If you’re looking to get top-dollar for your RV, it’s important to know what the market value is.
However, finding that out is much more difficult than your average vehicle.
That’s because there is no Kelley Blue Book for RVs.
With that said, there are some great alternatives for calculating your RVs value which we’ll dive into below.
We’ll also cover some tips for selling your RV to help you get the most from the sale.
Read on to learn more.
What Is the Kelley Blue Book Value of My RV?
Kelley Blue Book is the standard in vehicle valuations. If you want to sell your vehicle, you look up the blue book price.
However, there is no blue book for the RV industry, which means you’ll need to calculate the value of your RV another way.
Why is there no central resource for calculating the value of used RVs?
The ease and frequency with which RVs are customized make it difficult for there to be a central database with RV values based on all the possibilities of modifications and added features.
So, how do you go about determining the value of your RV?
Fortunately, there are free valuation tools online such as National Vehicle and J.D. Power (previously by NADA.com) that will allow you to get a better idea of what your RV is worth.
Let’s talk about those now:
Blue Book Alternatives for RVs: J.D. Power / NADA Tool and More
Below are four options for calculating the “blue book” value of your RV:
- J.D. Power / NADA
- National Vehicle
- RV Trader
- And local RV dealerships
Each is a valid way of assessing the value of your RV, it’s suggested that you use two or more of these to ensure you get a second opinion if you’re trying to maximize your return.
Here’s a quick breakdown of each blue book alternative:
J.D. Power (Previously NADA Guides)
NADA, or the National Automobile Dealers’ Association, has been widely considered to be the standard when it came to assessing the value of an RV for years.
In 2015, J.D. Power purchased NADA’s used RV evaluation guides and tool. It’s now located here: RV Prices, Values & Reviews – J.D. Power.
They offer the most comprehensive tool on the market that breaks down valuation-related information for all RV types.
While there is no true “RV blue book”, the J.D. Power / NADA RV valuation tool comes close in terms of being recognized as a trustworthy authority and tool for calculating an approximate value for your RV.
You can calculate the value of your RV using J.D. Power’s RV valuation tool here.
National Vehicle
Not far behind J.D. Power, National Vehicle is an RV buying and selling platform that offers a free RV valuation tool with a personalized touch.
It isn’t an online tool like J.D. Power (or Kelley Blue Book), but it is reliable and you can sometimes get even more accurate information by jotting down details you can’t input manually into J.D. Power’s automated tool.
You can submit your RV’s information for a free valuation from National Vehicle here.
RV Trader
RV Trader is another free online tool for valuing your RV. However, it’s pretty bare bones and doesn’t offer more than:
- Year
- Make
- Model
- And type
Like National Vehicle, RV Trader is also a national marketplace where you can sell your RV so there’s an added benefit to plugging your RV into their tool regardless.
With that said, don’t expect accurate information given the limited information it uses to calculate your RV’s value:
You can try out RV Trader’s RV value tool here.
Dealerships
Now, let’s talk about two more “hands-on” approaches: going to your local dealership and local market research.
While it may be more time-consuming, calling up your local RV dealer and having a conversation is one of the better ways to figure out the value of your RV.
Salesmen might try to sell you a new RV, but one thing they won’t do is promise you more for your RV than the price they’ll actually buy it for.
With that said, it’s important to note that this value is going to be wholesale, which will be less than what you can sell it for via direct to consumer on a marketplace like RV Trader or National Vehicle.
Local Market Research
Last but not least, you can also do your own local market research.
Nothing is more effective than finding people in your general area selling the same RV with similar specs.
What a platform values your RV at is one thing, what real people have sold it for recently is another.
To do your own local research, you can use RV platforms like RV Trader as well as more general platforms such as Facebook Marketplace to try and find something as close to your RV as possible.
You’ll want to keep in mind that specs aren’t likely to be exact, so you’ll need to do a bit of your own calculation here.
How to Find the Value of Your RV Using J.D. Power’s RV Valuation Tool
Next, let’s walk through how to find the value of your RV using J.D. Power’s tool.
While this just one tool for estimating your RV’s value, it’s the most reliable and trustworthy way to get an accurate estimate fast.
First, head to their RV Prices and Values tool here. Then click on the big orange button:
Next, select the brand of your RV:
Then select your RV model from the list (make sure to select the correct model):
Next, you’ll need to check off all of the options relevant to your RV across a variety of categories:
Make sure to select the exact options that your RV has as the wrong selection will affect the price and could give you an incorrect valuation.
If you’re unsure, do a detailed check over your RV to ensure you know exactly what systems and options it has.
Once you’re done, you’ll be taken to your final valuation page with a breakdown of your RV’s resale value, including the suggested list price, low retail, and average retail price:
Here’s a breakdown of each value:
- Suggested list price: Sticker price or MSRP. If you purchased your RV brand new at a dealership, this is around what they’d sell it for.
- Low retail price: Consider this the maximum a dealership would likely offer you for your RV.
