Selling your RV? Don’t get scammed by fraudulent buyers. We’ll list the most common tricks and traps, along with smart steps to take for a safe RV sale.
DealNow is a suite of transactional tools that lets you sell your RV safely and quickly. No matter where you list your RV for sale, finish the deal with DealNow.
Here’s how you can protect yourself from scams when selling an RV.
Scammers love to use aliases to avoid getting caught. We recommend verifying the identity of a potential buyer before the inspection meet-up.
Many online marketplaces have loose (or nonexistent) identity verification measures. Fortunately, DealNow verifies your buyer’s identity (and provides a whole lot of other protective measures).
After finding a potential buyer on a marketplace, invite them to your DealNow dealroom to enjoy identity verification. Also, you’ll be able to verify that they can afford your RV.
In addition to cloaking their identity, many scammers are broke. You want to verify that a potential buyer has the funds to afford your RV.
When paired with identity verification, funds verification weeds out most fraudsters. It also eliminates well-intentioned tire-kickers who can’t afford your RV and will waste your time.
When a potential buyer joins your DealNow dealroom, their funds will be verified and you’ll know you have a legitimate buyer who is ready to do the deal.
RV scams often involve shady forms of payment. Let’s break down your payment options so you can get paid safely for your RV:
For the highest level of security, DealNow offers integrated payments that are secure, immediate, and have no limits on the amount you can receive.
A bill of sale offers an additional layer of protection against scams—but only if your buyer is verified and signs the document under their real identity. A bill of sale memorializes the terms of the deal and serves as a legal record in case a troublesome buyer ever wants to cause problems for you in the future.
Include the following in your bill of sale:
DealNow’s digital bill of sale automates this process, guaranteeing all necessary information is included and compliant with state-specific requirements. Your bill of sale is electronically saved and secure against theft, loss, or destruction, and you know your buyer is signing it under their legal identity.
Perhaps the most important tool in your anti-scam arsenal is your own intuition. If a deal feels off, even if you can’t pinpoint exactly why, it’s okay to walk away. There will always be other potential buyers.
DealNow is the solution both buyers and sellers have been waiting for.
We’ve talked about the steps you can take to dodge scammers. Now, let’s look at the most common scams fraudsters are trying to perpetrate on RV sellers.
This scam works because many people don’t realize that banks deposit funds before they verify checks. Never cash a check written beyond the sale price, and always wait to finish the sale until the check clears.
These scams use the RV sale as a pretext to steal your personal information:
Don’t give out unnecessary personal information. If you want to accept a wire transfer, conduct the transaction at the bank and give your info directly to the bank. Better yet, skip information trading altogether and finish the deal securely with DealNow. We route all communication through our secure in-app messaging feature, and the buyer never has access to your phone number, email address, or other information.
This scam exploits your attempt to use a third-party service for security.
If you’re interested in bringing escrow-like trust to the transaction, skip the expensive fees and lengthy transactions and enjoy a safe, instant RV transaction finished with a legally binding digital bill of sale.
This scam works because the seller never meets the buyer face-to-face, making it easier for the scammer to maintain their deception. This scam often targets sellers who are eager to make a quick sale:
DealNow enables long-distance transactions that are fast and secure. Read how we empower an out-of-state buyer to legitimately buy your RV long-distance.
When selling your RV privately, be alert for these warning signs of potential scams.
Stay vigilant and trust your instincts. Legitimate buyers will respect your need to proceed cautiously with such a significant transaction.
Imagine a transaction platform that shields you from RV-selling scams without sacrificing convenience or speed. We created DealNow to be the ultimate transaction solution for high-value RV transactions.
After you’ve used DealNow, you’ll never want to sell an RV any other way.
Your best bet is to list on multiple platforms to reach the widest audience. Popular options include RV Trader, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and eBay Motors.
Whichever platforms you choose, use DealNow to close the sale. It ensures a safe transaction, whether you found your buyer on RV Trader, Craigslist, or through a friend. DealNow’s tools protect buyers and sellers, making it the smartest way to finalize any RV sale.
Spring and early summer are the best times to sell a used RV. As the weather warms up, more people start planning camping trips and road adventures. This increased interest leads to higher demand and better prices for sellers.
RVs depreciate, but not as rapidly as cars. On average, RVs lose 20–30% of their value in the first year, then about 5–10% per year after that. Well-maintained RVs hold their value best.
While RV buyers span all age groups, the largest segment is between 45 and 64 years old. This group often includes empty nesters and early retirees with disposable income and time for travel. Recent trends show increasing interest from younger buyers, particularly millennials looking for adventure and flexible living options.
It is not safe to accept a personal check. There’s no guarantee the buyer has enough funds in their account. If the check bounces, you could lose your RV and the payment.
Cashier’s checks are a safer alternative. The bank issues the check from their funds, so you don’t need to worry about it bouncing. To avoid fraud, you must verify the check at the bank or use a publicly available phone number before closing the deal.
You can ditch paper altogether and finish the deal with DealNow. Our intuitive mobile payment platform makes high-dollar RV transactions faster and safer than checks.
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.
