RV inspection searches run high from January to May, ahead of the used-RV buying peak in May
We tracked a year of Google searches for RV inspections and for used RVs in every state, October 2025 to September 2026. Inspection searches run above their monthly average from January through July, with the high point in March at 1.24 times an average month. Used-RV shopping peaks later, in May. In 27 of the 34 states with enough inspection searches to measure, the inspection peak comes before the used-RV peak.
By the RV Inspectors research desk · Published October 25, 2026
Key findings
- Inspection demand starts in winter. Searches for an RV inspection run at 115 in January (100 = an average month) and peak at 124 in March, with May close behind at 117.
- Used-RV shopping peaks in May at 119 and stays above average from March through August.
- Inspection comes first in most states. In 27 of 34 states with at least 600 inspection searches a year, inspection searches peak before used-RV searches; in 4 they peak the same month and in 3 after.
- January is the most common inspection peak. 16 of those 34 states see their inspection high point in January, including California, Florida, Arizona and Washington.
- The quietest months are late fall. Inspection searches fall to 79 in November and 67 in December, the best time to get on an inspector's calendar.
- About 80,450 searches a year in the US are for "rv inspection" or "rv inspection near me", against about 4.5 million for used RVs and campers for sale.
The calendar
Each row is indexed to its own yearly average, so 100 is an ordinary month and 124 means 24% more searches than usual. Darker cells are busier months. Inspection searches climb early in the year as buyers line up a pre-purchase inspection; the broader used-RV market builds into late spring and summer.
The two inspection phrases behave differently. People searching "rv inspection" are most active in January (150), which looks like research and planning. "rv inspection near me", the phrase people use when they're ready to book, runs high from March through July. Both drop off in late fall.
Peak month by state
19 states peak in winter, among them most of the Sun Belt and the West Coast (California, Arizona, Florida, Texas, Oregon and Washington), where the RV season never really stops, but also Illinois and Indiana. 12 states peak in spring, including Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina. Only Iowa and Michigan peak in summer, and Maryland in October.
| Alabama | Jan, Feb | 1,270 | May | 84,460 |
| Alaska | Too few searches | Under 600 | May | 6,480 |
| Arizona | Jan | 2,090 | Mar | 104,900 |
| Arkansas | Too few searches | Under 600 | Apr, May | 49,670 |
| California | Jan | 6,080 | Apr, May, Jun, Jul | 452,900 |
| Colorado | May | 1,630 | Jun | 89,760 |
| Connecticut | Jan | 610 | May, Jul | 36,160 |
| Delaware | Too few searches | Under 600 | Aug | 13,540 |
| District of Columbia | Too few searches | Under 600 | Jun | 6,660 |
| Florida | Jan | 7,310 | Jan, Mar | 374,800 |
| Georgia | Jan | 2,050 | Apr, May | 175,920 |
| Hawaii | Too few searches | Under 600 | Jan | 4,440 |
| Idaho | Jan | 610 | May, Jun | 22,130 |
| Illinois | Jan | 1,740 | May, Jun, Jul | 140,860 |
| Indiana | Jan | 1,150 | May, Jun | 98,290 |
| Iowa | Jul | 620 | May | 40,660 |
| Kansas | Apr, Jul, Aug | 600 | May | 40,100 |
| Kentucky | May, Jun, Oct | 770 | May, Jun | 65,570 |
| Louisiana | Feb | 840 | Apr, May | 76,430 |
| Maine | Too few searches | Under 600 | Jul | 16,890 |
| Maryland | Oct | 2,120 | Jul | 63,970 |
| Massachusetts | Jan, Jun | 1,350 | May, Jul | 67,310 |
| Michigan | Aug | 2,010 | May, Jun | 120,450 |
| Minnesota | Feb, Mar, May | 1,000 | May | 66,500 |
| Mississippi | Too few searches | Under 600 | Apr | 42,530 |
| Missouri | Apr, May, Jun | 1,640 | May | 91,100 |
| Montana | Too few searches | Under 600 | Jun, Jul | 13,350 |
| Nebraska | Too few searches | Under 600 | Jun | 26,800 |
| Nevada | Jan | 750 | Mar, May | 42,250 |
| New Hampshire | Too few searches | Under 600 | May, Jul | 17,940 |
| New Jersey | Mar | 990 | Jul | 72,710 |
| New Mexico | Too few searches | Under 600 | Jun | 44,200 |
| New York | May | 4,160 | Aug | 161,220 |
| North Carolina | Apr, May | 3,390 | May, Jun | 184,720 |
| North Dakota | Too few searches | Under 600 | Jul | 11,300 |
