How to Ship a Toyota RAV4

A RAV4 is one of the easiest vehicles in the country to ship, and the reason is boring in the best way: it is a standard size crossover that fits either deck of any carrier without a second thought. At roughly 15 feet long, 6 feet wide and 5 feet 7 inches tall, it needs no special equipment, no measuring and no declarations beyond the ordinary. The things worth knowing are about the hybrid battery, roof accessories, and the fact that this is the most common vehicle on the road, which affects availability rather than difficulty.

Car hauler carrying crossovers on a mountain highway

The Numbers, and Why They Are Easy

A current RAV4 runs about 181 inches long, 73 inches wide and 67 to 69 inches tall depending on trim, with a curb weight around 3,400 to 3,800 pounds.

Every one of those sits comfortably inside what a standard open hauler handles. Height under about 7 feet means the upper deck is available, which is where most crossovers travel and where the rate is best. Weight in that range is unremarkable to a carrier working to a total load limit.

The practical effect is that a RAV4 prices as a standard crossover: somewhat more than a compact sedan, meaningfully less than a full size truck or a large SUV.

Hybrid and Plug-In Models

The hybrid and the plug-in Prime are the one place a RAV4 differs from an ordinary crossover, and it is minor.

Weight is higher, roughly 200 to 500 pounds over the comparable gasoline model depending on version, because of the battery pack. That rarely changes anything on a car hauler but it is worth declaring, since carriers work to a total.

On a plug-in, leave the charge somewhere around half rather than full or empty. You need enough to drive on and off the trailer and to reach a charger at the destination, and a battery does not benefit from sitting at a very high state of charge for days.

Tell the driver it is a hybrid. Starting procedure differs from a conventional car, and a silent vehicle that appears not to have started is a genuine source of confusion at loading.

Car hauler with headlights on approaching on a two lane road

What to Take Off

The RAV4 is one of the most accessorized vehicles on the road, and the accessories are what turn an easy shipment into a conversation.

Roof crossbars alone add an inch or two and are usually accepted. A roof box, a cargo basket, a roof top tent or a roof mounted bike carrier adds a foot or more, and past roughly 7 feet total height the vehicle moves off the upper deck. That changes the price.

A hitch mounted bike rack or cargo carrier adds 2 to 3 feet of length at exactly the point where a hauler has none to spare, and it fouls the tie down positions. Take it off and put it in the cargo area.

Take off anything else that protrudes: a rear mounted spare carrier, mud flaps that hang low if the vehicle is lifted, and any antenna that unscrews.

Lifted and Off Road Builds

The TRD Off-Road and the aftermarket lift community have made this a more common question than it used to be.

A modest lift with larger tires can push a RAV4 past 7 feet with a roof rack fitted, which moves it to the lower deck. Wider tires and fender flares can add width. Neither is a problem, but both need declaring with measured figures rather than the brochure specification for a stock vehicle.

Give the height from the ground to the highest fixed point, measured on level ground, and mention any suspension modification so the driver knows how it will behave on a ramp.

Day cab car hauler loaded with crossovers

Why Availability Is Good on This Vehicle

The RAV4 has been one of the best selling vehicles in the United States for years, and that has a practical consequence.

Carriers move enormous numbers of them, dealers transfer them constantly, and a hauler loading a mixed set of vehicles almost always has a slot that suits a standard crossover. That translates into shorter assignment times than a large or awkward vehicle would see on the same lane.

It also means a lot of RAV4 moves are private sales bought sight unseen from another state, because the model holds its value and buyers will travel for a good one. If that is your situation, get daylight photographs of every panel from the seller before collection. You will have nothing to compare against at delivery otherwise.

Open or Enclosed

Open transport is right for almost every RAV4 and it is what the overwhelming majority use, including the ones delivered new to dealers.

Enclosed earns its 20 to 30 percent premium on a vehicle with a wrap, fresh paintwork, or genuine collector value. A three year old crossover heading to a new owner does not need it, and the money is better kept.

Preparing It

Wash it so existing marks are visible, then photograph every panel in daylight including the wheels, the lower bumpers and the rocker panels. Leave about a quarter tank of fuel.

Empty the cabin and the cargo area completely, since personal items are not covered by cargo insurance, they add weight and they shift in transit. Fold the mirrors, disable a motion sensitive alarm and hand over a key. If it has a power tailgate, make sure it is closed and latched rather than relying on the sensor.

At delivery, inspect before signing. Compare against your photographs, check the lower bumpers, wheels and rocker panels first because those are what loading damages, and note anything unexpected on the bill of lading while the driver is still there.

Common Questions

Is a RAV4 expensive to ship? No. It is a standard size crossover that fits either deck, so it prices in the middle of the range.

Does the hybrid change anything? It is 200 to 500 pounds heavier. Declare it, leave a plug-in around half charged, and tell the driver it is a hybrid.

Do I have to remove the roof rack? Bare crossbars usually stay. A box, basket or roof tent adds height and may move it to the lower deck.

What about a hitch bike rack? Take it off. It adds 2 to 3 feet of length and fouls the tie down points.

Should I use enclosed transport? Only for a wrap, fresh paint or genuine collector value. Open is right for almost every RAV4.