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When Is The Best Time To Buy An RV?

This post was updated on July 26th, 2023

Best Time to Buy an RV

When Is The Best Time To Buy An RV?

Are you in the market for a new RV? We don’t blame you. Being an RV owner is a fabulous thing. It gives you the freedom to go out and explore the country on a whim, and you can do so without breaking the bank. Besides that, you have the ability to stay off-grid, and because you take your bed, bathroom, and kitchen along with you, you’ll be comfortable wherever you roam.

All that said, there are many things to consider before purchasing an RV. First, you’ll have to decide whether you prefer a driveable rig or a towable one. You’ll need to look at the various floor plans to figure out which is best for you, and you’ll want to consider the features in the RV you have in mind.

One of the most important factors, however, is the cost.

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Most people are going to be looking for the best deal they can get. After all, unless you’re made of money, you probably aren’t going to want to throw a bunch of it away unnecessarily. Fortunately, there are good deals to be had out there, and there are plenty of tricks that allow you to find those good deals. The best trick? Knowing the best time to buy an RV as well as where to get it.

Let’s dive in and discuss the very best time to buy an RV. From there, we can talk about the best places to shop as well, so you can mark your calendar and plan a trip to get the RV deal of a lifetime.

When to buy an RV

When is the best time to buy an RV? Many would say, “When you want it, of course!” However, we tend to disagree. Obviously, it is tempting to go out and shop for your rig the second you decide you want it, but waiting might just save you thousands of dollars.

What are you waiting for, then? For prices to drop—something that happens at a particular time of year, and can even be narrowed down to a particular day of the week.

The best season to buy an RV

We can start by finding the best season to buy an RV. As you might imagine, summer is the absolute worst time to invest in such a purchase. This is when the majority of people go camping, so naturally, it’s when they are thinking about campers and making those big purchases.

The second worst time is spring, when people are getting ready for those camping adventures.

Fall is an okay time to buy, as the camping season is winding down, but winter is the absolute best time to buy an RV. During this time, very few sales are made, giving salespeople and private sellers an incentive to drop prices and get RVs out the door any way they can.

The best month to buy an RV

If winter is the best season to buy an RV, which month is best? Well, by October, RV prices start to nosedive but still aren’t at their lowest. December and January are the slowest months of the year for RV sellers, making them the ideal time to get a good deal on a rig.

February continues to be a bit slow, but things do start picking back up again during this month, and March is back in full swing with spring sales coming in.

The best day to buy an RV

Okay, so you’ll want to go shopping for your next rig over the winter in December or January. Got it. But what day of the week should you be doing this shopping? Does it matter? It does!

First and foremost, you’ll want to make sure to avoid the weekends at all costs. Weekends are the busiest time of the week for RV dealerships as well as private sellers. This means the salespeople will have several potential buyers and will be less focused on making you a deal and more on encouraging you to buy.

Beyond that, some will say that Mondays are the best time to buy an RV. This is because the salespeople tend to be in a good mood after finishing a busy weekend and customers don’t tend to come in on Mondays, as they have to focus on work. That said, any day between Monday and Thursday is likely a fine pick.

Where is the best place to buy an RV?

Now that you know when to buy an RV, the next question is where you should make such a big purchase. This can make a big difference, so be sure to take note of the location tips below and use them along with the tips above.

The best part of the country to buy an RV

Most people assume shopping in their hometown is enough, and in some cases, this is a perfectly okay choice. That said, those looking for the lowest prices should check elsewhere.

Popular RV destinations such as Arizona and Florida are a good place to start. Indiana is also a good state to check because so many RV manufacturers are located there, meaning there is plenty of inventory at any given time.

Finally, checking the northern states in early fall—when those places are just starting to feel that chilly weather coming on—might just turn over some nice deals for you.

RV dealerships vs Private sellers

You’ll also want to consider whether you purchase from a dealership or a private seller. In most cases, a private seller will give you the better cash price.

However, dealerships often offer warranties and easier financing opportunities. We recommend checking out both options and making the best decision for your situation.

RV shows

If you can, consider shopping around at an RV show. When you find something you like, hold out until the last day. If the RV you like is still there, make a low offer. Dealers are usually willing to sell for cheap at the end of an RV show, as they go into the shows ready to let go of a huge amount of inventory, and aren’t keen on needing to move it all back to their lot when all is said and done.

Even if you don’t get an awesome deal at an RV show, you will have still seen a wide variety of rigs and floor plans. Many RV shows have gone digital this year, making it easier than ever to narrow down the different options.

Getting the best RV deals

The Youtube channel Getaway Couple shared their top 10 tips on how to get the best deal on a new RV in this video:


For more tips on buying an RV, check out these articles:

Not ready to buy? Try renting from Outdoorsy. Or, if you are looking to buy a new RV but hate to part with the old one, earn some additional income by listing it for rental.