How To Sell a Used RV

Selling your RV as a private party poses some unique challenges. From determining a fair selling price to deciding which repairs to complete to advertising and negotiating the terms of a sale, there’s a lot to consider. 

Luckily, we’ve gathered the information and resources you need to sell a used RV at the best possible price. We’ll cover the various ways you can sell your RV—peer-to-peer, consignment, selling to a dealer, or trading-in—and explore how to improve your RV’s resale value. Our hope is that you discover the process to be easier than you initially thought.

Why Sell Your Used RV?

Why do people want to sell their RV? For all sorts of reasons. Whether they outgrow their camper, decide RVing wasn’t for them, want something bigger or better, or simply see an opportunity to make some extra cash—there are plenty of reasons to sell. However, different ways of selling your RV may suit your needs better than others. 

Maybe your RV is starting to feel cramped, and you’re ready for a larger RV. In this case, you might consider trading in your RV to help offset the price of a new camper. When you trade in your RV at Camping World, for example, they appraise your unit and apply its value toward a new RV. This saves you the time of finding a seller and allows you to complete everything at the same time. 

Or perhaps you are having trouble finding a buyer and don’t want to pay for RV storage in the meantime. Consigning your RV can put those burdens on a dealership that has a better customer reach and will keep your RV in a well-secured area while they try to sell it. Just know that you will pay some form of commission to the dealerships and likely won’t make quite as much on your RV.

Or maybe life circumstances are making RV adventures difficult for you right now: you need to get out of your RV quickly. You can sell your RV to a dealership and get a check in hand to spend however you wish. The drawbacks? You won’t get the tax benefits that come with trading in your RV, and you might not get quite the same price as you would selling peer-to-peer, because the dealership still needs to be profitable.

If you want the very best price for your RV and are willing to lead the charge yourself, you can list your RV through any number of peer-to-peer RV marketplaces that connect RV buyers and sellers in a trustworthy environment. For this option, you’ll want to have a good understanding of what your RV is worth and how to negotiate a sale. 

Whatever your motivation, Camping World has options to help.

Why Sell a Used RV Now?

Now is a great time to sell a used RV. The higher prices of new RVs are making more people consider the benefits of a used RV. Plus, so many folks have tried RVing for the first time in recent years and they’re hooked.

Several factors may be responsible for the uptick in RV popularity, but one thing is important to remember as a seller – when demand outpaces supply, it is a great time to sell a used RV.

Furthermore, the peer-to-peer marketplace is growing. Sellers are able to reach larger audiences than ever before through online sales and a few marketplaces have figured out how to make the process fairly seamless. With the right documentation, a good understanding of how much your RV is worth, and a willingness to be patient as you find the right buyer, you can enjoy a profitable selling experience. 

As you sell, keep in mind that seasonality affects the RV market. In general, demand goes up when it’s closer to RVing peak season. The spring is especially popular for RV buyers, and you may be able to make more money by waiting to sell your RV until warmer weather arrives.

Can I Sell My RV?

If price your RV at or below listed NADA RV values and market it aggressively, you should be able to sell your RV fairly quickly. However, that will depend on the age, make, model, and condition of your motorized or towable RV. Advertising in popular peer-to-peer markets like RVs.com—and even Craiglist or Facebook Marketplace—can improve your chances of finding a buyer. 

When selling your RV yourself, you’ll be responsible for the legwork required to prepare your RV for sale. Cleaning, fixing, taking photos. You’ll need to be available to show your RV to prospective buyers if selling in person. Plus, you’ll have to handle all the necessary documentation on your own. But you also stand to make the most money. 

Many used RV owners opt to sell, consign, or trade-in their RV to a dealership, which is one of the most reliable ways to sell an RV fast. 

Here are some of the basics:

• Selling your RV to a Camping World dealership gives you cash in hand.
• Consigning means letting Camping World do the legwork of selling your RV; they write you a check minus a commission fee.
• Trading in your RV allows you to take money off your next RV purchase with Camping World so you can start shopping for an upgrade (minus anything you owe on your current RV).

But with all of these options, you still should know how much your RV is worth. RV value depends on a number of factors. Luckily, there are a few helpful tools to help you in the valuation process.

