Most people trying to budget a static caravan move focus on distance. That’s the wrong number to watch. Your caravan’s width, whether it crosses the 12ft mark, will shift the per-mile rate more than any other single factor.
A narrow 10ft unit towed on its own wheels costs roughly £1.50 to £2.50 per mile. A 14ft-wide caravan on a low-loader with escort vehicles and police notification can cost £4.00 to £5.50 per mile. That gap has nothing to do with how far the caravan is travelling. It’s almost entirely about width.
If you’re wondering how much to transport a static caravan, every other guide gives a vague range and tells you to “get quotes.” This one gives you a rate table, broken down by caravan width and distance band, so you know what the quote should look like before you pick up the phone.
What Actually Drives Static Caravan Transport Costs?
Width determines the transport method your caravan needs, and the transport method determines the price. Everything else, distance, age, condition, adjusts the bill. Width sets the bracket.
The dividing line sits at 12ft (3.65m). Caravans narrower than this are typically towed on their own running gear or on a simple trailer. Wider than 12ft, and the caravan must go on a low-loader. That switch from towed to low-loader roughly doubles the per-mile rate because the rig is wider, heavier, and classified as an abnormal load requiring a front escort vehicle.
Push past 14ft (4.3m) and the requirements go up another level. At that width, the haulier must notify police forces along the route via the ESDAL system, under the Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order 2003. That adds administrative cost, scheduling constraints, and sometimes a second escort vehicle.
Length matters for practical reasons. A 40ft caravan needs wider turning circles and may not fit down narrow park access roads. But length has minimal impact on the per-mile rate itself. Distance amplifies whatever your width-driven rate is. It doesn’t replace it.
Static Caravan Transport Cost Per Mile: Rate Table by Width and Distance
No official industry tariff exists for static caravan transport in the UK. The National Caravan Council doesn’t publish one, and no trade body sets standard rates. The figures below are market-observed benchmarks compiled from transport provider pricing pages (including DeliverMyMotor’s £2.50/mile rate for 10ft units), marketplace data from Clicktrans, and operator editorial content. Your actual quote will vary, but this table gives you a framework to judge whether a quote is reasonable.
These are haulage-only rates. Disconnection, siting, permits, and insurance are separate costs covered in the next sections.
| Caravan Width | Transport Method | Typical Rate Per Mile | Escort Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 10ft (3.0m) | Towed | £1.50–£2.50 | No |
| 10–12ft (3.0–3.65m) | Towed or low loader | £2.00–£3.50 | No (check local rules) |
| 12–14ft (3.65–4.3m) | Low loader + front escort | £3.00–£4.50 | Yes |
| 14ft+ (4.3m+) | Low loader + escorts + ESDAL | £4.00–£5.50 | Yes + police notification |
Those per-mile rates translate into the following total haulage costs by distance band.
| Distance | Typical Total (Haulage Only) |
|---|---|
| Under 30 miles (local) | £250–£750 |
| 30–75 miles (regional) | £750–£1,500 |
| 75–200 miles (national) | £1,500–£3,000 |
| 200+ miles (long-haul) | £2,500–£5,000+ |
A 10-mile move won’t cost £15. Minimum charges override the per-mile calculation for short moves, and we cover why below.
Low-Loader vs. Towed: Which Does Your Caravan Need?
Towed transport is the cheaper option. The haulier connects your caravan to a specialist towing rig and moves it on its own wheels or axle. Per-mile rates for towed moves run from £1.00 to £2.50 according to multiple UK transport providers. This method works for narrower units, typically up to 12ft wide, and for older caravans that still have usable running gear.
Low-loader (flatbed) transport is required for wider units or caravans without suitable axles. The caravan sits on the back of a specialist lorry. The combined width of the lorry and caravan creates a much wider abnormal load, which is why rates jump to £3.78 to £5.13 per mile from specific operators. These figures come from individual provider data. The rate table above uses wider bands to account for variation between providers.
The price gap between towed and low-loader is two to three times the per-mile rate. For a 100-mile move, that could be the difference between £250 and £500 in haulage alone.
A reputable transport company will tell you upfront which method your unit requires based on its dimensions. If a company offers to tow a 13ft caravan to save you money, walk away. That creates legal and safety risks that no saving is worth.
Additional Costs to Budget For (Beyond the Per-Mile Rate)
The per-mile rate is the transport charge only. Several other costs sit on top of it, and they can add £500 to £1,500 to your total bill.
Transit insurance (£50 to £200) catches most people off guard. Your haulier’s insurance covers their liability, not the value of your caravan. Standard static caravan insurance policies typically exclude transit cover, so you’ll likely need a separate policy for the move.
Escort vehicles (£100 to £500) are required for any caravan over 12ft wide. The cost depends on how many escorts are needed and how far they travel. At 14ft+ you may need two, and the bill climbs accordingly.
Disconnection from your current site runs £100 to £300, covering gas, electric, water and sewage disconnection, tie-down removal, and road preparation. Siting at the new location is a similar £100 to £300 for positioning, levelling, and reconnecting utilities.
Police notification and ESDAL fees apply to loads over 4.3m wide. These are typically included in the haulier’s quote, but confirm before you sign. Ground or base preparation adds £200 to £500 if the new pitch needs concrete or groundworks. Storage runs £50 to £150 per week if the destination site isn’t ready.
