Buying An RV Through Costco (Discount – Step by Step Explained)


buying-an-rv-through-costco-auto-program

Have you ever wondered how you can buy an RV through Costco? Well, look no more. We´ve got you covered.

Being a member at Costco can save you a lot of money compared to buying goods at other retailers, but if you’re already a member you probably already know this. What many people don’t know is that you can also get some huge savings by purchasing an RV through them as well.

If you are in the market for a new or used RV, Costco can help save you a lot of time and money. They make it easy for you to get a discount without having to do any of the awkward negotiating yourself.

This helps to take the anxiety out of the purchase and lets you know that you are getting a good deal no matter what.

This may seem like a surprise at first as you won’t ever see an auto lot or any RVs parked around Costco. This is because Costco doesn’t directly sell you the RV, instead, they have set up arrangements with other dealers for you to receive discounts as long as you are part of their membership program.

So, before you start trying to find an RV yourself, here is everything you need to know about buying an RV through Costco and what you can expect if you choose to do so.

The Costco Auto Program – How It Works

The Costco Auto Program was created by Costco to be used by Costco members only. This program works with specific RV dealers who are willing to agree on prearranged discount prices for their RVs in exchange for exposure to Costco’s large audience.

This is a great deal for everyone involved and offers RV buyers a lot of benefits.

How the program works is simple. First, you’ll need to select what type of RV you are looking to buy and through Costco’s Auto Program website they will help you locate local RV dealers selling that type of RV who are part of their auto program.

Upon doing so, a request will be submitted which will be answered shortly by an authorized dealer contact from that location.

You will then need to schedule a follow-up in-person to meet with the dealer and view the RVs that they have available in the program.

There is no obligation to purchase an RV at this follow-up meeting so you may find more than one RV that you like.

While you are narrowing down your selections, the dealer will print you up a Costco Member-Only Price Sheet which will break down the exclusive member savings for any of the RVs you are interested in.

Finally, if you do choose to buy an RV, you will then have to go through the normal paperwork and purchasing process. Overall, this program makes it easy and more affordable to purchase an RV that you love.

If you’re still looking for some more information about the program, keep reading below for in-depth information about each step of the process.

Selecting an RV Type

On Costco’s Auto Program website, the first step towards finding an RV dealer in their program is to choose an RV type. For those of you who already know what you are looking for, this will be as easy as the click of a button. 

If you’re unsure which type of RV will work best for you, then you can click the ‘RV Lifestyle’ tab at the top of the page to learn more about each one and what they offer.

“This page makes it very easy to understand the differences between each type of RV and will help you narrow down a selection.”

The information is laid out in simple bullet lists, so it won’t take long for you to acquire this information, however, you can always go a step further by doing some extra research yourself.

As soon as you find an RV that works for you, you’ll then want to find a dealer who can sell you one.

Once you click on the type of RV you’re interested in, you will then be asked to confirm your Costco Membership and location so that the system is able to locate local authorized dealer contacts for you.

This information will be sent to the specified dealers who will follow up with you to schedule a viewing of their available RVs. 

Meeting With The Dealer

Meeting with the dealer will be the biggest part of your RV buying experience and thanks to Costco, it will go much more smoothly without the need for negotiating prices.

When you arrive at the location of the local dealer you will be meeting with an authorized dealer who is familiar with the Costco Auto Program and will guide you through the process with ease.

At this meeting, you will need to confirm you are a Costco member, so don’t forget to bring your card with you!

During this meeting, the dealer will show you all the RVs in the type you specified that are available for Costco’s Auto Program discount. 

There will be many options and price ranges available so make sure you take your time to find the one that is right for you.

Feel free to ask the RV dealer as many questions as you need while you are touring these RVs, after all, that is what they are there for.

Choosing an RV

Choosing an RV may be the hardest decision you’ll have to make, but it can also be a fun one. Unless you know exactly what you are looking for, it will take you some time to go through the different models and floor plans for you to start narrowing down your choices.

While it’s easy to focus on what’s right in front of you, you’ll also want to make sure to take some time and look at the details of each RV. These small details will make huge differences in your level of comfort and enjoyment while using your RV.

Each RV you tour will have a different layout on the inside and outside and the prices will vary based on this layout and any extra features that come with it.

There is a style and design fit for every person’s needs so you will be sure to find one that works for you.

Once you narrow down your selection to a few choices, your dealer can then print out and hand you your Costco Member-Only price sheet, which will lay out everything you need to know financially.

The Costco Member-Only Price Sheet

The Costco Member-Only price sheet makes it easy for you to understand exactly how much the RV you’re interested in costs, and how much of a discount you will be receiving from the Costco Auto Program. 

The prices that you will see on this price sheet have been pre-negotiated by Costco and the RV dealer, so you will not have to do any of the negotiating yourself.

This also means that you cannot talk the price down further as this is the maximum discount that the RV dealer is willing to offer.

Discount: Overall Savings

While most people will have a hard time getting even a couple of thousand dollars off their purchase price, Costco’s Auto Program will get you to save between 20-25% on average. This is a huge amount of savings and it will put a good amount of money back in your pocket.

There are many purchases you will need to make to maintain your RV as you use it and these savings can help give you a jump start to making your RV travels go smooth right from the beginning. 

Purchasing Your RV

Once you have narrowed down your selection of RVs to your final choice, you will then need to go through the normal purchasing process of paperwork and payment.

Financing will be available through the RV dealer if you should need it and do so won’t change your pre-negotiated discount. 

This is the last step before you are officially an RV owner, so remember to stay patient during this long process. It will all be worth it in the end!

Is It Worth It?

RV dealers are always wanting to make a profit off of a sale and because of this, negotiating a price on your own usually won’t end up in your favor.

With Costco’s Member-Only price sheet, you get access to pre-negotiated discounts just by being a member.

“These discounts aren’t available on every RV though, so if you have your heart set on a specific RV, you may not be eligible for this discount.

If you have an open mind about which RV you’re looking for then this discount will be very useful to you.”

Many people have not heard of the Costco Auto Program until now, which makes it appear to be a best-kept secret for savvy shoppers.

The discounts that you will receive are completely worth it and you most likely won’t be able to reap those kinds of savings on your own. 

Even if you don’t have a Costco membership yet, you don’t have to miss out on these savings. If you are in the market for a new RV, you can easily sign up and get access to the Costco Auto Program immediately.

There is no wait time or amount of time that needs to pass to access the program.

The cheapest Costco membership card only costs $60 for the year, which is an extremely great trade-off for saving thousands of dollars on an RV purchase.

If you don’t have a membership card already, it is highly recommended that you acquire one.

Conclusion

Overall, Costco has proven to be the best place to buy any good, including RVs. While you aren’t necessarily buying an RV through Costco, you are getting exclusive savings through your local RV dealer on their behalf.

This is an extremely beneficial deal that you truly won’t find anywhere else.

An RV purchase is a huge commitment, and the Costco Auto Program helps to put some ease on the buyer’s mind and their pockets as well.

It also makes it easy to go through the entire buying process. The RV dealers through this program are friendly, knowledgeable, and are there to help you every step of the way. 

If you are ready to commit to an RV purchase and would like the best possible deal and overall experience that you can get, then the Costco Auto Program is the right choice for you.

After all, who doesn’t love to save thousands of dollars?

References

https://www.costcoauto.com/rv/

Mike Gilmour

Hi, I'm Mike, co-founder, and editor of RV and Playa. My passion is traveling (with my RV) and enjoying the day at the beach (Playa)! Well, I originally created this blog as a way to share what I've learned by experimenting with the RV lifestyle, and I want to help others develop in life through new skills and opportunities.

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