How to Determine the Best Used RV Price

How to Determine the Best Used RV Price

It’s that time of year again, and the weather forecast looks promising for camping and RV activities. Looking for a new RV for yourself but prepared to take a chance on the used RV market?

It can be difficult to discover the proper price for a used RV when different RVs are valued differently, and it’s critical that you don’t get swindled when it comes time to buy that used RV.

You’ve arrived at the correct location. I’m going to assist you in making the most of your chance on used RVs by locating all of the top bargains.

Table of Contents

Conduct your research

Doing your research is the most critical element of buying anything used. You don’t want to acquire a nice-looking RV just to discover that it wasn’t quite what you were searching for. Investigate all of the many types of RVs, how they could fit your camping style, where you can buy a used RV, and what constitutes a good quality used RV.

There are numerous possibilities for purchasing a used RV, but you want to be able to locate the best deal while maintaining high quality. Conduct research to determine which locations will provide you with the most bang for your cash.

It’s natural to think of local RV dealers and possibly some listings in newspapers or that you’ve seen circulating around the neighborhood or on Facebook, but don’t be hesitant to broaden your search to include internet choices. Online RV forums, various RV sites, and even searching out of state are all viable choices.

GOING TO THE RV FORUMS

I don’t know about you, but when I first started out in the RV world, I thought I was too good for the forums; that’s for all of the RV-obsessed individuals, and I haven’t quite achieved that level yet.

Do you want to know a secret? I was mistaken.

Because the postings and comments are usually from experienced RVers, RV forums are arguably the most credible source to gather information about RVs. They will be able to provide you with all of the RV hints and secrets that you may not have considered otherwise.

Sure, there may be some sites where you have to dig a little deeper to discover the genuine gems, and it will be evident when you’re dealing with someone experienced versus someone who has just started out on the RV life, but forums are by far the best source of easy knowledge available.

Anyway, finding a reputable RV forum could help you uncover some fantastic ideas for where to seek for used RVs, what to look for in a used RV, and what to watch out for when purchasing a used RV. RV.net is one in particular that I’ve grown to appreciate.

TRADER IN RVS

RVTrader.com is another excellent resource for finding low-cost secondhand RVs. When I’m seeking for pricing information for RVs in general or when I’m ready to sell an RV, this is one of my favorite sites to visit.

You may also utilize the site to determine if you have the best pricing available for the RV you want to buy before you make the purchase, but we’ll get into that more later.

With RVTrader.com, you may search by specific brands, models, or even area, and they’ll give you the best price they can find while also ensuring the highest quality. But, just to be sure, you should double-check that quality for yourself.

When using this site, try changing the location or not entering one at all. Most likely, you’ll wind up discovering a lot cheaper option in a different state, even if you have to drive a little to pick it up. Believe me, the trip will be worthwhile, and who doesn’t enjoy a good road trip?

(Note to reader: If you just responded no to the question about like road trips, are you sure you want to buy an RV? Or maybe you’re just intending to use it for camping vacations that won’t require much driving and you prefer to spend as little time behind the wheel as possible. If that is the case, please disregard this message and continue reading.)

CHECK OUT THE RV TRADE SHOW

It will be quite tempting to buy the RV brand new, right from the trade show, because they appear so new, shining, and exciting; nevertheless, I guarantee that the trade exhibits will not have the greatest prices for you.

No, I’m not proposing that you go to an RV trade fair to buy an RV, but it will help you have a good concept of what you want in an RV and the specific models that interest you.

If you go to the RV trade expo just to look around, you’ll get some wonderful ideas. It also helps to talk to some of the individuals at the event, maybe bounce ideas off each other, and develop some mental lists of the pros and cons of each model of RV that interests you.

HOW TO DETERMINE WHETHER YOU CAN TRUST THE SELLER

Not only should you research the best places to buy an RV and what to look for in a used RV to ensure you’re getting the greatest price for a used RV, but you should also investigate the seller or dealer. A little background research could save you from a cunning deception or overpaying for something you believed to be somewhat higher quality.

It doesn’t happen very often. There are far more kind and honest RV sellers or dealers than dishonest ones, but it’s best to be safe than sorry.

Check to see if the seller or dealer has any negative reviews or if individuals have any negotiation strategies for that specific dealer or seller.

Feel free to get to know them and determine if they have a good personality or a more slick demeanor. Is it simple to reach them, and do their responses appear straightforward or do they appear to be hiding something?

