Tips for Getting the Most Money When Selling Your RV

TO SELL or not to sell? If you’re thinking it may be time to sell your camper, you have options. Do you sell it yourself, where everything from photographing to listing to negotiating payments is 100% in your control? Get it off your hands quickly and sell it to the dealership? Or did you know the dealership may sell it for you?

Many owners choose to sell their RV through a dealer network—a process called consignment.  It puts the work on the dealer, not the owner. You turn over marketing, negotiations, and paperwork to a trusted dealer with a larger network and more resources to help you sell your RV quickly—and for what it’s actually worth. 

“Where Can I Sell My RV Fast?” 

Waiting for the ideal buyer to come along can be time-consuming and somewhat stressful. So let’s explore some of the benefits of selling your RV through a dealer like Camping World.

Key Takeaways

• The “Middle Ground” Advantage: Discover why consignment typically nets 10–15% more than instant cash offers while letting professionals handle the stress of marketing and negotiations.
• National Market Exposure: Learn how a six-step sales engine puts your RV in front of millions of buyers and streamlines the technicalities of financing and title transfers.
• Preparation for Top Dollar: See how small investments in maintenance and organized paperwork can significantly boost your final sale price and offset any Camping World consignment fee.

How Does the Camping World Consignment Program Work?

By pairing a professional sales team with a vast national dealer network, the Camping World consignment program puts your RV in front of more qualified buyers—faster—and gets you the price it deserves. Marketing your RV in the most heavily trafficked marketplaces makes it accessible to a wider range of prospective buyers, increasing your odds of getting a timely, competitive offer.

The consignment process is straightforward and hassle-free! In fact, it can be explained in six easy steps:

1. Prep — Professionals inspect, clean, and photograph your RV.
2. Promote — Your RV is listed on the world’s largest RV marketplaces, reaching millions of buyers each month.
3. Sales Support — Professional salespeople show interested buyers your RV and answer all their questions.
4. Documentation — All paperwork (transfer of title, bill of sale, etc.) is handled by Camping World to ensure accuracy and completeness.
5. Financing — Financing experts compile RV dealership financing options through local and national banks to provide prospective buyers with options.
6. Payout — The sale satisfies your bank loan and the associated paperwork. Once your RV sells, you receive a check!

Owners who choose dealership consignment over selling their motorhome or travel trailer privately typically do so because the marketing, negotiations, and paperwork are handled by professionals. It’s a lot of work to handle everything yourself, especially if it’s your first time selling a camper. 

Expert Tip: If you choose to sell your RV through the Camping World consignment program, you won’t receive a payout until after the vehicle is sold.

How To Get the Most Money When Selling Your RV

Reputable dealers work hard to get top dollar for owners who choose to sell an RV through their consignment program. But whether you’re selling a camper to Camping World, working with a dealership consignment program, or selling privately, use these tips to maximize your chances of getting the best possible RV sale price.

• Get organized. Gather and organize all manuals, service paperwork, and warranty records. Organized paperwork and a more complete service history make your camper more attractive to potential buyers.

• Tune it up. From motorhome oil changes to packing trailer wheel bearings, completing pre-sale maintenance will give prospective buyers more confidence that they’re getting a camper that’s truly ready to hit the road. 

Find a service center to schedule routine RV maintenance.

• Repair it. Fixing small problems, such as loose cabinet hardware, blown-out lights, and broken door latches, reduces the time the dealer spends before they get your listing online.

• Detail it. Give your RV a thorough cleaning—inside and out. While dealership professionals will also thoroughly clean your camper from top to bottom, any time you save them will reduce the wait until the listing is live and offers can be made. 

Listen to this RV Unpacked podcast episode on RV Selling Secrets.

Is Trading In Your RV an Option?

If you want to move on from your camper but aren’t ready to give up the RV lifestyle, trading in might be a better option than selling and then buying again. When you trade in your RV, you can use its used RV value toward a new purchase.

It’s a solid choice for owners looking to downsize, upgrade, or simply move into a newer RV. Here’s how the Camping World RV trade-in program works:

1. Receive cash for your RV immediately.
2. Take advantage of fair prices during your RV’s inspection.
3. The buying process is simple and straightforward, leaving you with peace of mind and cash in hand.
4. By trading in your RV, you’ll receive savings on sales tax plus a new RV for the road ahead.

Read about an owner’s camper trade experience.

Should You Sell, Trade, or Consign Your RV?

Choosing whether to sell, trade, or consign your RV comes down to how much you value your time versus your bottom line. Trading in your RV is often the most convenient option for those who wish to continue RV living. It offers a quick exit and potential tax breaks toward your next upgrade. 

If you’re willing to do the legwork—handling listings and vetting strangers—a private sale will likely net you the highest possible return. It’s a classic trade-off: do you want the fastest check or the biggest one?

Selling your RV through a dealership consignment program offers a savvy middle ground for owners who want a professional price with fewer headaches. By letting professional salespeople handle the marketing and showings, you gain access to a wider pool of buyers while avoiding the stress of negotiations. 

If you aren’t in a rush to sell and want your RV showcased in a high-traffic environment, a consignment program is the ideal path. Plus, owners who decide to sell a camper through Camping World typically earn up to 10-15% more than they would with an instant cash offer.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to choose a route that aligns with your current patience level and financial goals to ensure a smooth transition.

How Much Does Camping World Charge to Sell Your RV?

There’s no exact Camping World consignment fee that you can expect to pay when selling your RV through a dealer network.

In general, RV consignment fees are negotiated in two ways. Either you and the dealer will determine a flat consignment fee, which is typically between 10 and 15 percent of the RV’s final sale price. Or you and the dealer will negotiate a target sale price, and they will collect any amount over that price as their commission.

While it’s tempting to think you might avoid consignment costs by selling privately, you’ll need to weigh the time it takes to find a buyer, as well as the costs of keeping your RV until that happens. This includes storage, insurance, any remaining monthly payments, and more. Over several months, those costs could easily outweigh what you might have earned selling it yourself.

You’ve sold your RV? Congratulations! Check out these resources for help finding your next camper: 

• Is Camping World a Good Place to Buy an RV?
• What To Look for When Buying a Used RV
• What’s the Reason for Choosing a Used Motorhome?
• Should I Buy a New or Used RV?
• When Is the Best Time to Buy a Camper?
• Does Camping World Rent RVs?

Have you sold an RV before? Leave your top tips in the comments below!