost stops on the day of pickup, and you are not responsible for disclosing, negotiating or transporting anything. Giving Center takes the unit as it is, sells it to a buyer who knows what they are looking at, and sends you Form 1098-C for the proceeds.
How an RV leaves, running or not
A motorhome that runs and is safe to drive is driven by a transport driver. One that does not run is towed by a heavy-duty wrecker or hauled. Travel trailers and fifth wheels are hitched and towed, provided the tires hold air and the frame is sound; where they do not, the unit goes on a lowboy or a landoll. Giving Center arranges and pays for the transport in every case.
Before scheduling we ask the length, whether the tires and brakes are serviceable, whether the slides retract, whether there is a hitch or a fifth-wheel plate, and how much room a truck has to maneuver. Storage lots, RV parks and rural properties are all routine. Empty the tanks if you can and clear personal belongings; we can handle a unit that still has some contents but tell us in advance.
Coach builder and chassis, both worth naming
An RV has a coach builder and usually a separate chassis maker, and buyers search both. A Tiffin on a Freightliner chassis is two names that belong on the form.
- Motorhome builders: Winnebago, Thor, Fleetwood, Coachmen, Forest River, Jayco, Newmar, Tiffin, Entegra, Holiday Rambler, Monaco, Gulf Stream, Nexus, Dynamax, Renegade.
- Towables: Keystone, Grand Design, Heartland, Prime Time, Dutchmen, Palomino, Northwood and Arctic Fox, Lance, Airstream, Shasta, Starcraft, Cruiser RV, Alliance, Aliner, Scamp, Casita, nuCamp and Little Guy teardrops.
- Camper vans and truck campers: Roadtrek, Pleasure-Way, Leisure Travel Vans, Storyteller Overland, Winnebago Travato and Solis, Lance, Host, Northern Lite, Four Wheel Campers, Palomino Backpack.
- Chassis and conversions: Freightliner, Spartan, Ford E-450 and F-53, Chevrolet and Workhorse, Mercedes Sprinter, Ram ProMaster, Prevost and MCI bus conversions.
Manufacturer names appear here so you can find your own vehicle. No manufacturer sponsors, endorses or is affiliated with this program.
What you can deduct for a donated RV
RVs cover a wide value range, so the threshold questions matter more here than with an ordinary car.
| Your situation | What you deduct | Paperwork |
|---|---|---|
| Giving Center sells the RV, as is typical | The gross sale proceeds | Form 1098-C from Giving Center |
| Proceeds exceed $5,000, common for late-model and diesel units | Gross proceeds, and the IRS requires a qualified appraisal you obtain | Form 1098-C plus Form 8283 Section B, signed by your appraiser and by Giving Center |
| Proceeds are $500 to $5,000, common for older trailers and campers | Gross proceeds | Form 1098-C plus Form 8283 Section A |
| The unit sells for under $500, seen with water-damaged and non-running units | The lesser of fair market value or $500 | Written acknowledgment from Giving Center |
| Giving Center makes significant use of the unit or materially improves it before sale | Fair market value, supported by an appraisal above $5,000 | Form 1098-C with the use or improvement certified |
Giving Center does not provide tax, legal or financial advice. Donations are deductible to the extent allowed by law. See IRS Publication 526, Publication 561 and Publication 4303, and consult a tax professional.
Titles, liens and the storage lot
Motorhomes are titled like vehicles. Travel trailers and fifth wheels are titled in most states, and registered without a title in a few. If the title is missing, most states will issue a duplicate to the registered owner in one to four weeks; see state title rules.
An RV loan is a long loan, so liens are common. The lender must release the lien before sale, and if the unit is worth less than the payoff we will tell you plainly rather than move it. If it is in a paid storage facility, let the office know a transport driver is coming and settle any outstanding balance, since a lot with a lien on the unit cannot release it.
What decides what an RV brings
- Water intrusion. The first thing any buyer checks. Soft floors, delaminated walls and stained ceilings dominate the price.
- Roof and seals. A recently resealed roof is a strong selling point; an original twenty-year-old roof is not.
- Engine and chassis on a motorhome, and tire age regardless of mileage.
- Slides and appliances. Working slides, fridge, furnace, water heater and generator all count.
- Length. Units under about 30 feet reach the widest set of buyers and campgrounds.
- Interior condition and smell. Smoke and pet odour are difficult to remedy and reduce the number of interested buyers.
RV and camper donation questions
More in the full FAQ.
Will you take an RV that does not run?
Yes. Non-running motorhomes are towed or hauled at our expense. Value depends on the rest of the unit, since a good coach with a bad engine still has a market.
What if it has water damage?
Still accepted. Water damage lowers what it sells for, sometimes below $500, and we will tell you where we expect it to land before pickup so the deduction is no surprise.
Can you pick it up from a storage facility or a campground?
Yes, both are routine. Tell the office we are coming, make sure any balance is settled, and leave the keys accessible.
I still owe on it. Can I donate?
Only once the lien is released. If the unit is worth more than the payoff, that comes out of the proceeds. If it is underwater, you would need to cover the difference, and we will be honest about whether it makes sense.
Do I need to empty the tanks and clear it out?
Please empty the black and gray tanks if you can and remove personal belongings. A unit with some contents left is manageable, but tell us in advance.
Do you take pop-ups and truck campers?
Yes, along with teardrops, toy haulers and van conversions. Smaller units sell quickly, though a long tow on a low-value camper can consume the proceeds, and we will say so if that is the case.
Tell us about the RV
Type, length, year and whether it runs. We will come back with the transport plan and a realistic value range.
Part of vehicle donations. Related: trailers · trucks · off-road vehicles