The Ultimate Guide to RV Consignment

RV consignment lets a dealership handle the sale of your rig for you — advertising, showings, financing, and negotiations — in exchange for a commission when it sells. It’s the right move for owners who don’t have the time or resources to manage a private sale, and the wrong move for those who want to maximize their final payout. Here’s everything you need to know to decide whether consignment makes sense for you and how to do it right.

RV Sale Methods At A Glance

What is RV Consignment? 

RV consignment works like clothing or artwork consignment. You hand your RV over to a dealership or consignment specialist, who lists it, shows it, handles buyer inquiries, and manages financing on your behalf. When the RV sells, the dealer takes a cut of the proceeds as their commission.
Unlike a trade-in — where the dealer buys your RV outright — consignment means you retain ownership until a buyer is found. You set (or agree to) the listing price and collect the proceeds minus the dealer’s fee.

How Much Does RV Consignment Cost?

Consignment fees vary more than most people expect. Before you agree to anything, understand how the dealer structures their commission — there are two main ways to do this.

Model 1: Flat percentage commission

The dealer takes a set percentage of the final sale price. Industry rates run from 8% to 25%, with most standard dealerships charging between 10% and 15%. For a high-value RV, even a small percentage represents thousands of dollars.

Model 2: Target price model

You and the dealer agree on a minimum “floor price” you want to walk away with. The dealer lists the RV higher and keeps everything above your floor as their compensation. This model gives dealers flexibility to negotiate with buyers — which can speed up the sale — but also means the dealer’s incentive is to sell for as much over your floor as possible.

Here’s how these models compare in practice:

Imagine your Class A motorhome has a fair market value of $100,000. You agree to list it at $85,000, and it ends up selling for $92,000.

• Flat commission (10%): 10% × $92,000 = $9,200 to the dealer; you keep $82,800.
• Target price model: Dealer keeps everything over $85,000: $92,000 − $85,000 = $7,000 to the dealer; you keep $85,000.

In this example, the target price model is more favorable to you — but that won’t always be the case. If the RV sells at a lower price, a flat percentage may cost less. Run both scenarios with realistic numbers before committing.

Additional fees to watch for:

Beyond the commission, dealers may charge for lot fees ($50–$200/month), advertising fees ($100–$500), detailing and prep work, mechanical repairs, and administrative or title transfer fees. These can add several hundred to several thousand dollars on top of the base commission. Always ask for a complete fee breakdown before you sign.

Use JD Power’s RV valuation tool to establish your fair market value before any dealer conversation — it gives you a suggested listing price based on your RV’s mileage, age, and condition.

Do You Need Consignment Insurance?

Your existing RV insurance policy likely does not cover the vehicle while it’s in consignment at a dealership. Most personal RV policies are designed for owner use, not for RVs sitting on a dealer lot awaiting sale.

It’s true that most dealerships have security cameras, fenced lots, and lighting — but fire, storm damage, vandalism, or accidents on the lot can still occur. Consignment insurance fills the coverage gap between your personal policy and the dealer’s lot liability. It’s generally inexpensive relative to the value it protects.

Ask any dealer before signing if their lot insurance covers your RV during consignment, or whether you need to carry your own. And get the answer in writing.

Pros and Cons of RV Consignment

There are pros and cons to selling your RV by consignment. Here are things to consider:

Pros of consignment:

Consignment makes the most sense when you don’t have the time or inclination to handle advertising, phone calls, scheduling showings, and negotiating offers yourself. Dealerships have foot traffic, established buyer lists, and financing that private sellers usually don’t. This can mean a faster sale. If you live in a rural area with fewer local buyers, a dealership’s marketing and size can be especially valuable.

Cons of consignment:

The commission is the obvious drawback — on a $100,000 RV, even a 10% commission costs you $10,000 that you’d keep in a private sale. Add detailing fees, storage fees, and consignment insurance, and your net proceeds drop further. You’re also locked into the consignment contract, which is typically one to three months. This means you can’t sell privately or on a platform like RVT.com during that window. And you can’t use your RV while it’s consigned, even though you still own it and pay to insure it.

