everyone loves getting mail. we all run to the mailbox of our stick and brick houses to see if there is anything with our names on it (you know you do too!). That’s why when we decided to hit the road, RV mail forwarding services were one of our first considerations.
There are many options, but not all of them are as reliable as you think. let’s see which might be right for your mailing needs.
what is an RV mail forwarding service?
This service acts as a forwarding address for your mail when you don’t have a physical address to give to the post office. you ask postal services to deliver mail and packages to their address, and they handle it and forward it to you when you’re ready. you can also send packages there.
How Does an RV Mail Forwarding Service Work?
Traditionally, forwarding your mail means that the us postal service. uu. send your mail to a single new address. you fill out an online form, and voila!
a motorhome mail forwarding service works a little differently. because you are always on the move, you will not have a single direction to give them. therefore, you will ask the mail carriers to deliver your mail to your forwarding service address.
In addition to holding your mail, an RV mail forwarding service has different programs depending on the services you need. some will photograph the front of the envelope and upload it to a server when you can decide what to do with it. others will forward everything you receive, spam and all.
If you request digital scans, workers will post each item to an encrypted server, which you can access wherever you have a signal.
why do you need an RV mail forwarding service?
Having a mail forwarding service is a secure way to store your mail. Instead of letting it pile up in your mailbox at home or at a friend’s house, this service will collect your mail and send it where it needs to go.
Keep in mind that the US Postal Service will only store your mail for 30 days and your parcels for 10. After that, they return the items to the sender. If you’re on the road for too long, you won’t receive any of your mail.
Even if you only plan to be away for a couple of weeks at a time, it may be worthwhile to use a mail forwarding service. That way, you won’t lose essential items like tax documents or invoices.
Remember that some items will always be mailed to your home address, such as tax information, car registrations, and new or replacement credit cards. they will not send that information to family members or to a camp mailbox. so having a mail forwarding service ensures that every piece of mail falls into your hands sooner or later.
Pro Tip: Check out the full-time RV Prep course to learn everything you need to know to make a smooth transition from your home to your RV.
how much does a motorhome mail forwarding service cost?
Cost and billing for RV mail forwarding services vary. some charge a monthly fee, some charge an annual fee, and some have fees based on the services you want to use, like mail forwarding, inside scans of your mail, or check cashing.
Basic services start around $10 per month, but if you’re looking for premium features, it can cost anywhere from $40 to $50 per month. You’ll also cover shipping and postage costs when they forward your mail as well.
Most travelers find this to be a small price to pay for such a valuable service!
The Best RV Mail Forwarding Services Available
While most RV mail forwarding services will handle your mail with care and respect, you don’t want to send your mail into the careless hands. Finding a reliable service that is sworn to protect and carefully handle your mail will save you a lot of heartache down the road.
Another thing to consider is having a mail forwarding service in the state where you establish an address. That’s why many of the mail forwarding services have addresses in Florida, Texas, and South Dakota, as these are the most popular states for full-time travelers to establish their home address.
pro tip: learn how to set up your full time rv address in florida, texas and south dakota.
To get you started on your search, here are our top recommendations.
1. runaways rv club address and mail forwarding service
escapees is a great membership organization for rvers that also offers mail forwarding with a real mailing address.
they have several plans, each of which includes a unique florida, texas or south dakota mailing address, and they accept packages from ups and fedex. they also offer on-demand or hourly mail forwarding, and give you access to your online account.
the fugitives mail forwarding service offers three categories. Plan A handles all your mail, Plan B handles select letters and packages, and Plan C offers custom mail sorting. you can use the mail scanning service in categories b and c and only receive the mail you want sent to you, thus saving on postage.
escapees club has a registration fee of $50 and a postal deposit fee of $50 for all its categories. after paying the initial enrollment and deposit fees, plan a is $95, plan b is $115, and plan c is $135. there are additional charges for receiving packages in all categories.
There’s also a mail scanning option so you can view mail online, including envelopes and contents, for $10 per month. there is an additional charge of $0.50 for each page scanned. if you don’t want them to forward some stuff, they can destroy it for you.
Check all of the FAQs and other information about the service before you sign up to make sure this is a good fit.
