Are you looking for RV sales statistics by state?
After the pandemic, RV Sales have gone up dramatically. It has increased so much, in fact, that many people were not anticipating the major boom in the industry.
Despite this fact, the leaders in RV sales and monetization have remained the same before, during, and after the pandemic.
To find out more about RV sales by state, keep reading. In this review, we give you all the facts you need to know about RV sales in the United States. Let’s dive right in to find out more.
Table of Contents
RV Sales Statistics by State
Let’s take a look at some of the most important RV sales statistics by state.
Indiana Produces and Sells the Most RVs
RVs are popular throughout the entire nation, but well over half of all RVs driven are produced in Indiana.
👉 In fact, 67% of these shipments come from the state, leading to $3.6 billion in shipments. Currently, Indiana is the home state to just about every RV manufacturer in the United States.
👉 In fact, manufacturers in Indiana made around $11,928,053 in 2017 alone. For comparison, the state with the second most manufacturers is California.
👉 California only made $640,752 that same year. Here’s a look at RV sales, including both manufacturer shipments and general purchase, for the top 3 states:
| Place | State | Value ($ billion) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana | 6.8 |
| 2 | California | 2.2 |
| 3 | Texas | 1.8 |
Florida Is Another Key Player
Even though Florida does not manufacture or sell the most amount of RVs, it is a state that should not be forgotten about.
👉 The state places 4th, 5th, and 6th in terms of van, boat, and RV ownership. The fact that this state places so high in all forms of recreation ownership shows Florida as being a key state for RVing in general.
RV Dealers and Employees by State
Something else to think about in terms of RV statistics is dealers and employees.
👉 As of 2018, there were around 15,000 employees throughout the entire state.
At the time, Indiana manufactured the most RVs, yet California hired the most RV dealers and employees, and that fact still remains today.
👉 As of 2018, there were 249 dealers in California and 4412 employees. The close second for RV dealers was Florida, which had 4310.
After Florida, Texas, Washington, Michigan, and Arizona followed up with having quite a few dealers as well, though nowhere near as many as California or Florida.
👉 Even though Alaska does not have many dealers or RV locations in general, it has the highest employment payroll. Similarly, Alaska had an average revenue of $472,217. Vermont came in second, raking in only $311,538.
👉 Interestingly, Alaska did not have the highest RV park sales, despite paying their employees the most. California actually generated the highest sales in terms of RV parks, resulting in $404.8 million total in 2017. Still, California did not pay their employees very highly despite high park earnings.
“…feel free to use our infographics. Just remember to give us credit.“
Sales Are Increasing Everywhere
Even though Indiana, California, and Texas have the most RV sales, sales everywhere are increasing.
👉 In 2000, the RV industry had about 300,100 shipments.
👉 By 2017, however, that increased to 500,600. After COVID-19, that number increased even more due to people’s willingness to get outside the house.
Full-time RVers by State
One thing that has changed over the years is the popularity of full-time RVers. Many people are turning to live a full life on the road to save money and experience more freedom. This is an incredibly new trend that has been popularized by van life on the Internet.
👉 Currently, certain states are better for full-time RVers than others. Texas is ranked the most popular location for full-time RVers because there is an escapees RV club.
👉 After that, South Dakota is another popular state because there are no personal property or income taxes. South Dakota also does not require vehicle inspections.
👉 Similarly, Wyoming is the third most popular state for full-time RVers because there is no personal property tax, income tax, and vehicle inspections.
Plus, you don’t have to renew your license as often as in other states. You only have to do it once every eight years.
Worst States For RVing
In contrast, certain states are less RV-friendly than others.
👉 California is frequently listed as one of the worst states for RVers, full-time or otherwise, because it has a 55-speed limit.
👉 Plus, many RVs over 40 feet are banned and there is much higher taxes, as well as mandatory vehicle inspections. This is an interesting fact since California makes so much from RV parks.
👉 New York is another bad state for RVers.
It has incredibly high gas prices and taxes as a whole. There are many restrictions, including Parkway restrictions and low clearance bridges. For example, motorhomes are not allowed on the Taconic State Parkway, which is the longest Parkway throughout the state.
Cheapest States for Buying RVs
RVs can cost a pretty penny, which makes many people look for the best states to purchase a model. Generally speaking, Montana is considered the best state for buying an RV. It has no sales tax, no general tax, no county tax, and no city tax.
👉 These facts make Montana easily the best place to buy an RV or motorhome.
It is important to check which state you live in, however, because certain states will require you to pay sales and tax collections on RVs and vehicles that you didn’t even purchase within the state boundaries. California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wyoming are just a few examples.
Which state has the most RV parks?
👉 As of 2018, Texas was home to the most RV parks. They were home to 376 RV parks, which is an impressive number.
Though Texas has the most RV parks, most people cite Arizona and Nevada as having the best RV parks as a whole.
