If you’re buying an RV from a private seller, watch out for scammers and arm yourself with the right tools.
We’ll walk you through the most common RV scams and show you how to spot red flags. We’ll also introduce you to a safer way to buy your dream RV.
Here are some best practices to protect yourself from scams when buying an RV.
Before you look at listings, get familiar with the RV you’re interested in. Research average prices, familiarize yourself with common features and options, and read reviews from other owners to understand potential issues.
Then, look out for red flags (discussed below) when you scan listings. If you’ve got realistic expectations and you’re patient, you’ll end up with a few listings worth pursuing.
It’s pretty uncommon to ask for a seller’s ID upfront, and it might rightfully raise suspicion. They don’t know or trust you either.
Some people solve this problem later on in the sale by bringing in an escrow company. Both parties don’t directly exchange ID info, but the escrow does. Other people might just snap a photo of the seller’s ID during closing. In both cases, you might not realize you’re dealing with someone who wants to hide something until you’ve invested a lot of time.
When you close a deal with DealNow, we verify the seller’s identity before you ever meet them. You can also order an RV title check that cross-references DMV records. You’ll organize the inspection and meetup knowing you’re dealing with a seller linked to a real ID and bank account.
A vehicle history report will weed out scammers and give you a deeper understanding of the RV. Misrepresentation scams rely on you not doing your due diligence. The scammer might make excuses about why they can’t give you the vehicle identification number. Insist on a vehicle history report or walk away from the sale.
A typical RV vehicle history report includes:
Vehicle specifications: make, model, year, body style, engine type, etc.
Ownership history: number of previous owners and duration of ownership.
Title information: clean title, salvage title, rebuilt title, etc.
Accident history: reported accidents, severity, and extent of damage.
Odometer readings: recorded mileage over time.
Service and maintenance records: history of repairs and regular maintenance.
Recall information: any manufacturer recalls associated with the RV.
Registration history: states where the RV was registered and renewal dates.
Flood or fire damage: records of any reported flood or fire damage.
Lemon history: whether the RV was part of a manufacturer’s lemon law program.
Theft records: If the RV was ever reported as stolen.
Structural damage: Any reported major structural issues.
Inspection records: Dates and results of previous inspections.
Another convenient benefit of buying through DealNow is that you can easily order a vehicle history report through our app in a couple of clicks.
The seller should be happy to meet for an in-person inspection and test drive. Pick an open, public place, such as a mall parking lot, and arrange the meetup during the day.
During the inspection (and test drive, for motorized RVs), watch for red flags (discussed below) and keep misrepresentation scams in mind.
Conversions should be noted on the vehicle history report and diligent sellers should have receipts. Check that all converted systems work as described.
To avoid cloned RVs, check that the VIN, make, model, and year match those on the vehicle history report, physical VIN tag, and RV title.
Odometer readings should increase over time across all available documents. The number of miles on the odometer should be higher than on the title. The RV’s general condition should match its purported mileage.
During the test drive (if it’s a motorized RV), listen and feel for signs of unusual wear or dysfunctional components.
We recommend you hire a professional RV inspector. They will notice things you won’t, and if an ill-intended seller has led you along this far, they might finally tap out once the pros come in.
Hire a professional inspector through the DealNow app to get some final peace of mind before you seal the deal.
Confirm that the RV checks out on paper. It should have a clean title in the seller’s name, valid registration, supporting maintenance records, and title information that agrees with the vehicle history report and the physical VIN tag on the RV.
The maintenance records and vehicle history should tell a coherent story about the life of the RV. Note discrepancies and talk them out with the seller. Require the seller to address inaccuracies on the title before moving ahead with the sale.
DealNow offers optional title checks, giving you peace of mind about the RV’s legal status. Our platform also provides a secure place to store and share important documents, making the paperwork process seamless and transparent.
Private-party transactions have an inherent trust issue. You don’t know the seller well enough to send payment without getting the RV, and they don’t know you enough to sign over the title first. You’re stuck in a catch-22.
Some people take the transaction to escrow for a solution. Escrow companies hold your money until the RV is in your possession. Escrow solves the catch-22 issue, but it also adds a lot of inconvenience, cost, and time to the transaction.
A bill of sale also offers a path through the catch-22. It’s a legally binding document that memorializes the transaction details. Both parties sign and countersign two copies before exchanging money. In case the seller is up to no good, you have a legal defense that will hold up in court.
If you take the DealNow route, we make this step super simple. You and the seller sign a state-specific digital bill of sale before you send payment. Not only is this faster than printing two copies, but if the seller is a truly bad actor, your copy is saved to the cloud, which prevents them from swiping it (plus your money, plus the RV). What’s more, with our identity verification, you know they’re signing the document under their legal identity (an alias renders the bill of sale worthless).
If you’re paying with cash, cashier’s check, or wire transfer, the seller will probably want to finish the deal at your bank. Sellers need to watch out for payment scams much more than buyers. Meet at the bank during business hours and patiently let them verify your check, await transfer confirmation, or count and check bills.