| Ohio | Mar | 2,060 | May, Jun, Jul | 170,000 |
| Oklahoma | Mar | 1,110 | May | 69,460 |
| Oregon | Jan | 1,410 | Jun, Jul | 49,810 |
| Pennsylvania | May | 6,750 | May, Jun, Jul | 150,460 |
| Rhode Island | Too few searches | Under 600 | Aug | 12,930 |
| South Carolina | Jan | 1,230 | Apr | 84,520 |
| South Dakota | Too few searches | Under 600 | Jul | 12,710 |
| Tennessee | Apr | 1,570 | May | 115,410 |
| Texas | Jan, Feb, Mar | 8,690 | Jan, Mar, Apr | 584,700 |
| Utah | Jan | 790 | May | 30,490 |
| Vermont | Too few searches | Under 600 | May | 7,690 |
| Virginia | Mar | 3,500 | May, Jun | 115,280 |
| Washington | Jan | 2,250 | Jun | 99,310 |
| West Virginia | Too few searches | Under 600 | Apr | 27,120 |
| Wisconsin | Feb, Jul | 1,110 | May, Jun, Jul | 71,970 |
| Wyoming | Too few searches | Under 600 | Jun | 10,970 |
Months listed together are tied. States with under 600 inspection searches a year are too small to show a reliable peak. Google reports monthly volumes in rounded bands, so small states tie often. Download this table (CSV)
What it means for you
If you plan to buy in spring, line up the inspector in winter. Inspectors are booked hardest from March to May, right when sellers and dealers are busiest too.
- November to February: shortlist inspectors and ask about lead times and prices. See the RV Inspection Price Index.
- Before you make an offer: make the deal subject to an inspection, and have a date ready. A certified RV inspector can often hold a slot if you've already talked.
- March to May: expect waits. If local calendars are full, a mobile RV inspection from the next county or state over may be faster.
- Buying a motorhome? Allow extra time for fluid analysis results. See motorhome inspection.
- Already own the rig? Book the annual roof and seal check in the fall lull. See RV roof inspection.
The infographic
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How we did this
- Monthly Google search volumes come from the Google Ads search volume data provided by DataForSEO, pulled separately for each of the 50 states and DC, covering October 2025 to September 2026.
- RV inspection searches = "rv inspection" + "rv inspection near me". Google returns identical numbers for "rv inspector" and "rv inspection" (it groups close variants), so we counted that volume once. Counting it twice moves the January figure up to tie March. Used-RV shopping = "used rv for sale" + "rv for sale" + "campers for sale".
- Each row is indexed to its own monthly average (100). National figures are the sum of the state figures. A state's peak is its highest month; state peaks are shown only where the state had at least 600 inspection searches in the year.
- Comparing peaks uses the earliest month where a state's months tie. This is one year of data, so a single unusual month can move a peak.
Sources
- Google Ads search volume by state, via DataForSEO, October 2025 to September 2026, accessed October 25, 2026
- RV Inspectors analysis, October 2026
Cite this: RV Inspectors, "RV inspection searches run high from January to May, ahead of the used-RV buying peak in May," October 25, 2026, https://rvinspectors.org/when-to-book-rv-inspection/
Spotted an error or have newer data? Tell us and we'll check it and update the page.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to book an RV inspection?
Book in late fall or winter if you plan to buy in spring. Inspection searches peak in March at 1.24 times an average month and stay above average into July, while November (79) and December (67) are the quietest months.
When do most people buy used RVs?
Searches for used RVs and campers for sale peak in May in our data, at 1.19 times an average month, and stay above average from March through August. May is the most common used-RV peak month, in 23 of 51 states.
Do RV inspection searches peak before the buying season?
Yes, in most states. In 27 of the 34 states with enough data, searches for an RV inspection peak before searches for used RVs. Nationally, inspection searches are already 15% above average in January.
How far ahead should I schedule an RV inspector in spring?
Our data can't measure wait times, but demand is highest from March to May. Contact inspectors as soon as you're seriously shopping, ask about their lead time, and have a date ready before you make an offer.