👉 After Texas, California comes in as a close second with 373 RV parks, which is only three short of our top pick.
👉 The numbers then dipped drastically, with Florida, the state with the third most RV parks, only having 242 parks.
After that, New York, Washington, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Ohio follow suit.
The fact that California and New York have so many RV parks is interesting. As we already noted, those states are commonly listed as the worst states for RV owners.
It’s a wonder that many people within these states opt to live in RV parks despite the high prices and stipulations.
What is the best month to buy an RV?
Because most people go RVing in the summer, RVs tend to be the most expensive during the summer months.
👉 Once it hits around October, the sales start to go down. As sales go down, discounts go up. In other words, the winter months are the best time to go RV shopping.
👉 More specifically, December and January are the absolute best times to buy an RV. Because fewer people are RVing at this point, you are more likely to find great deals.
👉 As a whole, October through February have some of the lowest prices, whereas March through September has the highest.
Is the RV industry growing?
Just a few years ago, RVing was something people did for vacation. Today, the popularity in the RV industry is growing. More people are considering full-time RVing as a viable lifestyle to save money and see the states in the process.
👉 COVID-19 caused there to be about an 18% drop in sales at the beginning of last year. Although the pandemic negatively affected the industry for 2020, the industry was growing before then and has seen a boom since.
Additionally, experts anticipate the market growing even more as the pandemic begins to subside.
👉 As of 2021, the RV industry has seen a 170% increase in first-time buyers looking to get RVs. This is a shocking increase that seems to be a result of COVID-19.
👉 Although this major increase in sales is expected to slow down, most experts believe that the RV industry will continue to grow, nearly being double what it was in 2020 by 2026.
How much can you talk RV dealers down?
Negotiating with RV dealers about the cost of your RV can be a tricky business. If you go to one place, you may be able to talk down way more than at another location. Private dealerships, for instance, are easier to talk down than the brand suppliers.
Something else that affects how much you can talk down is the RV you are interested in. RVs with higher demand will be harder to talk down than RVs with little interest outside of you and a few others. If you want the best deal, look at last year’s models that weren’t very popular to begin with.
👉 How much can you talk RV dealers down? Depending on where you go, you may be able to find your way into receiving a 20% to 30% off discount. Some dealers, however, only negotiate down a couple thousand if anything at all.
Which RV has the best resale value?
A variety of factors affect resale value, making it difficult to say which one RV has the best resale value. More so, RVs tend to depreciate very quickly because new models are constantly coming out and they undergo a lot of wear and tear while being driven.
Which RV has the best resale value? Class B RVs tend to hold their value the best since they can be lavish and practical. Airstream’s Interstate line tends to be one of the leading Class B RVs in resale value.
Winnebago Industry Class B models are also quite impressive in terms of resale value. The Revel RV is probably their best model.
Read also: RV Depreciation // How Much Do Campers Really Depreciate?
Do RV dealers negotiate the price?
RVs can be an expensive expense, but you can negotiate the price, though certain dealers and models will be easier to negotiate down than others. Most importantly, RVs with low consumer interest and low demand are the easiest to negotiate down.
When negotiating, it’s best to compare RV dealership prices beforehand. Plus, go shopping during the offseason. The months of December and January tend to be the best months for getting a better deal on RVs simply because most people don’t go RVing during these months.
As you are negotiating, be on the lookout for hidden fees and walk away if you know the dealer is asking for too much. It may be a good idea to attend a local RV show to see a variety of makes and models at a more realistic price point since many RVs are being compared in one place.
How big is the RV industry?
As we’ve already learned, the RV industry is booming at the moment, thanks to COVID-19 restrictions.
👉 To date, the RV industry has a $114 billion impact on the economy. It supports about 600,000 jobs, leading to over $32 billion in wages.
👉 As a result, it also produces $12 billion in taxes on the local, state, and federal levels.
👉 The industry is growing so much in popularity that RV road signs have increased by about 20% from 2020 to 2021.
Many experts estimate this increase as being a response to the number of people looking to full-time RVing for a way to live more freely.
👉 Currently, RV ownership has hit a record high. Around 11.2 million households own at least one RV. This is 62% higher than the 6.9 million households that owned RVs in 2001.
Final Thoughts
No matter where you look, RV life and RV ownership are increasing all over the country. Currently, Indiana seems to put out the most RVs, though California makes the most on their RV parks. Still, Alaska and Vermont seemed to pay their RV workers the best.
If you are looking to buy an RV on a budget, though, we recommend Montana. It consistently ranks as being the most affordable place to buy an RV because it does not impose as many taxes.
Still, you might have to pay these taxes depending on the state you live in.
Overall, we hope these RV sales stats by the state have enlightened you on the industry as a whole. As you can see, the industry isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it is increasing by the year.
References
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