This is a common question raised by motorhome owners, with no definitive answer. Whilst there are certain times and seasons that may seem better in terms of sales and prices, the best time to sell a motorhome will depend on the person selling it and their circumstances at the time. Selling a motorhome can be quite a time-consuming task, so if you're looking to sell yours in the near future, then the information below should be of use.
Whilst this isn't set in stone, there are several different times of year that are thought to be better for motorhome sales. The motorhome market is thought by many to be dependent on the seasons, with a boost of sales often occurring in the springtime. This is due to people wanting to purchase their motorhomes in time for the summer, with March and April being popular purchase months.
A common thought within the motorhome industry is that you should not try and sell during winter. Whilst December tends to see a drop in sales, January and February can actually be good months for selling your motorhome. Some people choose to reserve seasonal touring pitches for their motorhomes on caravan sites - some of these sites are run year-round, but others shut down for a couple of months every winter, so if you're looking to sell, this could be an ideal time. Many people also choose to sell in the autumn months, once they've used their motorhome for their holidays in the summer, so it may be worth putting it on the market in September.
However, motorhome sales tend to stay strong throughout the year, with December being the only month where sales seem to drop.
As with most things, the economy has an impact on motorhome sales. People are much more likely to buy a large item when the economy is booming, whereas during a recession, people may be less likely to buy, due to needing that money for other things.
However, one thing to note is that the motorhome industry does tend to be less reliant on the economy than other industries. One of the reasons for this is the typical profile of motorhome owners. Whilst people of all ages own them, the main age group for motorhome owners tends to be those in their fifties and above. The economy can affect people of all generations, however, people in this age group tend to be more comfortable in their finances, due to savings and retirement. Motorhome sales may not dip during a recession, but the cost that they are being sold for may be affected.
Another surprising aspect that may affect motorhome sales is currency rate fluctuations. Currencies are in constant fluctuation and can be affected by a wide variety of things. For example, if one particular currency is in demand, then its value will usually increase. On the other hand, inflation tends to devalue a currency. The coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on currency in the UK, as has Brexit, which saw the pound immediately decline against the Australian and American dollars, meaning that people wanting to convert British currency into other currencies received less than before the Brexit vote.
A lot of new motorhomes and motorhome parts are imported into the UK from continental Europe, which means that fluctuating currency rates between the pound and the euro are likely to affect the cost of motorhomes and their parts. The pound has been steadily weakening against the euro, with Brexit having major repercussions on this, leading to new motorhomes and their parts becoming more expensive as they have to be imported into the UK.
This means the demand of used motorhomes has been increasing significantly compared to new motorhomes. Used motorhome sales and prices are currently strong due to this, so it may be a good time to sell.
Many people choose to upgrade their motorhomes every so often, selling their old ones and buying new ones in the process. Due to the economical factors mentioned in the previous sections, motorhome prices are rather high at the moment, so you may pay more to buy a new one than you otherwise would have in a different era. However, this also means that you will likely get more money for your used motorhome.
There are many different elements that can affect the sale of a motorhome. There are certain times and seasons that are best for selling items like motorhomes, however, it's not always easy to time these. Knowing whether to sell your motorhome or not very much depends on yourself and your personal circumstances.
