Appraising a Motor Home for Financing, Insurance or a Charitable Donation

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company, Automobile Appraisers in all 50 States 772-359-4300 contact@stlucieappraisal.net

Appraising a motor home or recreational vehicle for financing, insurance or a charitable donation qualifies as a necessity when requirements dictate. In addition to accuracy, an appraiser who prepares a valuation report for an RV should strive to present professional-looking documents that will impress a bank, insurance company or the IRS as being valid. There are other reasons that appraisals may be necessary such as in matters involving estates, bankruptcy, purchase & sale, damage claims or equitable distribution.

Appraising and donating a motor home, trailer or other recreational vehicle to charity is both worthwhile and financially beneficial to you. A motor home or travel trailer can enhance many lives through the service they provide. The tax deduction that is enjoyed by the donor is, of course, another good reason for considering such a gift. The St. Lucie Appraisal Company provides fair market valuation appraisals in all 50 states for many useful purposes such as estate dissolution, equitable distribution, damage claims as well as for donations. Knowledge of motor homes and recreational vehicles is one key requirement but another essential necessity that an appraiser of RVs needs is a database of past sales of comparable items. Whether the appraisal is going to the IRS, an insurance company or a magistrate, it must be documented by sources for the information contained therein. In the case of a tax deductible donation in excess of $5,000.00, you must have a written appraisal in which the appraiser will complete an IRS Form 8283 for you.

Hire an Experienced Motor Home and RV Appraiser

Due to changes in IRS reporting requirements, a motor home or recreational vehicle can no longer be appraised by the dealer where it was purchased unless the item will be donated within two months of when it was acquired. If the vehicle is worth less than $5000.00, then usually you don’t need to hire an appraiser to value it for you. Like most automobiles, motor homes and recreational vehicles can be evaluated by year, make, model and condition. Other factors that should be considered are whether RVs have been upgraded or customized.

Insuring a motor home or recreational vehicle is usually a straightforward process unless upgrades or custom work was done. Claims, however, are a different story. Obtaining a fair settlement for a wrecked, stolen or total loss RV can be a nightmare because insurance companies are far less accommodating paying claims then they are in collecting premiums. An appraisal based on real world comparables is a necessity in these cases.

Obtaining financing from a bank or credit union for the purchase of a motor home or recreational vehicle often requires the borrower to have it appraised. RVs depreciate over time so lenders are careful about financing used RVs. The Kelly Blue Book and NADA RV evaluation guides don’t address upgrades and customization. Many motor homes have been refurbished to a degree that will extend their lifespans by many years. Banks and credit unions, when searching through their guide books can’t help but fail to realize these and decline to offer adequate loans. Hiring a licensed appraiser is a means to obtaining the necessary financing.

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company has provided valuation appraisals for motor homes and recreational vehicles since 1981. We are licensed appraisers and provide service in all 50 states. The cost of a fair market value appraisal depends upon the research necessary to make an accurate determination. However, with the extensive database of past sales at our disposal, we can most often provide an appraisal of a motor home or recreational vehicle for $325.00.

REQUEST AN RV VALUATION APPRAISAL – $325.00 for most RVs.

TELEPHONE (772) 359-4300

Please email photographs and other vehicle information to Email: contact@stlucieappraisal.net

Service throughout Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

Some manufacturers of RVs include A Liner, Aerolite, Airstream, Alfa, Aljo, Allegro, Alpenlite, Aluma-Lite, American Eagle, Arctic Fox, Asca, Avion, Beaver, Bigfoot, Born Free, Bounder, Breckenridge by Damon, Cameo by Carriage, Cardinal by Forest River, Carri-Lite, Cedar Creek, Cherokee, Citation, Coachmen, Coleman, Country Coach, Crossroads RV, Cruiser RV, Damon Corporation, Discovery by Fleetwood, Dutch Star, Dutchmen, Fiesta by Fleetwood, Flagstaff, Flagstaff/Forest River, Flair-Fleetwood, Fleetwood Folding Trlrs, Forest River-California/Oregon, Four Winds, Franklin, Georgetown, Georgie Boy, Gulf Stream, Heartland RVs, Hi Lo, Holiday Rambler It, Jamboree, Jayco, Keystone RV, Kit, Komfort, Kountry Star, Lance, Layton, Mallard, Mallard by Fleetwood, Monaco, Mountain Aire, Nash, National RV, Nomad, Nu-Wa, Outback by Lite Way, Pace-Arrow, Palomino, Pilgrim International Inc, Pioneer, Pleasure-Way, Prowler, R-Vision, Rexhall, Roadtrek, Rockwood, Safari, Salem by Forest River, Sandpiper by Forest River, Shasta, Sierra by Forest River, Skamper, Southwind, Sportsmen, Starcraft, Sun-Lite, Sunline, Sunnybrook, Sunseeker by Forest River, Surveyor, Tahoe by Thor Ind, Terry, Thor Industries West, Tioga, Trail-Lite by R-Vision, Travel Supreme, Viking, Wanderer by Thor Ind, Weekend Warrior, Wildcat, Wilderness, Wildwood by Forest River and Winnebago.

