If you are thinking about selling your caravan, you have probably asked yourself a big question. Do you sell it privately, or do you go through a dealership? Both options can work, but they deliver very different results, especially when it comes to the final price in your pocket.
Every week at Find My Van, we speak with sellers who are unsure which path to take, mostly because the caravan market has changed so much in recent years. Buyers are more cautious, dealers are more selective, and private sales are far more time-consuming than they used to be.
So, let’s talk honestly about what each option really gives you, and more importantly, which one tends to get you the best price.
Selling privately can get you a higher price, but it comes at a cost
Private sales usually give you the best chance of achieving full market value. You are not handing over a cut to a dealer, and you control the price from start to finish.
But private selling comes with realities that most people do not think about until they are knee deep in messages and viewings.
Private sale gives you:
- Full control over your asking price
- Direct access to buyers
- Potentially the highest sale price if you get it right
But it also means:
- Advertising your caravan yourself
- Writing your own listing
- Taking good quality photos
- Handling constant messages
- Filtering out scammers
- Negotiating with strangers
- Re-arranging your days for viewings
- Always keeping your caravan spotless
- Managing secure payment on your own
Some sellers love the independence of private sales.
Most, however, underestimate the workload until they are buried in it.
And here is the truth that catches many people off-guard.
A private sale only gets you the best price when the caravan is priced correctly, presented professionally and marketed well. If even one of those things is off, interest drops and offers fall flat.
Selling through a dealer is fast, but you lose a big chunk of the value
Dealers offer convenience, and that is why many people choose them. You drop the van off, sign some paperwork, and walk away. It is quick and straightforward.
But convenience comes at a price.
Dealers typically need to:
- Cover overheads
- Pay staff
- Add profit
- Account for risk
So, they usually offer well below market value. In fact, many sellers are shocked by how low dealer offers are compared to what caravans are actually selling for privately.
Dealer sale gives you:
- A quick sale
- No preparation needed
- No dealing with buyers
But you are likely to lose thousands, sometimes tens of thousands, simply because a dealer must resell your caravan for a profit.
If getting the highest sale price is your goal, a traditional dealership is rarely the answer.
Private sales give you a price. Dealer sales give you convenience. But what if you want both?
This is the part most sellers get stuck on.
Private sales are too much work.
Dealer sales are too much of a financial loss.
And that is exactly where a caravan broker fits in.
A broker combines:
- The price benefits of private sale
- The ease and safety of a dealer sale
You get the best of both worlds.
Where a caravan broker sits in the middle
A caravan broker works on behalf of the seller, not the buyer, and not the dealership model. That means the focus stays on securing the best price without the stress of going it alone.
At Find My Van, we support sellers by:
- Valuing your caravan based on real market data
- Preparing and managing your advertising
- Handling all buyer enquiries
- Screening out time wasters and scammers
- Arranging viewings
- Supporting negotiations
- Coordinating secure payment
- Organising independent presale inspection reports
- Making the entire process simple and safe
You still receive the stronger sale price associated with private selling, but without carrying the workload or risk.
Most sellers are surprised to learn that caravans sell faster with a broker than privately, simply because buyers trust a structured process, accurate information and transparent inspections.
So which option gets you the best price?
If we are being completely honest:
- Dealers almost never get you the best price.
- Private sales can get you the best price, but only if done properly and safely.
- Caravan brokers consistently achieve strong market value while removing the stress and risk.
The important thing is knowing what matters most to you.
If convenience is everything, a dealership might make sense.
If price is your priority, private sale or a broker will almost always outperform a dealer.
And if you want the higher price and the convenience, a broker sits right in the sweet spot.
Ready to get the best price for your caravan?
Whether you want to sell quickly, safely or for maximum value, Find My Van can guide you through the entire process.
We make selling simple.
We protect you from scammers.
We negotiate for you.
And we help you walk away with the strongest price the market can offer.
Click the button below to schedule a call and find out what your caravan could realistically sell for today.
