No matter how excited you were when you first bought your RV, there’s likely to come a day when you’re ready to trade it in. Your family may have outgrown your current RV. You might be ready to downsize. Or, you may want a newer model or realized that your needs have changed. Whatever the reason is, you’re ready to trade in your RV.
And you may find yourself wondering about the trade in value of your RV. We’re going to share with you everything you need to know to make the most out of trading in your RV.
What Impacts RV Values
Similar to determining the value of a vehicle or home, there are a lot of factors that contribute to the value of an RV.
-
Make and model of the RV- there are some brands that hold their value better than others
-
The age – newer models are generally worth more
-
Higher-rated models – the higher-rated it is, the better the value tends to be
-
Size of the RV – bigger tends to be better when it comes to value
-
The mileage – lower mileage is better
-
Vehicle condition – just like a car value, the better things are kept under the hood, the better the value
-
Condition of the interior
-
How many bells and whistles the RV has
The above factors can be fairly easy to judge and predict. But there are a few other facts that aren’t as easy. This includes things like how the economy is doing and what the demand is for used RVs.
RV Depreciation
While your RV might feel like home, it doesn’t appreciate the same way that most traditional homes do. RVs, like other vehicles, depreciate in value over time.
Just like other vehicles, if you buy a brand new RV, it will depreciate once you drive it off the lot. As the years go by and you use your RV more, it will continue to depreciate. While this is great for people looking to save money by buying a used RV, it’s something that RV owners looking to sell or trade need to be prepared for.
Properly maintaining your RV and remodeling the interior can help you maintain some added value. Some RV brands, like Airstream, tend to maintain value better than newer manufacturers.
While calculating the depreciation of your RV doesn’t come down to a standard formula, experts say that you lose around 20% the first year of owning a new RV. But the rate slows significantly after that. By the end of the fourth year, the RV has depreciated by around 35% total.
What to know when trading in your RV
If you’re ready to get a new RV, you could sell your RV on the private market. But it can be a faster and easier process to trade it in at the dealership. Trading it in means you don’t have to go through the long process of trying to sell it on your own. And you don’t have to worry about accepting payment from a stranger.
If you’re ready to trade in your RV, there are some things that can help you get the most out of it:
Consider the season
Like the real estate market, the value of your RV increases or decreases based on demand. Because summer tends to be the busy RV travel season, people begin gearing up in the Spring. This means that springtime can be one of the best times to trade-in your RV.
On the other hand, if you try to trade-it in during the fall or winter when there isn’t as much demand for RVs, you may not get as much out of it. Unless however, you’re in a location with a large snowbird population. Snowbirds may be looking to buy an RV in late summer or fall to prepare for their winter travels.
Clean it from top to bottom
When you want to sell a house, real estate agents recommend cleaning it from top to bottom to help put its best foot forward. The same is true for your RV.
Take time to repair anything that’s damaged. Clean any stains. Address the areas that you’ve been overlooking while you owned it.
Make updates if needed
Yes, you’ve been living in your RV, even if only on vacation, but you don’t want it to look that way. If fabric is ripped, counters are chipped or doors don’t close right anymore, it’s time to make some repairs.
The same is true for the exterior. Dings, dents, scratches, and rust can bring down the value of your RV.
How can I find the trade-in value of my RV?
You may be familiar with using Kelly Blue Book to determine the value of your vehicle. While Kelly Blue Book doesn’t provide RV values, Sky River RV has a tool that you can use to get the estimated value of your RV. Finding out the approximate value of your RV can help as you decide if you want to trade it in and what steps you’ll take next.
Here’s how to determine the value of your RV:
- Visit the Sky River RV trade-in tool: You can access the tool here.
- Choose the location closest to you
- Choose the make of your RV from the listed options
- Enter the year and model. You can also include mileage, VIN, and images for a more accurate value. .
- Share information about the condition of the RV
- Provide details about your current financing if you have any
- Provide your name and email
- Receive your estimated trade-in value
If you’re ready to upgrade your RV, you can now get more for your RV than ever before. Sky River RV is now taking trades of all kinds, cars, trucks, boats, and off road vehicles.