Check to see if they have a lot of or just a little expertise with RVs. Inquire as to why they’re selling the RV and what they intend to do next.

If you want to purchase a used RV from a dealership, check the Better Business Bureau to see how they’re ranked and whether anybody has left any comments or reviews about that specific dealership.

Doing background research on your RV dealer or seller may enable you to fully assure that you’ll be working with an honest person who only wants to make a fair deal on selling the used RV without trying to take advantage of you. It will also help verify that you are paying the correct price for the used RV and not overpaying.

Your first choice is not always the best choice.

Now that we’ve completed the research phase of determining the greatest pricing for a used RV, we can move on to the big boy guidelines and tips for ensuring you get the best deal.

The first rule of obtaining the best price for a used RV is to remove your excitement blinders. Do not let your excitement prevent you from realizing the reality of how “worn” your used RV will be.

One of the most important things I can tell you about buying any type of RV is that you should never go with “love at first sight,” especially if you just see it online (we’ll get into why seeing it in person is vital later).

When looking for a used RV to buy, it’s a good idea to browse around to make sure you know all of your alternatives and aren’t missing out on a really nice price that you would not have known about otherwise. A excellent approach to do this is to compare used RV costs and values.

Sure, you can develop a list of favorites as you look around, and perhaps the first one you look at will end up being the number one option, but won’t it feel good to know that there wasn’t some miraculous offer simply waiting for you to spot it the whole time?

But don’t be concerned if you end up choosing a completely different RV from a different seller or dealer than you had intended. Just make sure to compare prices before completing or confirming the order.

Price and Value Comparison

As previously said, comparing costs and values is an important factor to consider when looking for the greatest deal on a used RV. This will help ensure that you are receiving the greatest price for a used RV available rather than settling for the first price you see and assuming it is the best you will ever be able to acquire.

The NADA Guides are a useful tool for determining the average price of your ideal RV, since they will tell you the greatest fair market value and pricing for the specific make and model of RV that you’re looking for.

WHAT EXACTLY IS FAIR MARKET VALUE?

When determining the best price for a used RV, keep in mind that the fair market value (FMV) differs from the intrinsic worth (or personal value) of the RV.

As a result, both the FMV and the intrinsic worth will assist you in determining whether the seller or dealer is indeed offering the best price for the RV or if you should be able to purchase it for a lesser price.

Essentially, the FMV is the basic worth of a used RV in good condition that would be agreed upon if it were sold by a reasonable seller who doesn’t need the money and acquired by a reasonable buyer who can be satisfied with any price and doesn’t need the RV.

Fair market value is the price that would be negotiated and agreed upon if neither buyer nor seller was under any pressure.

Normally, the FMV is derived by comparing the values of what others have paid for something like, but that can quickly become complicated, so the NADA guidelines have already provided all of that information for you to make things easier for RV buyers and sellers.

Now, keep in mind that the NADA recommendations are fantastic at providing a decent starting price for what you should be looking for in terms of pricing and value in an RV, but you can typically find better offers elsewhere, and don’t be afraid to haggle off of that price.

When assessing the worth of an RV, other criteria such as the overall condition and age of the RV must also be considered.

BUT DON’T END THERE.

Another tool I mentioned earlier is RVTrader.com, which can be an excellent site for comparing rates for various used RV possibilities. As long as you know the precise brand and model of the RV you’re interested in, you can use that information to check who else is selling the identical RV for a lower price.

You might even end up saving a few thousand dollars just by comparing pricing. Wouldn’t that be fantastic?

What to Look for in a Used RV

Now that you’ve done your homework and identified one or two potential prospects for your next used RV, it’s time to think about what to look for and inspect when you go to pick it up. When feasible, always check it out in person before making a purchase.

I’m not sure about you, but I get quite enthusiastic when I’m about to buy an RV, or really anything.

I recall going with my brother to pick up a used pop-up trailer we had found on eBay, and we were both so excited to get our first trailer ever—granted, we were both pretty young adults at the time—that we didn’t even think to look inside and just assumed we were getting a great trailer for a super cheap price.

We learned once we got home that there were some fairly good reasons for the ridiculously low price, and that the pop-up trailer would require a little more labor than we had anticipated.

Please learn from my mistake and inspect the entire RV before purchasing it so that you know exactly what to look for. Sure, a used RV may have a few dings and scratches, but unless you’re looking for a fixer-upper, be sure the potential flaws and signs of age aren’t too much for you to handle.