A good transport company’s quote will state clearly what is and isn’t included. If it doesn’t, ask before you accept.
How Much to Transport a Static Caravan: Three Worked Examples
The real cost to transport a static caravan depends on how these charges combine for your specific move. Here’s what three common scenarios actually cost, end-to-end, using the per-mile rates and additional charges from the sections above.
Scenario 1: Short local move, 12ft caravan, 25 miles
A 12ft-wide caravan sits right on the boundary between towed and low-loader transport. At this width, an escort vehicle is required.
- Haulage: 25 miles at roughly £3.00 per mile = £75 on paper, but minimum charges apply. Realistic haulage floor for this width and distance: £500 to £750
- Disconnection: £150
- Siting: £150
- Escort vehicle: £150
Realistic total: £950 to £1,200
The lesson here is that minimum charges make very short moves cost nearly as much as a 50-mile move. The per-mile maths breaks down under 30 miles.
Scenario 2: Mid-range move, 10ft caravan, 80 miles
A standard 10ft-wide unit travelling a moderate distance. This is the most common type of move and the most affordable bracket in the matrix.
- Haulage: 80 miles at £1.50 to £2.50 per mile gives you £120 to £200 on paper, but no operator will move a caravan for that. Once you factor in mobilisation, equipment allocation, and crew time, realistic haulage for this move starts at £750. DeliverMyMotor’s £250 minimum is the absolute floor, and that’s haulage only. A full-service move sits at £750 to £1,000
- Disconnection: £150
- Siting: £150
- No escort needed at this width
Realistic total: £1,050 to £1,500
This is the sweet spot. A 10ft caravan over a moderate distance gives you the lowest cost per mile and avoids the escort and permit costs that wider units attract.
Scenario 3: Long-haul move, 14ft+ caravan, 220 miles (Midlands to Scotland)
A wide caravan travelling a long distance. This is the most expensive scenario and the one most likely to produce sticker shock if you haven’t done the research.
- Haulage: 220 miles at £4.00 to £5.50 per mile, plus ESDAL notification and wide-load premiums. Expect £1,500 to £2,500 for haulage alone
- Escort vehicles (likely two required): £300 to £500
- ESDAL and police notification: included by most operators, but confirm
- Disconnection: £200
- Siting: £200
- Transit insurance: £150
Realistic total: £2,500 to £4,000+
For context, a MoneySavingExpert forum user reported paying approximately £3,000 per caravan for a move from Hull to the West Highlands of Scotland. That sits squarely in this range and confirms these figures are realistic for long-haul, wide-caravan moves.
Cost to Transport a Static Caravan: Twin Units
Twin-unit caravans (two halves joined on-site) are a different proposition. The units must be separated before transport and rejoined at the destination, which means two loads, two sets of permits, and specialist reassembly work. Allens Caravans quotes £1,500 to £2,500 plus VAT for a twin-unit move. Don’t assume the cost is simply double a single-unit rate. The separation and rejoining adds labour and time that a straightforward single move doesn’t require.
Why Minimum Charges Matter More Than the Per-Mile Rate for Short Moves
Every transport company has fixed costs that apply regardless of distance: mobilising the rig, arranging permits, allocating crew time, and travelling to your collection site. The driver still needs to reach your park. The equipment still needs to be prepped and checked. Permits still need to be arranged. Those fixed costs don’t shrink just because the route does.
DeliverMyMotor states a £250 minimum for 10ft caravans. That’s haulage only. Once you add disconnection and siting, the realistic minimum for a full-service static caravan move is £750 to £1,000, even if the caravan is only moving five miles down the road.
The practical difference in haulage cost between a 5-mile move and a 30-mile move is roughly £25 to £75. It barely registers against the fixed costs. If your move is under 20 miles, don’t budget off the per-mile rate. Budget off the minimum charge and add your disconnection and siting fees on top.
How to Get an Accurate Static Caravan Transport Quote
To get a quote you can actually compare, have the following ready before you call or fill in a form:
- Caravan dimensions: width is essential, plus length, height, and approximate weight or age
- Both postcodes: collection and destination, so the operator can plan the route
- Disconnection and siting: confirm whether you need the transport company to handle these or whether you’re arranging them separately
- What the quote includes: ask specifically whether permits, escorts, disconnection, siting, and transit insurance are covered or charged separately
- Twin units: if you have a twin unit, confirm both halves are being quoted for. Don’t assume a single-unit rate simply doubles
Get at least two quotes for any move over 75 miles. Pricing varies between operators, and a second quote gives you a benchmark to judge the first. Check our blog for more detailed guides on specific move types.
The per-mile rate is the starting point, not the answer. Width sets your bracket, the transport method that width demands sets the base rate, and additional charges for disconnection, siting, escorts, and insurance stack on top. For a 10ft caravan travelling 80 miles, budget £1,050 to £1,500 all-in. For a 14ft+ unit going 200+ miles, £2,500 to £4,000+ is realistic. The rate table and worked examples above give you a framework to judge any quote you receive.
The single most useful thing you can do before calling a transport company is measure your caravan’s width. That one number tells you more about your final bill than the distance, the age of the unit, or the time of year. Armed with that and both postcodes, you’re ready to get a quote you can actually evaluate.
We can give you that number. Get a free quote from Static Caravan Movers UK and we’ll come back to you with a firm, all-inclusive figure you can plan around.