RV Consignment: Fees, Contracts, and Whether It Beats Selling Privately
Consignment puts your RV on a dealer's lot while you keep ownership until it sells. It sits between trading in and selling privately on price, effort and time. Here is how it works and what to check before you sign.
By Joey Bouza, Founder, US RV Connection · Updated September 13, 2026
Consignment is the middle road. You keep the title, the dealer keeps the RV on their lot, and when it sells they take a fee and send you the rest. It usually nets more than a trade-in and less than a well-run private sale, in exchange for handing off showings, buyer financing and paperwork. Because RVs are large, need storage and attract buyers who want financing, consignment is more common in this market than in almost any other vehicle category. This guide covers how it works, what the fees and contracts look like, and how to decide whether it is the right route for your unit.
How RV consignment works
- Agreement. You sign a consignment contract naming the unit, the asking price, the fee, the term and who pays for what while it sits.
- Delivery. The RV goes to the dealer's lot. Some dealers pick up; most expect you to deliver.
- Inspection and prep. The dealer walks the roof, tests slides, awnings and appliances, and details the unit. Repairs they recommend are billed to you or deducted at sale, per the contract.
- Marketing. They photograph it, write it up, list it on their website and the marketplaces they pay for, and field the calls.
- Showings and financing. They handle buyers, arrange test drives on motorhomes, and run financing through their lenders, which is a real advantage: many private buyers cannot get an RV loan on a private-party sale.
- Sale and settlement. The buyer pays the dealer. The dealer pays off any lien, deducts the fee and agreed expenses, and pays you the balance within a set number of days of cleared funds.
Ownership stays with you until the sale closes.
What consignment costs
Fees are structured one of three ways, and the contract should say which:
| Structure | How it works | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage of sale price | A fixed share of the final price, sometimes with a minimum | The minimum can be a large share of an inexpensive trailer |
| Flat fee | A set amount regardless of price | May be charged whether or not the unit sells; read the term |
| Net-to-seller | You agree the amount you will receive; the dealer keeps everything above it | Removes their incentive to hold out for a higher price |
Beyond the fee, ask who pays for lot storage, detailing, minor repairs, winterization, marketplace listing fees and insurance while the unit is consigned. Reputable dealers either absorb these or list them line by line in the contract. These figures are industry-typical and vary by region and unit; they are not measured from listings on this site.
The contract: what to check before signing
- Term and exit. How long the agreement runs, whether it renews automatically, and what it costs to take the unit back early.
- Price authority. Whether the dealer can accept an offer below asking without calling you, and by how much.
- Insurance. Whose policy covers the RV on the lot, during test drives and in a hailstorm. Your own policy may exclude commercial use or a unit not garaged at your address; ask your insurer.
- Lien handling. If there is a loan, how the payoff is handled at closing. See how to sell an RV with a loan.
- Repair authorization. A spending cap above which they must call you before doing work.
- Settlement timing. How many days after cleared funds you are paid, and whether funds are held in a trust or escrow account.
- Trade-ins. If the buyer trades a unit to the dealer as part of the deal, how your proceeds are calculated.
- Reporting. How often you get an update on inquiries, showings and offers.
- Personal property. What stays in the unit and what you remove before delivery.
Consignment versus trade-in versus private sale
| Trade-in | Consignment | Private sale | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical net to you | Lowest | Middle | Highest, if well run |
| Your time | An afternoon | Delivery and a few calls | Photos, listings, showings, test drives, paperwork |
| Time to money | Same day | Weeks to a season | Weeks to a season |
| Buyer financing | Dealer handles | Dealer handles | Buyer's problem, and a common deal-killer |
| Risk | None | Lot damage, slow dealer | Tire-kickers, payment fraud, liability on test drives |
| Best for | Buying new from the same dealer; units needing work | Motorhomes and higher-value fifth wheels; owners without storage or time | Clean, documented towables |
The gap between the three depends on your unit. Check where RVs like yours are listed right now:
| Type | Median asking | Lowest | Highest | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class A motorhome | $91,390 | $8,975 | $259,850 | 90 |
| Class B camper van | $99,979 | $39,750 | $179,895 | 29 |
| Class C motorhome | $84,650 | $23,777 | $339,995 | 107 |
| Travel trailer | $27,977 | $4,999 | $114,887 | 1560 |
| Fifth wheel | $59,994 | $7,488 | $176,794 | 361 |
| Toy hauler | $39,795 | $9,988 | $244,632 | 139 |
| Other (pop-ups, truck campers, park models) | $58,995 | $4,200 | $147,500 | 201 |
Pricing a consigned RV
The dealer will suggest an asking price. Verify it. Run your unit through the free RV appraisal, pull comparable listings, and set the ask with room for the buyer's negotiation and the dealer's fee. A unit priced to the top of the market sits through the season; one priced into the middle of the comparable range with records and a dry roof sells. Read the best time of year to sell an RV before you agree on a start date.
Choosing a consignment dealer
- Do they sell your type of unit already? A diesel pusher on a lot of entry-level travel trailers will not get the right calls.
- Where will it be listed? Ask for the list of marketplaces and whether they pay for premium placement.
- Look at their current consignment inventory: photos, descriptions, and how long the units have been there.
- Ask for two recent consignment sellers you can call.
- Confirm they carry a dealer's policy that covers consigned inventory, including weather damage.
- Ask whether the lot is fenced, lit and covered.
Frequently asked questions
- Is consignment the same as selling through an RV broker?
- Similar. Brokers usually work on a percentage and may not take possession; dealer consignment means the unit sits on their lot. The contract questions are the same.
- Can I sell the RV myself while it is consigned?
- Only if the contract says so. Many agreements are exclusive for the term, and some charge the fee on any sale during that period.
- Who pays for repairs a buyer asks for?
- That is negotiated per sale, but the dealer should not authorize repairs at your expense without your approval. Put a cap in the contract.
- How long does RV consignment take?
- It depends on price, season and unit type. Ask the dealer for their average days on lot for units like yours, and set the term to cover at least one selling season.
- Does consigning an RV affect my insurance?
- It can. Tell your insurer the unit is consigned and get the dealer's coverage in writing.
- Can I list the RV here while it is consigned?
- If your contract is non-exclusive, yes: list your RV and direct inquiries to the dealer or yourself as the contract allows.
About the author
Joey Bouza — Founder, US RV Connection
Working musician and founder of Prospects International, a marketing firm that runs lead and appointment campaigns for dealers across the country.
Prices and counts in our guides come from live listings on this site and are recalculated hourly. Where we quote industry-typical figures (transport, inspection, roof reseal, tire and appliance quotes) we say so, and we never publish a number we haven't measured or sourced.