RV Financing

Buying an RV is a big adventure. When you get that perfect vehicle identified, you are eager to get the financing arranged so you can take ownership over your new RV and get out on the road to test it out in a park or campgrounds near by. Your enthusiasm is understandable and if you feel you are ready financially to buy an RV, then you certainly deserve to enjoy every step of the process of buying that dream home and machine. But just as you have been a savvy businessperson all your life, be smart about how you finance that new recreational vehicle so you get a loan that is fair and livable for you for many years to come.

Financing an RV is different from financing a car. An RV is a combination of a vehicle and a home. And generally, the costs of a good RV reflect that difference because the costs of an RV are usually higher than to just buy your next family vehicle. In addition, you will probably own and use your RV for many decades. RVs are not used every day so the wear and tear is lower. You will do your own maintenance to keep it in good shape so you should be able to expect to get service from your vacation vehicle for twenty or thirty years if you take care of it well.

When you are looking for financing a loan for a car, it is a generally good idea to avoid dealership financing. But RV dealerships are not car dealerships. The cost of RVs is significantly higher and the types of customers they serve and their relationship to their customers is different. In many cases, the RV dealership can line you up with a good financing organization who does a lot of RV loans. If your credit is good and you can show you are able to handle the loan, they can create a loan vehicle for you that is fair and one you can live with.

Many people chose to self-finance their RV purchases. Obviously if you have these kinds of resources, that is a preferable way to go. Sometimes people in their retirement years will sell their home and use the funds to buy a very nice RV, which then becomes their home. That is a fine use of your home equity because it lets you fulfill the dream to travel and see the country and it is a good method to go see relatives such a dispersed children and grandchildren who may be in various parts of the country. You can roll into town, stake out at the RV park and visit for days, weeks or months without getting underfoot.

Of course, you no doubt have plenty of financial institutions that you are in relationship with and with whom you have build a strong credit history over the years. If financing the RV makes good financial sense so you can leave your nest egg untouched, your bank or credit union may be a good way to go to secure financing with an institution you trust and that trusts you. Just be sure the terms of the loan are ones you feel at ease with and that there is nothing hidden in the loan to surprise you a few years down the line. If you do a good job of making sure the loan is a good one, it can help you realize your dreams of RV living, travel and adventure.