Find Motorhome Auctions Online

Motorhome auctions will occur all across the country, but they are not always easy to find. Here are nine of the best ways to find them.

The Internet

A web search engine is a quick and easy way to get information about a motorhome auction. The trick is to keep your search local. Your search radius should be less than 200 miles. You also want to be a little bit more cautious about online auctions and you never want to bid on a motorhome you cannot see in person.

Auction Agencies

You can also contact local auction agencies and ask if they handle motorhome auctions. If they do not, find out if they can direct you to a company that does. Once you find the right ones, get all the information about any upcoming auctions. Also try to get on their mailing/email list so you will be notified about future auctions.

Print Ads

Some auctions are advertised in local papers or motorhome magazines. Contact your local newspaper about where and when they run the auction ads, because often they will all appear in the same section and on a regular schedule. This saves you the hassle of looking through the entire paper every day.

Sometimes live auctions will also have an online component where you can competitively bid with those actually at the site via webcams and real-time connections. Since you will not be exactly sure when the motorhome you want will be up, you will need to keep an eye on how the bidding is going as soon as the auction starts so you do not miss the one you want. While this type of online bidding is still uncommon, it is becoming more widely available.

Classifieds and ad sites:

Online newspaper classifieds or websites like Craigslist let you search for ads featuring motorhomes. You can find both information about the auctions and online auctions this way.

Banks and Credit Unions

Lenders often auction off the motorhomes they repossess. They may sell them on their own, but typically they will hand them over to an auction house that will auction them off to the highest bidder at a large auction. Ask in the banks’ repossession/collections department to find out more about their auctions.

Signs

Since there are usually only a few places in any given area that a large vehicle auction can happen, they typically use the same sites over and over again. Once you have attended an auction somewhere, you can periodically check for new signs advertising an upcoming auction. Sometimes that is the only advertising an auction will do.

Motorhome Auction Information websites:

There are several sites that provide access to listings and information for auctions of motorhomes. The auctions may have repossessed, salvaged, government-seized or other types of motorhomes. One of the most useful things is the ability to search for a specific model, making it easier to find just what you are looking for. Since most require paid memberships, it is a good idea to read reviews and try out a trial membership to make sure the site is worth the money you will be paying before you sign up.

Online Motorhome Auctions:

You can find auctions being conducted online on auctions sites like eBay Motors as well as on sites devoted completely to motorhomes. Usually these are separate auctions for individual motorhomes that allow bidding over a period of time, with the majority of bids placed just minutes before it ends. Usually a last-second bid is the one that wins, so plan on being at your computer to bid right before the auction is over.

Before going to your first RV or motorhome auction, it is a good idea to know exactly how things work. Most of the time, you’re required to preregister before bidding. Most auctions require you to have proof of capital before you bid. You will need to show them a certified check or cash for the amount you have on hand to buy an RV. The auction company does this because they want to make sure that you buy the RV after you win it.

The second thing you must have when you attend motorhome auctions is a cellular phone or an Ipod. This way, you can easily surf the Internet for the prices of the motorhomes and RVs being sold. You want to make sure that you buy an RV for a lot less than retail. Typically, you want to buy them out or below the trade in Price. The reason why you want to buy them for less than retail price is because there is a little more risk associated with buying a motorhome from an auction, than there is from trading in your RV. By knowing exactly how much an RV is worth, you will have a better idea on how much you want to pay for it.

The third thing you should take with you to an auction is an extra set of eyes. If you can bring someone with mechanical experience, it will be even better. A lot of auctions allow you to inspect the RVs before bidding. Having an extra set of eyes, especially from someone who has mechanical experience will help you to avoid bidding on an RV with a lot of problems. The more you know about the motorhome you are bidding on, the better your chances are that you won’t pay too much for it. If it is at all possible, you want to test drive the RV before you bid on it. A lot of auctions will allow you to test drive the RV and return it if you are not satisfied with your purchase. Other auctions will rate the RV for you and all sales are final. It is a good idea to know the rules for motorhome auctions prior to bidding.

The fourth thing that would be good to have when you attend an auction is a list of the inventory. A lot of auction companies will list their inventory online. This is a good way to find out if they even have what you want to buy. Sometimes you can call ahead and get a list of their inventory a day or two before the auction over the phone. This is a good idea because it can help you find exactly what you are looking for.

If you are not comfortable with all the excitement and hassle of going to motorhome auctions, perhaps you should consider buying motorhomes for sale by owner instead.

If you think it is a good idea to go to a motorhome auction to buy your next RV, then you are definitely right. In fact, there are several reasons why it is a good idea to buy motorhomes from an auction. These reasons are listed below as follows:

First of all, people go to motorhome auctions so that they can save money. How much money can they save? Well, they can save as much as 40 or even 50% on the next motorhome that they buy. If they buy a motorhome that has been wrecked or salvaged, they may even be able to save as much as 80 to 90%. If they can fix the motorhome and repair themselves, they are going to be able to save several thousand and maybe even tens of thousands of dollars.

More Reasons to Buy an RV at an Auction

Secondly, when people go to a motorhome auction, they get a larger selection. Well, it is possible to track down good deals from individual sellers who are motivated to sell quickly, but it is always difficult to find a lot of them. By going to an RV auction, you have the ability to find a lot of good deals on RVs all in one location.

The third reason why you should go to motorhome auctions is simply because the buying process is so simple. All you have to do is to be the highest bidder and you win. All sales are final and the sales are quick and easy to make. You don’t have someone trying to get you to buy something you can’t afford. You just have an open free market where anybody can bid on an RV.

The fourth reason why motorhome auctions are a good idea is because it is a good idea to pay cash for something and avoid getting a loan. You can pay cash for an RV at an auction just because it costs half as much as a used RV from the dealership. You can also pay cash because typically auctions only accept cash. They do not allow financing. This will save you money now and money later, as you won’t have to make a mortgage payment on your used motorhome.

Did you know that if you want to save the most money when you buy a used travel trailer or RV, you need to learn about the repo market? Sure, it is possible to find good deals on travel trailers for sale by owner, but you can typically find better deals when you buy repo travel trailers at an auction. Travel trailer and RV auctions typically sell for less money. This is the reason why they attract so many buyers. People are coming for a great deal, and they are coming to save 30 to 50% on the next RV that they buy.

When you come to an RV auction, you want to make sure to arrive early. Arriving early can give you a good opportunity to inspect the inventory that is there. Also make sure that you bring cash. Even though these RVs are cheap, most of the time you need to have cash or divide them. If you don’t have the money saved up, it might still be a good idea to attend and find out how these auctions work.

If you don’t want to buy directly from the auction, or if you would rather try to get financing for the RV but you still want to save  money, you may consider buying bank repo RVs directly from the bank. A lot of banks and credit unions will have these RVs in their possession before they sell them at an auction. If you can contact the bank, and find out which credit unions and lenders have repo RVs available, then you may be able to buy directly from them. The advantage of buying from a lender, is that they might give you some time to get financing. This means that you will not have to pay cash. Another advantage is that you are a lot less likely to have competition if you go out of your way and find these lenders that are selling repo RVs. Just like RVs and travel trailers that are being sold at auction, you can save thousands of dollars when you buy repo RVs directly from the bank.