How to determine an RV's fair market value
Whether you're planning to sell your motor home, travel trailer or fifth-wheel, or you're in the market for a used RV, you want to know you're getting the best price you can. Fortunately, this can be a quick and easy process.

Factors to Consider
A number of factors serve to determine an RV's value. These primarily include:

• Overall condition. Does the RV have any dents, paint chips or other structural imperfections? How regularly and how well has it been maintained? Does it need any repairs or other service?
  
• Mileage. Does it run as expected for an RV of its age and mileage? Is the mileage on the rig above or below the average mileage for an RV its age? How were the miles accumulated - on lots of short trips, or fewer long trips? Going up and down mountain roads, or on the open highway?
  
• Accessories. Consider everything that came with and has been added to the RV - awnings, satellite dishes, solar panels, A/C unit, antennas, special mirrors, etc. - and how valuable those items might be.
  

Valuable Resources

• Compare with other RVs. It's a good idea to compare the motor home, travel trailer or fifth-wheel you plan to sell or buy with similar RVs for sale in your area, possibly at a local RV dealership, in newspaper or RV magazine classified ads, or online (see below).
  
• Check online resources. An online guide to help determine the book value for RVs can be found on the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Web site at www.nada.com. Just answer a few simple questions, and NADA does the rest. Though only an estimate, it's a good place to start.
  
• Another great resource is RV Trader Online, an online version of the RV Trader publications. At this site, you can search from among thousands of listings available through private owners and dealers in order to determine what other RVs are selling for that are like the one you're selling or buying.
  
• Hire a professional appraiser. An appraiser can give you an objective value for the RV you're selling or buying, based on knowledge of the local RV market. The cost will vary depending on the scope of the appraisal. Basic appraisals generally don't cost much, while more thorough appraisals can cost hundreds of dollars or more, particularly in the case of high-value or collectible RVs. However, for these vehicles, an appraisal may be a worthy investment.

Regardless of which method you choose, or if you use them all, remember one thing: the right price is the price at which your rig sells, or for buyers, the price that equals the value of the rig to you.

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