ENTER THE WORLD OF MOTORSPORTS RACING HISTORY AT PRONYNE MOTORSPORTS MUSEUM

We had a chance to visit the historic Pronyne Motorsports Museum in Pawtucket, Rhode Island this summer. It took some doing but we managed to find this gem of a place tucked into a dense residential neighborhood and took the proverbial tour. I instantly felt myself going back in time to when I had a passion for tinkering with cars and late-night racing. But these guys weren’t tinkerers by any stretch. Seeing how vintage race cars were built is an awesome experience. It’s an honor and I felt a shiver or two when I imagined myself going 90 miles per hour in one of these jalopies, with barely a floorboard and a driveshaft churning just inches away. As an appraiser who has seen my fair share of NASCAR equipment, collectibles, memorabilia and late-model racers, viewing the earliest precursors to the sport and how they built it up from nothing is remarkable. Owners Ric Mariscal and R.A. Silvia have assembled an incredible array of the race cars of yesteryear, trophies, articles, banners and other historical items that allow us to actually feel what it was like back in the earliest days of thunder. Have a vintage car or other pre-NASCAR items of interest you’d like to donate? Pronyne Motorsports Museum is also a 501 (c)3 Non-profit organization so your contributions go to worthy causes and are tax-deductible. Although it is hard to imagine where they could fit another car because as I hope you’ll see for yourself, the entire museum is packed with one amazing display after another. They even had a few to-die-for die cast cars.

Another gratifying thing about our visit was the fact that my wife had a great time too, especially with Robert Silvia vividly describing how things really were in the earliest days of motorsports. The historical significance of this museum can’t be overestimated. It’s a shame that Pronyne is neither supported or featured by The City of Pawtucket or the State of Rhode Island in their promotional brochures or lists of museums and attractions. NASCAR fans of today consider Richard Petty an old timer but he was just a youngster when some of these cars were tearing up the dirt tracks of New England.

Speaking of Days of Thunder, one of the actual cars from the movie – the one that finished third in the last scene – happens to reside at Pronyne Motorsports Museum.

There is also a Facebook Page for Pronyne Motorsports Museum where they frequently post updates and other items of vintage auto racing history. Check out their tribute to the world-renown racing duo John Holman and Ralph Moody who partnered to develop the innovative and highly successful Holman Moody Racing Factory.

Ever hear the name Carl “Bugs” Stevens? Carl Bergman aka, Bugs Stevens started his racing career while he was serving in the military using the name “Bugs” Stevens, as the military frowned upon racing. Bugs won championships at Norwood, Seekonk, Stafford, Thompson and Malta, New York. He won races at tracks throughout the Eastern Seaboard from Maine to Florida. View an excellent display of his photos, trophies, racing suits and other mementos. Bugs won the NASCAR Modified Championships in 1967, 1968 and 1969.

As mentioned, Pronyne Motorsports Museum accepts all donations of racing memorabilia such as film, photographs, magazines, programs, race car parts, tools and the like. All artifacts will be preserved for all future racing fans to see and enjoy auto racing’s past.

It was almost as much of a pleasure reminiscing and remembering our most pleasant visit to the Pronyne Motorsports Museum at 8 Cleveland Street, Pawtucket, RI 02862 as it was actually experiencing it. Call them at 401-447-4202 to arrange for a visit to this hallowed ground of vintage automobile racing. Just around the corner is an eatery housed in an old trolley car. The line was pretty long so I’ll bet that the food is good. Road trip anyone?

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company provides automobile, personal property and diminished value appraisals in all 50 states.

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company
P.O. Box 2700
Fort Pierce, FL 34954
Phone: (772) 359-4300
Email: contact@stlucieappraisal.net

Service throughout Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi , Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming