Last Updated on March 15, 2023 by Jessica Lauren Vine
You’re wondering, “When is the best time to sell an RV?”
You might want to upgrade your RV or downsize, and you need to get rid of your current RV before buying a new one. Some people inherit RVs, and they already have one.
Whatever situation you’re in, I will tell you when the best time to get in front of prospective buyers is, so you can get those prospective buyers to turn into RV owners.
Get Your RV Ready to Sell
The best time to sell your RV is after you prepare it for the sale. If your RV is dirty and messy, it’s difficult to get people to want to step inside—let alone buy it.
There are plenty of new models people can look at on a dealer’s lot, so keep yours clean and in good condition so you can find a buyer that is looking for a nice RV at the right price.
When Interest Rates Are Low
Low interest rates send buyers out into the market. People are looking for a good deal, and most people don’t care if it comes from a dealer or a private seller. If you can show you took good care of your RV, people are more than happy to put you on the short list.
You can look at trends and check in the news to see if there is a hint at when the interest rate hype will be at its highest so people will want to buy.
This might not seem like the best time to sell since interest rates are higher, but people are just trying to get out and have some fun now. So when you’re asking, “When is the best time to sell an RV?” now could be a great time.
Right Before RV Season
While some savvy buyers try to find deals right before winter, most people don’t think that’s a great time to buy. If they buy right before winter, they have to store their RV all winter, which adds extra cost. Plus, anything could happen during the winter, and they might have some sort of trouble during the storage period.
There is more to think about when you’re asking, “When is the best time to sell an RV?”
Selling your RV right before people are ready to camp will help you get the most money out of it. Not only that, but it will also allow you to get views from more serious buyers, so you don’t have to drag out the buying process.
When Inventory Is Low
If you’re asking, “When is the best time to sell an RV” then look for low RV inventory.
If there aren’t a lot of RVs available in your area, this is the perfect time to sell your RV. RV manufacturers might have a hard time producing RVs, and a used RV might be the only option people have. This creates a lot of motivated buyers in the sea of potential buyers. In fact, you might even be able to start a bidding war.
Be careful when it comes to bidding wars, though, since you might lose both potential buyers if they get tired of playing your games.
Should I Sell My RV?
“Should I sell my RV” and “When is the best time to sell an RV?” often go hand in hand and this is what you should know.
Many people aren’t sure if they should sell their RV and keep going back and forth about whether or not they want to get rid of it, what selling price they should put it at, and more.
You want to get the best price, but if you’re in a bind and waiting to get the best price might put you in a bad situation, it may be better to go ahead and sell your RV online or to a dealership if you have to do so.
If you aren’t in a bind, the best thing you can do for your wallet is to hang onto your RV until right before RVing season.
You can put up flyers or sign at RV parks where they allow it, and they can talk to people as camping season begins and help you find some people that are ready to buy your RV. A lot of people at campgrounds are more than happy to help connect people in the community.
- Where & When to Go
- What to See & Do
If you're ready to hit the road and see some amazing national parks in the US and Canada, then check out this book.
- Great for planning road trips
- Less content and more pictures
Know Your RV’s Value
Before slapping any old sales price on your RV, you should look to see what other RVs are selling for. It’s like doing comps on a house, but you’re doing comps on RVs.
When you have an idea of what other people are willing to pay, you can price your RV confidently and know you aren’t ripping anyone off.
Keep in mind that you shouldn’t look at a new RV and think you’ll get anywhere close to what the dealership asks for a newer model of your RV. As soon as you drive the RV off the lot, the value of that RV plummets.
However, if there is low inventory and high demand, you might be surprised at how high a price you can get when the market is so crazy. You might find a lot of sold signs on RVs that wouldn’t have otherwise moved, but when financing is good and demand is high, but there aren’t any RVs around, you’re in a good spot as an RV seller.
Marketing Your RV
Even when you are ready to sell your RV, you should market it as best you can. If you don’t have enough people looking at it, it’s likely you won’t get as much money as you should out of it.
Besides putting it online and selling it through some of the normal venues, you can go old school and put it by the side of the road or put it on RV consignment somewhere. There are a lot of ways to get the word out about your RV.
Keep in mind that the longer you keep your RV, the more expenses there are that go along with it. Besides that, there could be issues that arise that you need to fix before you sell it. Don’t focus so much on finding the right time to sell your RV as much as getting the word out that you’re selling your RV.
You might be surprised that people that you know are looking to purchase an RV. A lot of times, they might be looking to buy without telling anyone about their hopes of becoming RV owners.
When Is the Best Time to Sell an RV? – Conclusion
Now you know more about “When is the best time to sell an RV?”
If you can sell it in the spring or summer, more people will be on the lookout for RVs for sale, but you don’t have to sell your RV then. If you need money right away, you can put feelers out and get to work marketing your RV.
Sometimes waiting for the right time can actually hurt you in the long run. The best thing you can do is make sure you have your RV prepared and in shape for the open road.
When Jessica was older and had a family, she took her crew on the road for 2.5 years. They lived in 2 different RVs during that time. One 18 foot long and one 28 foot long. Both pull-behind RVs.
- Best RV Campgrounds & RV Parks Near Anchorage Alaska - December 17, 2023
- Best RV Campgrounds & RV Parks Near Birmingham, Alabama - May 22, 2023
- Do You Need to Chock Both Sides of an RV? - May 7, 2023
