Consignment vs. Private Sale: Which Gets You More for Your RV?

When it's time to sell your RV, you have two real options: sell it yourself or consign it with a dealer. Both work. The right choice depends on your situation.

Here's an honest comparison.

Private Sale: The Case For It

If you sell your RV privately, you keep 100% of the sale price. No commission, no middleman. If you price it right and the market is active, you can sometimes get more than you would through a dealer.

Private sales also give you full control over the process — you set the price, you choose the buyer, you handle the timing.

When private sale makes sense:

• You have time and patience
• You're comfortable with strangers coming to your home or meeting in public
• Your RV is priced competitively and in good condition
• You're willing to handle the paperwork

Private Sale: The Reality

The average private RV sale takes 3–6 months. You'll field a lot of inquiries from people who aren't serious buyers. You'll schedule walkthroughs that don't show up. You'll deal with lowball offers, financing questions you can't answer, and the general friction of selling a large asset to a stranger.

You also have to handle the title transfer and bill of sale yourself, which varies by state and can be confusing.

If your time has value — and it does — the math on private sale isn't always as favorable as it looks.

Consignment: The Case For It

When you consign with a reputable dealer, you hand off the selling process. They handle marketing, showings, buyer qualification, paperwork, and the transaction. You set the price (with their guidance), and you get paid when it sells.

You don't have to deal with strangers. You don't have to be available for walkthroughs. You don't have to know how title transfers work in Georgia.

When consignment makes sense:

• You don't want to manage the selling process
• You want professional marketing and a wider buyer network
• You're not in a rush to sell within the next 2 weeks
• Your RV is in good condition and ready to show

The Commission Question

Consignment commissions vary by dealer. The typical range is 10–15% of the sale price. On a $30,000 RV, that's $3,000–$4,500.

Whether that's worth it depends on how you value your time and how much friction you're willing to absorb in a private sale. For many sellers, the answer is clear.

What About Trading In?

A trade-in is the fastest option — the dealer buys your RV directly, usually at wholesale value, and you walk away immediately. You'll get less than a private sale or consignment, but you get it now and you're done.

Trade-ins make sense when you're buying another RV from the same dealer, when you need the cash quickly, or when the RV has issues that would complicate a private sale.

The Honest Answer

There's no universally right answer. If you have a desirable unit, priced correctly, and you're willing to put in the time, private sale can work well. If you want the process handled for you and you're comfortable with a commission, consignment is the better experience.

What we've seen at Scamper: most sellers who try private first end up consigning after a few months of frustration. The ones who start with consignment are generally happier with the process.

Thinking about consigning your RV? Start here [blocked] or call us at 833-SCAMPER. We'll give you an honest read on your unit and what you can expect.