Check out both the exterior and the interior. Is there anything that appears to have been hurriedly addressed or covered up that could become a problem in the future? Is any structural damage present? Is there a problem with the wiring? Is there any evidence of water damage?

For more information on what to look for in a used RV, watch this informative video.

As you can see from the video, it is critical to pay attention to the smallest details in and around the RV. Most likely, the person you’re purchasing it from expected you to inspect it at least a little bit and will not give you strange looks if you ask to check it out.

If they did otherwise, they’d have to be very new to the RV life and business, and if that’s the case, pay great attention to the condition and value of the RV, as well as how well it matches the pricing.

Anyway, another significant advantage of scrutinizing the finer points is that it will provide you with a compelling cause to stick with your decision or abandon it, as well as a solid list of supporters for your discussions. We’ll get to that in a minute.

You should also ask the seller or dealer if there are any faults you should be aware of, as well as any recent repairs or enhancements they have performed on the RV. This inquiry may really be used to test the vendor’s honesty, and an honest seller is absolutely something you’ll want while looking for the greatest deal on a used RV.

Don’t Be Afraid to Bargain on Price

Alright. We’ve arrived at my favorite technique for obtaining the best costs on a used RV: bargaining. To be absolutely honest, I’m not very good at negotiating since I’m worried of going too far, but I can assure you that negotiating will definitely help you get a better deal for the used RV.

Did you know that some RV sellers may mark up their pricing by up to 50% (not that such a huge markup is uncommon) and get away with the higher price simply because the buyer was unwilling to negotiate? Of course, they don’t do this because they’re particularly cunning, but because they want to bargain with the buyer.

If you only remember one item from this post on how to locate the best price on a used RV, make it this. Don’t be one of those jerks that pays those exorbitant fees without even trying to bargain.

I know it can be frightening and terrifying at first, but it will most likely end out being really useful to your pocketbook once you’re done. So this is what you do:

Investigate (does this sound familiar?): RV dealers and sellers will be able to discern the difference between a buyer who knows nothing about RVs and just wants a ridiculously low price and a buyer who knows a lot about RVs, how to tell their value, and how to justify the low price they’re attempting to purchase the RV for.
Be friendly: This should be a general rule, but an RV dealer or seller is more inclined to haggle and give a better deal to someone who feels like a friend.
Don’t be scared to take risks: In negotiations, bravery and confidence are essential. Begin your negotiation low, not so low that the seller is insulted, but as low as half or three-quarters of the asking price if you desire. Just make sure to back up your numbers with real data and to be willing to go back and forth.
Be realistic in your negotiations: If you’re looking to buy a used pop-up trailer, you probably won’t have much wiggle room, but larger RVs will have more. Also, if the price is already quite low, there’s probably not much room for bargaining.
Don’t be scared to walk away: If the agreement doesn’t feel right for you or you’re not comfortable with it, simply walk away. Perhaps you’ll return to it later, perhaps not. If the dealer or seller notices you trying to walk away, they will usually try to drop the price to entice you to stay.

What to Do After You’ve Made a Purchase

So you’ve located your dream used RV and have an excellent plan for bargaining the price down to something within your budget, but what now?

Okay, side note: remember when back-to-school shopping was a thing, and it was critical to grab just the best prices and deals? Well, if you ever looked at the bottom of your receipt where it stated “total saved,” and it was a large amount, it was the most wonderful thing ever…. Or, at the very least, I enjoyed seeing how much money I saved at the end of a big shopping spree.

What is the significance of this? This is exactly what you should do after you’ve completed your purchase. Remember those RV trade exhibitions I mentioned before, as well as RVTrader.com?

Now you may go back to the notes you made when doing your initial research and compare the pricing of all of the new RVs, particularly the one you purchased.

Then you’ll calculate the difference between the money you could have spent on a brand new RV and the amount you actually paid. Instead of simply feeling pleased about all of the money you were able to save, you can set it aside (mentally or physically) in a separate bank account designated for RV repairs and improvements.

That way, you’ll have a special RV fund that you can draw from anytime you need to without feeling guilty because it’s money you’d have spent on an RV anyway if you’d splurged and bought a new one.

How wonderful would that be? Doesn’t that make the prospect of purchasing a used RV even more appealing than it was before?

To be honest, this is a crucial step to do when purchasing a used RV because you’ll most likely need to undertake some repairs along the way regardless because you’re practically buying the RV at its half-life. This way, you’ll be more prepared for future repairs.