RV Consignment vs Selling Yourself vs Consulting: Which Makes You More Money?
RV consignment vs selling yourself is the single most common decision Florida RV sellers face — and most guides only show you two options when there's actually a third one that changes the math entirely.
I spent 9 years as a licensed Florida RV consignment dealer (2015–2024). I sold over 800 RVs that way. I watched sellers walk in confident they knew which option was "obviously" better, and I watched the numbers prove them wrong more often than not. The right answer depends on your RV's value, your timeline, and — more than most sellers admit — what your own time is actually worth.
⚡ Quick Answer: Consignment vs Selling Yourself vs Consulting
Private sale keeps 100% of the sale price but costs you 60–100 hours of your life. Consignment hands off all the work but costs 10–15% commission. Consulting — a flat-fee alternative — gives you the pricing strategy, marketing systems, and negotiation guidance of a dealer without the commission, while you keep control and 100% of the proceeds.
The general pattern: under $30K, private sale or consulting usually wins. $30K–$75K, consulting is often the sweet spot. Over $75K, consignment can make sense if you genuinely want zero buyer contact — but consulting still keeps more money in your pocket if you're willing to do some of the work yourself.
Why Most Comparisons Get This Wrong
Almost every "consignment vs private sale" guide online presents this as a binary choice. It isn't. I made the shift from running a consignment dealership to flat-fee consulting in 2024 specifically because I watched too many sellers pay 10–15% commission for help they could have gotten without giving up their proceeds. This guide walks through all three paths honestly — including when consignment really is your best option.
The Three-Way Comparison: Side by Side
Most "RV consignment vs selling yourself" guides leave out the option that actually changes the decision. Here's how all three paths stack up on the factors that matter most.
| Factor | Private Sale | Consignment | Consulting |
|---|---|---|---|
| You Keep % of Sale Price | ✓ 100% | ✗ 85–90% | ✓ 100% |
| Your Time Investment | ✗ 60–100 hrs | ✓ 3–5 hrs | 30–40 hrs |
| Expert Pricing & Strategy | ✗ None | ✓ Dealer handles | ✓ Full guidance |
| Buyer Contact | ✗ All on you | ✓ Zero contact | You handle it, with screening systems |
| Cost on a $60K RV | ~$350 + 85 hrs | ~$7,200 + 4 hrs | ~$997 + 35 hrs |
| Best For | RVs under $30K | RVs over $75K, zero-hassle priority | $30K–$100K, want control without the legwork alone |
What Each Path Actually Looks Like
Private Sale: Full Control, Full Workload
You handle everything — photos, listings, buyer calls, showings, negotiations, title transfer. You keep every dollar the buyer pays, but you're also the one fielding 9pm texts from tire-kickers and 30+ inquiries before finding a serious buyer.
Private Sale Reality Check
On a typical $60,000 Class A, expect 60–100 hours across prep, listing, showings, and closing paperwork. Private buyers also tend to negotiate 8–12% below retail, which is the part most sellers don't factor into their "I'll save the commission" math.
Consignment: Hand It Off, Pay for the Privilege
A licensed dealer takes over marketing, buyer screening, negotiation, and closing. You sign an agreement, hand over the keys, and wait — typically 60–90 days in Florida. The tradeoff is 10–15% commission and, less obviously, a real insurance question most sellers never think to ask.
Consulting: Keep the Money, Get the Strategy
This is the option most comparison guides skip entirely. Consulting is a flat fee for the same pricing strategy, marketing guidance, buyer screening framework, and negotiation coaching a dealer would provide — but you execute the sale yourself and keep 100% of the proceeds.
Where Consulting Fits
It's not zero-effort like consignment — you still handle buyer contact and showings. But it compresses the trial-and-error of a first-time private sale into a guided process, typically cutting time investment by roughly half compared to going in without any direction.
Free 2-Minute Diagnostic
Not sure which path is right for your RV?
Answer a few quick questions about your situation and get a personalized recommendation — private sale, consignment, or consulting — from a 25-year Florida RV industry expert.
Take the Free Diagnostic →No sales pitch. No obligation. Results in your inbox instantly.
Frank's Take
9 Years Running RV Consignment in Florida
In 2021, a client brought me a 2019 Tiffin Allegro Bus worth around $245,000. We agreed on a net number: he'd get $215,000, I'd keep whatever I negotiated above that. I listed at $258,000.
A buyer offered $235,000 in month two. I countered at $248,000. He came back at $238,000, final offer. I had a decision: take it and bank $23,000, or hold out for closer to asking.
I held out. The RV sat another three months. It finally sold for $241,000 in month five — I made $26,000 instead of $23,000. Three thousand extra dollars for me.