2. good mail service sam
the good sam mail service offers three plans. If you’re a good sam member, you get up to 25 percent off select plans. there is a basic plan for $24.85/month (discounted), a premium plan for $33.15/month, or an enterprise plan for $39.95/month.
with good sam, you get a physical address in florida and you can share the account with your whole family. you’ll have online access to your mail and can request things be sent to you. there are no charges for packages or storage.
the premium plan offers up to five free scans of the envelope contents per month. will also initiate check deposits for you for a fee of $4.95. On the business plan, you can deposit checks for free, and there are other business services like a personal toll-free number, call forwarding, faxing, and customizable voicemail.
3. st. brendan’s island
st. Brendan’s Island offers mail forwarding to cruise ships, rvers, traveling nurses and doctors, businesses, expats, and merchant mariners. you can have a traditional mailbox and receive your mail as often as you like. Or you can have a virtual mailbox and scan your mail and upload it to the server. then you can decide to have it saved, shredded, sent or scanned for content.
St. Brendan’s Isle uses a Florida street address. They have three mail-forwarding options, but we recommend using the Travelers Special for $11.99 per month.
The company will help you obtain residency in Florida and you will be able to access your mail online 24 hours a day. Security is top-notch with a 256-bit SSL certificate, a state-of-the-art shredding facility, and all employees are bonded and go through a background check.
4. travel mailbox
The Travel Mailbox will scan the front of the envelope, and then you can ask them to scan the inside, forward the letter without opening it, shred it, return it, or save it for future use.
They can also deposit checks for you by sending them to your bank for deposit. They use data encryption software and 24-hour surveillance to protect your information.
Rates start at $15 per month for three mailbox recipients and 40 incoming envelopes per month. There is also a small business plan that caters to 10 mailbox recipients and 200 incoming envelopes per month.
Each plan has free mail shredding and a designated number of scans per month. however, there is unlimited cloud storage, and if you don’t use all of your scans one month, you can carry them over to the next month. there is also a military discount.
5. dakota post
dakota post operates in south dakota. offers a plan at $239 a year with access to an online portal to check your mail. you can receive important mail for $2.00 per item plus postage or scan it for $1.00 per request and $0.50 per page.
Traditional Mail Forwarding has a one-time activation fee of $25 and you must deposit $100 into your account as an initial postal deposit. plans are based on how often mail is sent to you. you’ll pay the bill annually, and you can receive monthly mail for $155, bi-weekly for $185, weekly for $210, and daily for $235.
dakota post also offers concierge service for $24 a year to talk to someone about what’s in your mailbox, search for specific items, and scan and email the contents of your mailbox.
6. myrvmail.com
myrvmail.com is based in crestview, florida, and is part of passport america (pa). pa members receive a 25 percent discount.
The program offers basic, premium and business services. manage your mail and packages with a smartphone. using the premium plan, myrvmail.com will take a photo of the envelope or the front of the box. then you decide what to do with it.
You pay the shipping on any items you want sent to you. You can have checks deposited by MyRVMail.com, and they remove junk mail for you as soon as it arrives at their facility for free.
Discounted monthly prices are $24.85 for Basic, $33.15 for Premium, and $39.95 for Business. premium offers a few more perks, like five envelope scans per month and check deposits for $4.95 per check.
7. america mailbox
mailbox america has a south dakota mailing address and they can help you establish residency if you wish. All plans have a one-time fee of $25 and prices range from $149.99 per year for the Bronze level to $229.99 per year for the Titanium Plus level. each plan also has a suggested postage fund.
at the gold level, they will remove spam and forward packages. This plan also gives you 24/7 online access to your mail.
the titanium plus plan gives you unlimited exterior scans of the front of every envelope and package. interior scans are additional. If you register your vehicles in SD, Mailbox of America will register and renew your vehicle for an additional fee.
plus, if you’re an annual customer and you stop by the office, you’ll be treated to lunch!
how to choose the best mail forwarding service for RVs
It’s hard to determine which company is right for you. be aware of where you are based and where you are most likely to travel in case you need to pick up your mail in person. Also, think about your budget and the amount of mail you normally receive.
considering these items ahead of time can save you aggravation in the long run, but remember that nothing is set in stone. you can change companies or plans if your needs change.
Ultimately, don’t worry about the delivery of your mail. You can request many communications online and have one of these companies handle the rest. then you can focus on finding great destinations to visit.