How to Determine the Value of your RV

Many factors impact your RV’s resale value but accessing real-time data that influences your sale price is a challenge for private sellers. That’s why you can utilize the Good Sam RV valuator to check your RV’s value in seconds.

The valuator tool pulls the latest demand trends from your local marketplace and data from new and used RV wholesale pricing. It combines that data with its own proprietary dataset, which includes unique, vintage, and customized RVs, to provide an accurate value for your RV.

Learning the value of your RV is the logical first step, whether you’re selling privately or to a local dealership. But if you decide to consign with Camping World, which offers a nationwide network of dealerships, the valuator tool is even more beneficial. Once you submit your RV’s information, you’ll be connected with an RV specialist who can assist with whichever option you choose to proceed. 

You can use it to assess your RV’s value across all markets in the US. So if you consign your RV with Camping World, they can transport it to buyers in other markets and sell it faster for you where demand is high.

To find the value of your RV using the Good Sam RV Valuator, you’ll need the year, make, model, trim, number of slides, and condition of your RV. Once you submit that info, a specialist will be in contact with a quote range.

Use the Good Sam RV Valuator to find the value of your used RV today.

Selling RV Peer-to-Peer

Selling your RV privately avoids a dealership commission. You’ll receive the full sale price, and you have the final say on the offer you ultimately accept. You’ll also avoid contracts with a dealer or insurance company and control where and how your RV is advertised.

But the downsides of selling privately include:

• You may be limited to local buyers or those willing to travel, and they may not be willing to pay as much as buyers in other markets.
• It can take a long time for the right buyer to arrive.
• You are responsible for showing the RV to prospective buyers, managing the sale, and reviewing offers.
• You’re responsible for cleaning and making RV repairs before listing.
• You may be limited in terms of accepting financed offers.

If you choose to sell peer-to-peer, make sure you use a trusted platform that provides transparency in their process. RVs.com connects RV buyers and sellers in a safe, trustworthy environment and puts systems in place to avoid confusion and set clear expectations between the parties. It’s always your responsibility to vet the buying and selling experience, but this makes it easier to expose your RV to a larger number of buyers. 

If you choose to list on RVs.com, you’ll be able to pick a plan that best suits your needs. These plans vary by the number of photos or videos you are allowed to post, how long the listing will remain up, and whether it is a “featured” listing, exposing it to more buyers. That way you have more control over how much you want to push your RV. 

Below are a few recommendations when listing your RV: 

• Take high-quality photos and videos
• Clean and tidy your RV inside and out
• Maintain your RV’s condition throughout the sales process
• Get relevant scans of your maintenance and service history
• Note any updates, improvements, or components that no longer work.

Selling on Consignment

Selling a used RV on consignment means entering a relationship with another party to help you sell. This party is usually a local dealer that keeps the RV on their property, advertises for you, and receives a share of the sale price when a deal is finalized.

Here are the main benefits of selling a used RV on consignment with Camping World:

• Utilize the dealer’s marketing resources, which are usually greater than your own.
• Don’t spend your own time showing your RV to each mildly interested buyer.
• Dealers follow nationwide guidelines on RV resale value.
• Dealers have the incentive to sell your RV as quickly as possible.
• Dealers can accept financing or trade-ins.
• Your RV receives more exposure through the dealer’s website and traffic on their lot.

Of course, selling on consignment comes with extra costs, and you’ll have to give up a commission to the dealer. Other potential costs include consignment insurance, RV prep and cleaning, and any required repairs before your RV can be listed. Once you sign a contract with a consignment dealer, you can’t sell your RV anywhere else, and you won’t be able to use it while it’s being advertised.

Consigning with Camping World

Consigning with Camping World eliminates much of the pre-sale preparation on your end. Camping World handles:

• Cleaning and photographing your RV.
• Listing it on our nationwide marketplace.
• Answering buyer questions seven days a week.
• Showing your RV to prospective buyers.
• Handling the paperwork.
• Negotiating financing terms through local and national banks.
• Satisfying any outstanding loans.
• Writing you a check when the sale is final.

