Best Place to Buy a Used RV? Comparing Price Against Protection
Every used RV seller trades something away.
Here is what each one asks you to give up.
This guide is for someone who has already decided to buy used and is now choosing where to buy it.
If you already own an RV and are thinking about trading it in, that is a different decision. Our guide to selling your RV covers that side of it.
Smart RV Hub researches RV technology and RV ownership full time, and every route below is compared using the terms each seller publishes.
Reading the whole guide takes about ten minutes. The links below jump straight to the route you want.
If you only have a minute, read the comparison table first. Then read the section that matches your budget and how much checking you want to do yourself.
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Online classifieds
Sites built just for RV listings put thousands of used RVs in one place. You can search them by class, by age, and by location.
That choice is the appeal, because you can compare many similar RVs before picking one to go and see.
Prices on these sites tend to sit close to what similar RVs sell for. Sellers can see those prices too.
The catch is that most listings are still private sellers using the site as a tool. The site checks the listing, and that is where its protection ends.
You still arrange your own inspection and check the paperwork yourself, the same as any private sale.
Read our guide to which class of RV fits how you travel first if you are not yet sure what you are shopping for.
It explains Class A, B, and C, plus travel trailers and fifth wheels. Then you can search with a clear target in mind.
RV dealers
A dealer is the route with the most built in protection, and that covers brand name dealerships and independent used lots alike.
Dealers usually inspect an RV, and repair anything obvious, before they put it on the lot. Many also add a limited warranty or a certified pre owned program.
A certified pre owned program is the dealer's own promise that the RV has passed their checks.
You pay for that protection. A dealer RV typically costs more than the same RV bought privately.
You are also dealing with a business that has a name and an address to answer to, which matters if a fault shows up after the sale.
Ask the dealer exactly what their inspection covered, and ask for it in writing. A spoken promise is hard to rely on later.
Facebook Marketplace and local listings
Local marketplace listings and community groups are often the least expensive of the mainstream routes. No dealer is adding a profit on top.
Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and local RV owner groups all carry listings of this kind.
You save money, and you also get the least help of any route on this list.
The site does not vet sellers. It does not make anyone tell you about the RV's condition either.
If the RV turns out to have hidden problems, a sale like this carries no protection from the site.
Meeting locally has one real advantage. You can usually see the RV in person and walk away if something feels wrong.
Treat every local listing as a private sale that you happened to find on social media, and run the same inspection and paperwork checks you would use anywhere else.
Auctions
RV auctions, in person or online, can produce the lowest prices of any buying route.
The RVs sometimes come from a lender taking one back, from a company selling off its vehicles, or from an estate after an owner has died.
That low price comes with the biggest catch on this list. You get little or no chance to inspect the RV before you bid.
Many auctions sell RVs as is.
An as is sale usually means no warranty. It can also mean no confirmation that the RV runs.
Auctions suit a buyer who has done this before and can size up an RV fast. Count the repair bill as part of the price.
An auction RV can also sit a long way from where you live. Our guide to what it costs to ship an RV home sets out the published rate ranges by size and distance.
They are a poor fit for a first time buyer who needs a full inspection before committing.
Private sellers
Buying straight from an owner, away from any classifieds site or marketplace, leaves the most room to agree a price. It is the most personal route.
An owner who has looked after their own RV can usually answer detailed questions about its history. A dealer reselling a trade in often cannot.
The protection here is on you.
No site and no dealer license stands behind this sale. Only your own checking does.
Every check is yours alone, from the inspection to the transfer of the title. The title is the document that proves who owns the RV.
A well documented, well maintained RV bought privately can be an excellent buy. That depends on you doing the checking yourself rather than trusting what you are told.
How do the five places to buy a used RV compare?
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to read every column.
| Buying route | Typical price level | Buyer protection | Inspection access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online classifieds | Close to what similar RVs sell for | The site checks the listing, not the RV | Buyer arranges their own |
| RV dealers | Highest, because protection is included | Warranty or certified pre owned program is common | Dealer inspection plus the buyer's own walk through |
| Facebook Marketplace and local listings | Lowest of the mainstream routes | None, treat as a private sale | Buyer arranges their own, and can view in person |
| Auctions | Can be lowest overall | Usually none, sold as is | Limited or none before bidding |
| Private sellers | Open to an offer, often below dealer | None, the checking is all yours | Buyer arranges their own |
Which place to buy a used RV suits which buyer?
The right route depends more on you than on the RV. What matters is how much checking you are willing to arrange yourself.
- A first time buyer who wants protection built in usually gets most of it from a dealer. The higher price already covers work a private buyer would arrange alone.
- A buyer who is happy to book their own inspection can take the saving on online classifieds or a private sale. At a dealer, that same checking is part of what the price buys.
- A buyer who wants to stand in front of the RV quickly suits local marketplace listings. Use a private sale's checks from the very first message.
- An auction suits someone who has bought before and can judge an RV on sight. The lowest prices come with the least chance to inspect.
- A buyer who is not yet sure the class is right should rent that class for a short trip before picking any route above.
The listing price is only part of what an RV costs you. If you are buying one to live in, our guide to what full time RV living costs covers the bills that follow the purchase.
Should you rent the class first before buying a used RV?
Before you commit to any of the routes above, think about renting the class of RV you are about to buy. A weekend or a short trip is enough.
A rental tells you things a listing never can.
It shows whether the layout suits how your family really travels. It also shows whether that class feels right to drive.