- Average retail price: What you would pay for your RV if you bought it used at a dealership. If you plan to sell your RV to a local dealer, start negotiations here.
Keep in mind that no tool online will typically give you a 100% accurate valuation of your RV’s value.
Condition, modifications, and other factors aren’t taken into account on any online tool, even J.D. Power’s, so it can help to get a second opinion.
It’s an especially good idea to pair using an online tool like J.D. Power’s with your own local market research, whether that’s studying the same or similar RVs for sale or calling a few dealers in your area.
Tips for Selling Your RV or Motorhome
Selling your RV can be a smooth or painful process, depending on a few factors.
You can also get, “whatever someone can afford” or what your RV is truly worth depending on how you play it.
Consider these tips to smooth out the entire process and get the most for your RV when selling:
1. Be objective
I know, it’s your baby. But you’ll only push away potential buyers if what you’re asking is far beyond its actual worth.
You need to be objective and honest with your valuation, including everything from maintenance needs to its wear-and-tear and age.
As long as your price is fair, buyers will be willing to deal with a bit of fixing up. If you hide repair issues or other flaws you’ll only get yourself into trouble that could jeopardize the entire transaction.
2. Sell up unique features and upgrades
Did you do any custom work on your RV, whether via furniture, solar panels, or something else?
When putting together your listing and talking to buyers, sell these unique features up. They’re things they won’t likely find in the same RV, which gives you an advantage over other sellers.
3. Take high-quality photos
Great photos are key to selling your RV properly. The difference between good and bad photos could be the difference between your RV selling fast and… not at all.
Take some time to bring your RV out somewhere with nice, even sunlight and even rent a camera for a day if you need to (though most modern smartphones have good enough picture quality).
Get photos of:
- Exterior: Front, sides, back
- Interior: All areas, all appliances, electronics
- Unique features: special installations, solar panels, whatever it is get clear photos of these as well
- Close-ups and wide-scale
Take some time to tidy up your RV, give it a good cleaning, and maybe even dress it up a bit before taking photographs.
Think of this as your open house. You’ll want to show off your RV as best as you can to attract buyers. The better you can do this the more buyers you’ll attract and the faster it will sell.
4. Make your listing attractive
Now, take all those amazing photos you shot and create an attractive listing wherever you’re putting your RV up for sale.
Make sure to list all of the features of your RV, its specs, sell up unique features, and display your best photos (the more the better).
When writing the text for your listing, think of how the buyer will see it. Sell up the dream of owning their own RV by mentioning all the amazing features it offers that make it perfect for long-distance travel, camping, and enjoying time with family.
5. Use online RV platforms
If you’re selling direct to consumer, the wider the net you can cast the better. Use every marketplace at your disposal, including:
These are just a few examples. The more marketplaces you can get your listing on, the more potential buyers you’ll get your RV in front of.
6. Be prepared to negotiate
Lastly, understand that selling your RV direct to consumer isn’t like walking into a dealer.
If you sell your RV to a local dealer, they’ll offer a certain amount and you either take it or leave it (and it will be less than you can sell it for directly).
If you sell your RV on an online marketplace (i.e. direct to consumer), you’ll be speaking with an aspiring RV owner who will give you an offer. That owner may be lower than you know you can get for your RV, and that’s fine.
It’s your job to negotiate and try to get as high a price as possible while still making them happy and closing the sale.
To do this, it can help to figure out what the lowest price is that you’ll accept.
How low is too low? When are you in “it’s a deal” territory? This can serve as your north star while negotiating with potential buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I fix up my RV before selling?
The condition of your RV or travel trailer affects the resale value. However, whether it will be worth it to fix something or not depends on how much it will impact that value vs. the cost to repair.
The fastest way to find out how those repairs will affect the resale value is to contact local dealers. They’ll quote you on the wholesale value of the vehicle, but they’ll still be able to give you an idea of how much those repairs will increase the resale value.
However, in most cases, repairs aren’t worth the time or money unless they’re minor cosmetic items that will affect how the RV is presented in listings.
What is the best option for selling your used RV?
There is no one best option for selling your RV. If you’re selling an RV, instead you should cast a wide net and use every marketplace at your disposal.
That includes general marketplaces with lots of eyes such as Facebook Marketplace as well as RV-specific sites such as:
Each of these (and similar RV-specific platforms) are great platforms for buying and selling RVs, and the first place you should look when listing your RV.
What is a dealer consignment sale?
A dealer consignment sale is essentially a partnership between you and a dealership, where the dealer handles the marketing and sale of your RV and receives a commission in exchange when it’s sold.
If you’re not picky about how much you get for the sale of your RV and you don’t want to go through the hassle of listing it on marketplaces and negotiating with buyers, this is an option.
However, keep in mind that due to the commission being paid to the dealer, you’re not likely to get as good a return compared to if you sold it yourself.
With that said, your RV might go for more than you expect given it will be in the hands of a salesman (though still lower than if you sold it yourself), helping off-set this a bit.