Or, skip the bank visit and finish the sale with DealNow. It’s faster and safer than checks, wire transfers, and cash. Move money from your primary account into an FDIC-insured DealNow account and instantly send payments of any value to the seller. You can finish the deal any time, any place, and get to planning your great cross-country road trip.
Let’s look at the scams you might encounter.
Most RV scams involve misrepresentation. The seller lies about one or more aspects of the RV to get you to pay a higher price than you otherwise would have. In some cases, sellers conceal facts that might make you walk away from the deal altogether. Here are some of the most common types of misrepresentations:
You could end up paying far more than the RV is worth and face expensive repairs or modifications. Misrepresentation scams are particularly frustrating because once the paperwork is signed and you’re the new owner, you have little legal recourse.
Scammers create enticing listings for RVs that don’t exist (or for RVs that they don’t own). They use photos stolen from legitimate listings and offer low prices to attract naive buyers. You could lose your deposit or full payment without ever seeing an RV.
These scammers often use social engineering tactics to manipulate buyers. They might share sob stories about needing to sell quickly, use pressure tactics claiming multiple interested buyers, or give elaborate excuses for why they can’t meet in person. Their goal is to convince you to pay upfront, then disappear with your money.
Criminals steal an RV and disguise it by using the vehicle identification number (VIN) and license plate of a similar, legitimate RV. The scammer then sells this cloned RV to an unsuspecting buyer. When the theft is discovered, the buyer loses both their money and the RV to law enforcement.
The seller introduces a seemingly legitimate escrow company to handle the transaction. In reality, the company is controlled by the scammer, who disappears with your money once you’ve made the payment. You’ll lose your money and never see the RV. You send your payment to the “escrow service,” thinking it’s secure. The scammer then takes your money and vanishes, leaving you with no funds and no RV.
Most RV scams are easy to spot if you know what to look for and insist on using DealNow to close the transaction. Let’s look at the most common “tells” that signal a scam in progress.
One or two warning warning signs don’t mean you have to abandon a listing you really like. They might just signal that the seller doesn’t know what they’re doing. Trust your gut. If it says no, you’re probably dodging a scam or a seller that’s not worth dealing with.
If your gut says yes, invite them to transact on DealNow. Our mobile payment platform is great for weeding out scammers. Buyers and sellers verify their identities during sign-up, communicate without contact sharing through the app, and sign legally binding bills of sale before payment. Most bad actors won’t want the exposure.
The safest payment method when buying an RV is DealNow. Unlike physical cash and checks, DealNow facilitates instant, verified transfers of any amount directly between sellers and buyers.
DealNow’s platform secures transactions by:
With DealNow, you get the immediacy of physical cash with escrow-like safeguards. Funds are held in an FDIC-insured account and hosted on the DealNow platform.
Class A RVs are the kings of the road. They are spacious and often equipped with luxury amenities. Built on commercial truck or custom chassis, these behemoths stretch from 25 to 45 feet and can comfortably sleep up to 8 people. Inside, you’ll find spacious interiors featuring full kitchens, bathrooms, living areas, and master bedrooms. Their size does come with trade-offs: they can be challenging to maneuver and have extremely low fuel efficiency.
Class B RVs are like cozy apartments. Often called campervans, these compact motorhomes are built on van chassis such as the Mercedes Sprinter or Ford Transit. Measuring 16 to 22 feet, they typically sleep 2 to 4 people. While snug, Class B RVs offer basic amenities and are easy to drive.
Class C RVs strike a happy medium between their A and B cousins. Built on a truck chassis with an attached cab section, these versatile RVs range from 20 to 33 feet and can accommodate 4 to 8 people. A distinctive feature is the over-cab sleeping area, complementing the kitchen, bathroom, and living spaces. Class C RVs are a more budget-friendly option than Class A, with easier maneuverability, though they sacrifice some spaciousness.
Report the suspected scam to local law enforcement and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). If the scam happened on an online platform, report it to the platform as well.
RV stands for recreational vehicle. These vehicles combine transportation and living quarters, allowing people to travel and camp comfortably. RVs range from small campervans to travel trailers to large motorhomes.
Banks rarely refund money lost to scams. Unlike fraud, where someone uses your account without permission, scams involve you authorizing the transaction. Always use secure payment methods like DealNow to protect yourself when buying an RV.
Scams pose serious risks beyond just financial loss. They lead to identity theft, emotional distress, and damaged credit scores. In RV scams, you might lose a substantial amount of money and be left without the vehicle you were expecting. Scams can also erode trust in legitimate sellers, making future transactions more stressful.
While uncommon in RV scams, some scammers may resort to threats if they think you’re onto them. They might threaten legal action or try to intimidate you into completing the transaction.
If you feel threatened, contact law enforcement immediately and stop all communication with the scammer.
DealNow is the easiest way to close your own vehicle deal, anytime. It’s the safe and simple way to avoid fraud, sign documents, and instantly transact, all in one app.