What I didn't fully account for at the time: my client's RV sat unsold for three extra months. He was still paying insurance, storage, and loan interest the entire time. By the time I did the real math, those three months cost him roughly $6,200 more than the $3,000 I'd gained by holding out. I made an extra $3,000. He lost $3,210.
That's the moment I started questioning the consignment model itself — not because dealers are dishonest, but because the structure quietly rewards the dealer's patience over the seller's timeline. It's one of the reasons I eventually shifted to flat-fee consulting: when I'm not taking a cut of the final number, there's no version of the math where holding out longer benefits me at your expense.
If you're weighing consignment, ask directly: is the commission a flat percentage or a net number? And if it's a net number, ask how long they're willing to hold out before accepting an offer — because that answer tells you whose interests the deal actually protects.
The Three-Way Comparison: Side by Side
Most "RV consignment vs selling yourself" guides leave out the option that actually changes the decision. Here's how all three paths stack up on the factors that matter most.
| Factor | Private Sale | Consignment | Consulting |
|---|---|---|---|
| You Keep % of Sale Price | ✓ 100% | ✗ 85–90% | ✓ 100% |
| Your Time Investment | ✗ 60–100 hrs | ✓ 3–5 hrs | 30–40 hrs |
| Expert Pricing & Strategy | ✗ None | ✓ Dealer handles | ✓ Full guidance |
| Buyer Contact | ✗ All on you | ✓ Zero contact | You handle it, with screening systems |
| Cost on a $60K RV | ~$350 + 85 hrs | ~$7,200 + 4 hrs | ~$997 + 35 hrs |
| Best For | RVs under $30K | RVs over $75K, zero-hassle priority | $30K–$100K, want control without the legwork alone |
What Each Path Actually Looks Like
Private Sale: Full Control, Full Workload
You handle everything — photos, listings, buyer calls, showings, negotiations, title transfer. You keep every dollar the buyer pays, but you're also the one fielding 9pm texts from tire-kickers and 30+ inquiries before finding a serious buyer.
Private Sale Reality Check
On a typical $60,000 Class A, expect 60–100 hours across prep, listing, showings, and closing paperwork. Private buyers also tend to negotiate 8–12% below retail, which is the part most sellers don't factor into their "I'll save the commission" math.
Consignment: Hand It Off, Pay for the Privilege
A licensed dealer takes over marketing, buyer screening, negotiation, and closing. You sign an agreement, hand over the keys, and wait — typically 60–90 days in Florida. The tradeoff is 10–15% commission and, less obviously, a real insurance question most sellers never think to ask.
Consulting: Keep the Money, Get the Strategy
This is the option most comparison guides skip entirely. Consulting is a flat fee for the same pricing strategy, marketing guidance, buyer screening framework, and negotiation coaching a dealer would provide — but you execute the sale yourself and keep 100% of the proceeds.
Where Consulting Fits
It's not zero-effort like consignment — you still handle buyer contact and showings. But it compresses the trial-and-error of a first-time private sale into a guided process, typically cutting time investment by roughly half compared to going in without any direction.
👉 Join the Florida RV Sellers Insider Group
Free Facebook community for Florida RV owners navigating the selling process — real questions, real answers, no sales pitches.
Ready to Choose the Path That Keeps the Most Money in Your Pocket?
Every engagement starts with an honest conversation about your specific situation — your RV's value, your timeline, and what your time is worth. No pressure, no obligation.
Essential
$497
Professional market appraisal and pricing strategy
Professional
$997
Full marketing, listing, and negotiation guidance
Premium
$1,997
Hands-on representation through closing
Important Disclosures: Easy Escapes RV is an independent consulting service. Frank Mason is a former licensed Florida RV dealer (2015–2024) and currently operates as an independent consultant, not a licensed dealer. Consulting services do not constitute a brokerage relationship. Easy Escapes RV does not take possession of, or hold title to, any vehicle.
Not legal, financial, or tax advice. The content on this page is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, tax, or professional advice of any kind. Every RV selling situation is unique. Consult a qualified attorney, CPA, or licensed financial advisor before making decisions about your specific situation, particularly for matters involving loan deficiency, commission agreements, insurance coverage, or tax consequences.
Market conditions, commission rates, and dealer practices referenced in this post reflect general industry patterns and the author's personal experience as a former Florida dealer; they may not apply to every dealer or every transaction. Results vary based on RV condition, pricing, market conditions, and other factors outside our control. No specific sale price, timeline, or outcome is guaranteed. Testimonials and case examples represent individual experiences and may not reflect typical results.