How to Sell Your RV – 8 Game-Changing Tips

Look, everyone knows selling a vehicle is tough. But what about selling an RV? If working with unsavory dealerships and time-consuming private buyers would be difficult for a car, how much harder would it be for an RV? Have no fear, RVer (is that a term?). Knowing how to sell your RV is not as difficult as you may believe.

Here are some tips for selling your RV efficiently.

1. Know Your Value Before You Sell Your RV

This goes for anything you’re going to sell. Whether you deal with private sellers or dealerships, you are about to enter a negotiation. Someone entering a negotiation without knowing the value of the item they’re selling is bad. That’s not a good enough word. It’s horrible. Unthinkable. 

Unfortunately, there is no Kelley Blue Book to give you a pinpoint estimate of your RV’s worth, so a bit more research is necessary. There are tools like NadaGuides that can give you an estimate based on the make and condition of your trailer. It’s a great starting point.

Websites to sell cars and vehicles, like Sell My Car Colorado, will also give you free estimates on your RVs. That’s not just shameless plugging. That’s just the truth. 

Also, keep an eye on reselling services like Craigslist and used RV websites to analyze market trends. Who knew selling your vehicle would make you an analyst!

2. Be Honest

Firstly, we all know the art of the deal. Sometimes you need to squeak out little white lies to sell something for a profit.

“That sound? No. There is nothing wrong with the engine. It’s just the new doohickey.”

Sure, lying about value may get you a little bit more money, but it also may get you in trouble. Be honest about the condition of your camper. It’ll make for an easier process in the long run. We all want to be morally good, too, right? Right?

Regardless of the condition of the RV, someone will be willing to buy it. Even if it’s scrap, someone will have use for it. It might take more time to sell, but it’s the right thing to do. Be honest when posting the vehicle online or searching for the value.

3. Prepare Your RV for Sale

Nonetheless, even if your trailer has issues, you still want to try and sell it at its peak condition. Clean that baby up!
Much like cars (or anything, for that matter), it’s easier to sell an RV when it looks good. Take the time and put in some elbow grease. Make sure the interior and exterior are as spotless as they can possibly be.

Top off fluids and make sure everything is in condition. If a potential repair is more hassle than the potential profit, you do not have to fix it, but you do have to be transparent about it. If there are problems, note them and take pictures of them for your sale ads.

4. Keep Your Posting Professional

If you are going to sell your camper privately, make sure to create a professional post. As stated, make sure you take pictures of any problem spots and describe them accordingly.

Also, take great pictures of the vehicle itself. Include all the information about the RV, including the year, make and model. List a price but leave it up to negotiations, if possible. While it’s great to have a set price you are looking for, you need to be flexible when selling a used vehicle. You never know how the market is going to go.

5. How to Sell Your RV and Avoid Fraud

Unfortunately, there are bad people in the world. Selling something privately can create the easiest path for someone to scam you. There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re selling your RV online.

  • Do not take personal checks. You never know if it is going to bounce. Cashier’s checks and money orders are okay but never accept a personal check. This is the quickest way to get ripped off.
  • Be wary of buyers in general. When receiving messages from potential customers, keep an eye out for any weird feelings. Trust your gut. There is someone out there that wants to buy your RV with honesty. If you feel a potential buyer is seedy, just ignore them.
  • Meet in a public place if possible. This speaks for itself.
  • Avoid giving out as much personal information as possible. All the buyer will need from you is the RV and the title. You should never have to give out any more information than that, especially not bank account information for payment.

6. How to Get Paid?

So, no personal checks. What are the options for getting paid when you sell your RV?

First of all, be very direct in your posting or conversations with buyers. State what form of payment you’ll take, and don’t differ from it. Someone will be willing to meet you in that regard.

Sure, cash is the easiest and most trustworthy way to get paid, but, as stated, cashier’s checks and money orders work, too. Money-sending applications like Venmo and CashApp also work; they process the payment upfront. You won’t have to worry about the payment not going through later.

7. If You’re Looking for a New RV, Don’t Overlook Dealerships

Trading your current RV into a dealership is always a valid option if you’re looking for efficiency. While you will not receive as much as private selling, the process is simpler and quicker. If money is not the problem, selling your RV to a dealership will help you avoid the private-selling process.

Trading your RV into a dealership will make buying a new one easier, too. If you are in the market for a replacement RV, trading one for the other is a fantastic option. The dealership will handle all of the paperwork, giving you a pain-free way to switch your vehicle out.

As stated, selling your RV to a dealership will always result in less money than private selling. The upside is the time and effort you save.

8. Sell Your RV With Car-Buying Websites

If you’re looking for a new alternative, consider selling your RV to a website like Sell My Car Colorado.

We will buy your RV for $100 more than the competition, regardless of its condition. We even buy junk trailers, too. We will pick up the vehicle free of charge and give you cash in hand.

Skip all the nonsense. Sell your RV right from home.