How to Find a Reputable Consignment Dealer

Not all dealers operate the same way. As you research, ask these questions before signing with anyone:

• Do they charge a flat percentage or use the target price model?
• What is the full consignment term — and what happens if the RV doesn’t sell?
• What does the commission cover, and what costs extra?
• Are there setup fees, cancellation fees, or lot fees?
• How do they market the RV — online listings, email campaigns, show appearances?
• What does their lot security look like?
• What do past consignment clients say about the experience?

Try to meet in person with two or three dealers before deciding. Customer service quality matters when your rig is sitting on someone else’s lot for one to three months.

How to Sell an RV on Consignment: Step by Step

If you want to sell your RV on consignment, here’s a guide on how to do it:

A List of RV Consignment Dealers, Services, and Specialists

Not sure where to begin looking for a consignment dealer? There are dealers scattered across the country.

• Family Motor Coach Association offers tips for consigning an RV and maintains a searchable dealer directory through their website — a good starting point for owners of motorhomes specifically.
• Camping World offers a widely accessible consignment program through hundreds of locations nationwide. Commission fees typically run 8–12%, making it one of the lower-cost national options. The broad location network means convenient access regardless of where you are.
• RVT isn’t a consignment service itself, but its nationwide dealer search is a useful research tool — browsing dealer listings gives you a realistic sense of how aggressively different dealers market their inventory.
• PPL Motor Homes is the largest RV consignment dealer in the US, having helped over 55,000 owners sell their RVs since 1972. PPL operates primarily out of Texas, with locations in Houston, New Braunfels, and Cleburne. They have expanded to additional locations in Florida and Oklahoma, with further growth planned. They specialize exclusively in used RVs and typically have 850+ units on the lot across their locations.
• National Vehicle is a nationwide consignment company with a strong reputation for customer service and an online-first marketing approach that extends your RV’s exposure well beyond local buyers.

Renting: An Alternative Worth Considering

If you’re not ready to sell but want to generate income from your RV, renting through RVshare is worth a serious look before committing to consignment. Renting lets you earn money during periods when you’re not using your rig while retaining full ownership — and full use whenever you want it.

With RVshare you control your own listing, set your own rates, choose your renters, and keep most of what your RV earns. You also get the marketing reach and liability coverage of a large platform without giving up your rig or paying a commission. An RV sitting idle for months is depreciating without return — renting converts that downtime into income.

Key Takeaways

• RV consignment lets a dealership handle the full sale process in exchange for a commission — the right trade-off for owners who lack the time or resources for a private sale, but the wrong one for those who want to maximize their net proceeds.
• Commission fees typically run 8–25%, with most standard dealerships charging 10–15%. On a $100,000 RV, even a 10% commission costs you $10,000 you’d keep in a private sale.
• There are two commission structures to understand before signing: a flat percentage of the final sale price, or a target price model where the dealer keeps everything above your agreed floor. Run both scenarios with your actual numbers before committing.
• Beyond the base commission, watch for lot fees, advertising fees, detailing charges, repair markups, and admin fees that can add several hundred to several thousand dollars to the total cost.
• Most personal RV insurance policies do not cover the vehicle while it’s in consignment — confirm in writing whether the dealer’s lot insurance covers your rig, or carry your own consignment insurance.
• Consignment contracts typically lock you in for one to three months, during which you can’t sell privately, list on platforms like RVT.com, or use the RV yourself.
• PPL Motor Homes is the largest RV consignment dealer in the US, operating since 1972 with locations in Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma.
• If you’re not certain about selling, renting through RVshare generates income from your RV without giving up ownership, signing a contract, or paying a commission.

Frequently Asked Questions About RV Consignment

Not ready to sell? Put your RV to work instead.
List your RV on RVshare and earn rental income whenever you’re not on the road — no commission, no consignment contract, and no giving up your rig.