Free Guide to Finding RV Auctions in Your Area

Understanding the RV Auction Landscape

RV auctions operate differently depending on who's running them and why the vehicles are being sold. When you start looking for auctions in your area, you'll encounter several distinct categories, each with its own rules, pricing patterns, and available inventory. Understanding these differences helps you know what to expect before you show up.

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Bank and lender auctions happen when RV owners default on loans. Financial institutions sell these vehicles to recover money owed. These auctions typically feature RVs that are a few years old, and the lenders often want to move inventory quickly. Insurance company auctions occur when RVs are declared total losses after accidents or damage. Government auctions include vehicles seized by federal agencies, confiscated in criminal cases, or sold by agencies like the Forest Service or National Park Service that maintain their own fleets. Police and municipal auctions are run by local law enforcement agencies selling seized or abandoned vehicles.

Then there are dealer auctions, where RV dealerships sell trade-ins and off-lease vehicles. These tend to be better-maintained since dealers want to protect their reputation. Private auction houses also operate in many regions, functioning as marketplaces where dealers and individuals can consign vehicles for public sale.

Each auction type has different pricing. Bank auctions often feature lower opening bids but may have hidden damage. Government auctions vary wildly—some are deeply discounted, others are competitively priced. Dealer auctions typically sit in the middle range since the vehicles have been inspected.

Practical takeaway: Spend time learning which auction types operate in your region before attending. Different sources suit different buyers—if you want newer models, dealer auctions may serve you better; if you're hunting for bargains and willing to inspect carefully, government and bank auctions deserve attention.

Locating Auctions Through Online Platforms

The internet has made finding RV auctions far easier than the days of checking local newspapers or driving around with a scanner. Multiple dedicated platforms now list auctions across the United States, and each has its own strengths. Knowing which platforms to monitor depends on what type of auction interests you and how frequently you want to check listings.

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Copart and IAA (Insurance Auto Auctions) are the two largest online auction platforms for vehicles, including RVs. Both were originally focused on insurance-salvage vehicles but have expanded. On these platforms, you create an account (free to browse, though bidding requires registration), search by location and vehicle type, and view photos and damage reports. Copart lists thousands of RVs at any given time. You can filter by state, city, or zip code, and set up email notifications for specific searches. IAA operates similarly with a slightly different interface. Both charge buyer's fees on top of the hammer price if you win.

Government auction sites require knowing where to look. GSA Auctions (gsaauctions.gov) lists federal government vehicles including some RVs. You'll need to search their site by region. Many states run their own auction sites for vehicles seized or surplus. For example, California has CaliforniaAuctions.gov, Texas has their state surplus property auctions, and Florida runs its own platform. A quick search for "[your state] government auctions" or "[your state] surplus property auctions" usually points you to the official site.

Local auction houses often maintain their own websites or advertise through Facebook, Craigslist, and regional classifieds. Many smaller auction companies don't have large online presences, so you may need to call ahead to ask about upcoming RV sales or visit in person to get on their mailing lists.

Police and municipal auctions typically appear on city or county government websites. A search like "City of [your town] police auction" or "[your county] surplus property auction" reveals what's available locally.

Practical takeaway: Create accounts on both Copart and IAA and set location-based searches for RVs. Then identify your state's government auction platform and bookmark it. For local auctions, contact your city and county government websites directly to find their auction schedules. This three-part approach covers most major RV auction sources.

Building a Search Strategy That Matches Your Goals

Not all RV auctions suit all buyers. Before diving into listings, clarify what you're actually looking for—your price range, preferred RV type, condition tolerance, and timeline. This focus saves enormous amounts of time and prevents the common mistake of getting excited about an auction far from your location or outside your realistic budget range.

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Start by defining your parameters. What's your maximum budget? Remember that auction prices don't include buyer's fees, which typically run 10-15% on top of the final bid. If you bid $8,000, you might owe $8,800-9,200 total. What type of RV do you need—a motorhome, travel trailer, fifth wheel, or van conversion? How old a vehicle will you consider? What condition are you prepared to handle? Some auctions sell "as-is" with no inspection opportunity, while others allow pre-auction inspections. How quickly do you need the RV? If you're shopping casually, you can wait for perfect matches; if you have a timeline, you need a broader search net.

Once you've defined those parameters, set up multiple search alerts. On Copart, you might search "Class A motorhome, 2015 or newer, within 150 miles of [your zip code]." On IAA, try similar criteria. On your state's government auction site, set notifications for RVs matching your specs. On local auction house websites, bookmark their upcoming sale schedules so you can check weekly. The key is creating searches narrow enough that you're not wading through hundreds of irrelevant listings, but broad enough that you see good opportunities when they appear.

Track what you find over time. Note the typical auction prices for RVs matching your criteria. If similar units consistently sell for $12,000-15,000, you know what's realistic. If you're seeing 2018 travel trailers with specific damage consistently going for $6,000-7,000, that data helps you make bidding decisions. Spend at least two to four weeks just watching listings before placing your first bid. This teaches you pricing patterns specific to your region and auction type.

Practical takeaway: Write down your exact RV requirements and budget ceiling (including fees) before searching. Set up five to seven saved searches across different platforms rather than using broad searches. Watch for two to four weeks before bidding to understand local pricing for your target vehicle type.

Inspecting RVs Before Auction Day

The most costly mistake in RV auctions is bidding on a vehicle you haven't seen in person. Online photos can hide serious problems—water damage, mechanical issues, structural damage, and interior decay are often invisible in listing photos or become apparent only when you're standing next to the unit. Different auctions offer different inspection opportunities, and knowing your options prevents expensive surprises.

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Government auctions on Copart and IAA allow you to schedule preview times. On their websites, you'll see "preview dates" listed for each auction location. These are specific hours when potential bidders can visit the lot and inspect vehicles. You can look inside, check tires, test doors and windows, look for rust or water stains, and examine the overall condition. You cannot typically start engines or take the RV for a test drive at these previews, but you can do a thorough visual inspection. Many people show up during preview windows with a mechanic or RV technician to get a professional opinion on major systems. If you're not mechanically inclined, this is worth the investment—a $100-200 pre-purchase inspection can save you from a $5,000 repair.

Local auction houses often allow inspections by appointment in the days before the sale, or they host preview days with set hours. When you call to ask about upcoming RV auctions, specifically ask about inspection windows. Some auctions are "as-is, where-is" sales meaning you inspect what you see in photos or you don't inspect at all. Others allow walk-through preview periods.

Bank and lender auctions vary. Some Copart lots allow previews; others don't. The listing details specify "preview available" or "no preview." Government auctions almost always allow previews since they want competitive bidding and don't benefit from mystery. Police auctions sometimes allow inspections; you need to call your local police department's asset forfeiture or auction division to ask.