Our guide to renting a camper van for a week covers what a short rental of that class usually involves. It is still worth reading even if you end up buying a different class.
To compare renting and buying on cost, and on how much you tie yourself down, see our guide to whether buying is the right call for you.
Which RV should you rent?
Pick how you travel and we will point you to the class that fits.
We suggest
Class B campervan
Compact and the easiest to drive and park, sleeps two, and slips into a normal parking space.
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How do you inspect a used RV before buying?
Whatever route you buy through, the inspection decides more than anything else whether a used RV turns out to be a good buy.
Start outside with the roof. Roof damage is one of the most expensive faults to fix and one of the easiest to miss on a quick walk through.
Our guide to spotting water damage on an RV roof walks through what to check and what a failing roof looks like before you sign anything.
Inside, run every system rather than only looking at it. That means the water pump, the water heater, the furnace, the air conditioning, and every slide out.
A slide out is a section of wall that slides outward to make a room bigger when the RV is parked.
A slide out that moves smoothly, and appliances that all switch on, tell you far more than how they look.
Check underneath for water staining, rust, and signs of past repair work around the frame and the tanks.
What does a pre purchase RV inspection cover?
A pre purchase inspection, meaning one booked before you buy, goes further than any walk through you can do alone. Inspectors certified by the National RV Inspectors Association work independently of the seller.
Based on published guidance from RV inspection bodies, an inspection covers the roof covering and the seals around anything that comes through the roof.
It also covers the frame and everything underneath, the electrical system, the propane system, the slide outs, and every appliance.
The plumbing system is covered too, which matters because a leak can stay hidden until water is running through the lines.
Skipping this step on a private sale saves a little money. That is exactly where expensive faults slip through.
Once you own the RV, our RV maintenance checklist is the schedule to follow so the same faults do not reappear.
Paperwork and title checks
The paperwork on a used RV needs checking just as carefully as the RV itself.
Check the title before any money changes hands. It should be clean, it should be in the seller's name, and it should carry no lien.
A clean title means the RV has not been written off as a total loss. A lien means a lender still has a claim on it, so ask for that to be cleared before you pay.
Match the vehicle identification number on the title to the number on the RV itself. A mismatch should stop the sale.
Ask for service records and any warranty papers that pass to you with the RV.
Keep a copy of everything, starting with the bill of sale, which is the receipt for the purchase.
Where one applies, keep the odometer disclosure too, which is the form that records the mileage.
A dealer will usually handle this paperwork as part of the sale, while a private sale or an auction leaves it entirely to you.
Not buying yet? Keep the checks handy
If you are months away from buying, the useful thing today is knowing what to check first. Then you are ready before a seller is waiting on your answer.
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Smart RV Hub Editorial Team
RV Technology Research and Reviews
Our writers research smart RV technology full time, covering solar power, connectivity, security, and power management.
Every guide draws on published manufacturer specifications and verified owner reviews, so you can compare options with confidence.
Meet the editorial team and our review standardsBuying a Used RV: Common Questions
Is it cheaper to buy a used RV from a private seller or a dealer?
A private seller is usually cheaper.
A dealer's price includes their own inspection, any repair work they did, and any warranty they offer.
The extra you pay a dealer buys protection you would otherwise have to arrange yourself.
Should I get an inspection before buying a used RV even from a dealer?
Yes.
Ask what the dealer's own inspection covered, and think about booking your own independent inspection as well.
A dealer inspection protects their resale as much as it protects you.
An independent inspector has no stake in the sale going through.
What should I check first when viewing a used RV?
Work from the outside in, and look at the roof before anything inside catches your eye.
Then switch everything on rather than trusting how it looks.
A system you have actually run is the only one you know anything about.
Are RV auctions a safe route for a first time buyer?
Usually not, because the bidding closes before you have had any real chance to look the RV over.
If an auction still appeals, count the repair budget as part of what you bid, not a surprise afterward.
How do I check if a used RV has a clean title?
Your state's motor vehicle department is the place to check, and it can usually tell you the status of a title before you buy.
Ask to see the document itself early rather than on collection day.
That leaves time to sort out anything on it that does not line up.
Is Facebook Marketplace a safe place to buy a used RV?
It can be, as long as you expect nothing from the site beyond putting you in touch with the seller.
The upside is that it is local.
You can see and touch the RV in person before any money moves, which some online only routes never allow.
Should I rent an RV class before buying one?
Renting the class you are considering for a short trip is a cheap way to find out whether the layout suits you.
It also tells you how that class feels to drive before you commit.
It is a useful step whichever buying route you choose afterward.
What does a professional pre purchase inspection usually cost?
Costs vary by inspector and region, so ask any certified RV inspector for their current rate before booking.
Based on published guidance from RV inspection bodies, the price depends on the length, type, age, and complexity of the RV.
Next to the purchase price, an inspection is a small fraction of what you pay.
It can save you a far larger repair bill later.
What to check, what it costs to run, and how to sell it later.
Sell My RV
How to price it, list it, and hand it over when you are the one selling.
RV Classes Explained
Which class actually fits how you travel, before you shop for one.
RV Rental vs Buying
Whether buying is the right call at all this year.
Class B RV Rental
Try a camper van for a week before you commit to owning one.
RV Roof Inspection Checklist
The water damage check to run before you make an offer.
Cost of Full Time RV Living
What an RV costs to run once you have bought it.