Selling To An RV Dealership

If you’re looking to sell your RV quickly, a dealership can be your best bet, even if you don’t plan to trade in your RV for the purchase of a new one. You are welcome to get quotes from several dealers in your area, or simply reach out to Camping World and you will be given a quote and someone from your local dealership will contact you. Camping World guarantees the best offer for your RV or they will pay you cash. 

Camping World will give you $1,000 cash if they can’t match a price provided by another dealer.

These are just a few ways Camping World makes buying and selling RVs smooth and efficient so you can get back on the road for your next adventure as quickly as possible. Contact an RV specialist about selling your RV today.

Trading In Your RV

Trading in your RV allows you to deduct the value of your used RV from any taxes owed on a new or used unit. The offer you receive from a dealership largely depends on how well you’ve cared for your used RV over the years.

When you bring your used RV to trade it in at Camping World, a representative will perform an RV walkaround with you. This process is designed to uncover things like delamination, worn tires, and anything else that can decrease the value of your trade-in.

That’s why it benefits you to complete repairs and thoroughly clean your used RV to prep it for a trade-in. The list of recommended repairs varies, but some items to consider include replacing torn screens, replacing worn parts or components, and testing electrical outlets for proper voltage. Learn how to get the most for your trade-in and explore the benefits of trading your RV in with Camping World.

Learn how to get the most for your trade-in and explore the benefits of trading your RV in with Camping World.

Selling an RV With a Title

Selling an RV with a title is the easy way to go. When you’ve found your buyer, you’ll need to complete a transfer of title, bill of sale, and any other documentation required in your state. Upon finalizing your sale, you should complete your release of liability as soon as possible.

When selling privately, it’s a good idea to accept cashier’s checks or certified bank checks. This allows your bank to check with the issuing financial institution to ensure the check’s validity. Check with your bank before executing a sale on their procedure for verifying checks and complete your transaction during regular banking business hours.

When selling to a private buyer, never hand over the title until the funds have been received, and ensure the buyer signs both the title and the bill of sale upon receipt of payment.

Whether selling with or without a title, most states legally require sellers to disclose any major accidents or issues with their RV. Withholding information simply opens you up to a potential lawsuit down the line.

Selling an RV Without a Title

It’s still possible to sell your RV if you’ve misplaced your title. You will simply need to obtain a replacement title from your local DMV by filling out a title application and paying the required fee.

You can mail your title application to your local DMV, which will check to ensure they can issue a new title. Their checks include ensuring the vehicle isn’t stolen and checking your title has no pending legal issues. They will also check that your RV meets all state vehicle requirements, such as weight checks and emissions testing.

From there, you’ll need three other pieces of documentation for a replacement or bonded title:

• Your RV’s certificate of origin from the original manufacturer.
• A bill of sale from when you purchased the camper.
• A certificate of inspection from an approved state inspection station.

You’ll need to take your title application, these three documents, your driver’s license, and any required application fee to your local DMV to be issued a replacement title.

But remember that each state’s DMV has unique requirements. So consult your local office before scheduling an appointment for a replacement RV title.

How To Prepare Your Used RV For Sale

Regardless of how you decide to sell a used RV, these tips can help you get the best return on your original investment:

Address any major repairs. Some buyers will look past minor cosmetic issues, but major problems like a broken awning or worn tires make finalizing a sale more difficult.

Give it a deep cleaning. Like selling a home, you want buyers to be impressed with your used RV’s look, feel, and smell from the instant they walk in. Wash your RV inside and out for the best presentation.

Take high-quality photos. RVs are hard to photograph, but a wide-angle lens can be helpful at really showcasing the space.

Gather your documentation. Ensure you have your title, registration, bill of sale, owner’s manuals, and any other documentation present and organized before listing your RV for sale.

List your RV in multiple places. Using more advertising networks increases your odds of finding the right buyer. We’ve compiled a complete checklist to follow when you are selling an RV.

If you’re ready to sell, complete this form, and we’ll contact you with the next steps. But you might also be interested in a few more tips for getting the most money when selling your RV.

Do you have any questions about how to sell a used RV or trailer? Let us know in the comments below!