Most people are amazed when they find out how much demand there is for recreational vehicles. Even if you consider only the United States, people spend more than $47 billion on the recreational vehicle market every year.
When many people first get interested in buying a new RV, it is because they see for themselves how much fun they can provide. On the other hand, many people hope to get the same amount of enjoyment out of a used RV without having to pay as much for it.
Some people agonize over this decision for a long time without ever taking the time to analyze the pros and cons of both choices. At the end of the day, there is no one choice that is right for everyone. So what are the pros and cons of buying a used or a new RV?
Read on to learn all about which option might be the right choice for you!
Buying an RV Used Can Save Money
The biggest reason many people consider buying a used RV is that they expect to pay less for it. There are actually a couple of different ways that you can save money when you buy a used RV.
First, even a large RV with a lot of features will tend to be cheaper than a new RV, even a new RV that is smaller.
However, you may also be able to save money with a used RV because it will cost less to insure it. Because the total value of your RV will be lower, your insurance company will be willing to cover the possibility of damages to it for a lower price.
However, this also means that you might want to speak with your insurance company before you make a decision about buying either a new or a used RV. If possible, get an estimate for how much your insurance company would charge you for insuring a few different RV options. Then, calculate the total difference in cost over the next few years or whatever timeline seems appropriate to your situation.
Getting a clear understanding of how much each option will cost you, in the long run, can make it much easier to make the right choice for your situation.
Of course, you should balance out the cost savings of buying a used RV with the potential cost increase of paying for more RV service and maintenance. In many cases, buying a used RV means needing to take it to the shop for more frequent repairs.
Buy a Used RV for Less Depreciation
One of the main reasons you can save so much money by buying a used RV is that the value of a new RV goes down at an amazing rate once you start to use it.
Even after a single year of light use, the value of your new RV might decrease by 30% or even more. On the other hand, if your RV is already used, then its value will tend to go down much more slowly.
Buy an RV Used for Fewer Surprises
On the whole, buying a used RV means you will need to repair it more often as various parts of it wear out. However, buying an RV that no one has ever used before can come with its own problems. A new RV is a complicated machine, and you never know what might have gone wrong during the manufacturing process.
On the other hand, when you get an RV that someone else has used for a while, the original owner will generally have already discovered any unpleasant surprises about it.
Enjoy a Warranty With a New RV Camper
On the other hand, new RVs tend to come with warranties. Your warranty will often take care of any surprise problems that crop up in your first year of use. On top of that, your warranty can save you money if you need to arrange for expensive repairs for your new RV.
However, it is worth keeping in mind that you can often find third-party providers of warranties, even for used RVs. Of course, this will often be less convenient than enjoying the warranty that comes with a new RV.
Buy New RV Equipment to Get Exactly What You Want
If there is a specific kind of RV you want, you might have serious difficulty finding one in the used RV market. Even if you find a few options, you might find out that they have various functional or aesthetic problems. On the other hand, when you buy a new RV, you can enjoy exactly what you are looking for.
Buy a New RV So That It Lasts
When you buy a used RV, it will have a much shorter lifespan before it requires replacement. Even with careful repairs, there will come a time when you need to get rid of an RV that no longer works or is not worth repairing.
When you buy a new RV, you can enjoy a functional vehicle for much longer before needing to think about finding a new one.
Know the Pros and Cons of Buying a New RV
When some people consider buying a used RV, the depth of their analysis is limited to knowing that it can help them save money in the short term. However, buying a used RV can also provide several other advantages. On the other hand, it is also important to weigh the advantages of buying a new RV before making a final decision.
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