This article is part of our expert lender review series. Carter Kilmann is a personal finance expert and contributing author for industry-leading finance websites.

Great RV Loan

GreatRVLoan Review

GreatRVLoan promotes a variety of RV financial services, including insurance, loan origination, refinancing, and title transfers. With only one office location, GreatRVLoan operates as a digital brokerage. That said, it provides out-of-state financing across the country. GreatRVLoan is an affiliate of SeaDream, Inc., which was founded in 2002 in Costa, Mesa, California by a group of financing professionals.  

GreatRVLoan Pros Explained

GreatRVLoan’s lending program has several advantages: 

GreatRVLoan.com offers RV loans up to $2,000,000.

Loan Maximum: GreatRVLoan offers RV financing of up to $2 million for creditworthy loan applicants, which enables borrowers to finance the purchases of higher-end recreational vehicles. 

Term Length: GreatRVLoan’s lending programs include a wide range of repayment terms — 5 to 20 years — depending on the loan amount and the applicant’s credit profile. 

Credit Minimum: Consumers can apply for RV financing with credit scores as low as 550, which is a more accommodating credit score requirement compared to other lenders in the space. 

Rates: GreatRVLoan’s lending program boasts competitive pricing with rates as low as 3.99% (subject to change). This program’s lowest rates are only available for loan amounts above $150,000 and loan applicants with excellent credit profiles. 

No Prepayment Penalties: Borrowers will not be subject to prepayment fees if they decide to refinance their RV loan at a lower interest rate. 

GreatRVLoan Cons Explained

GreatRVLoan’s lending program can have several disadvantages, depending on your credit profile and/or preferences. 

Cost: Creditworthy applicants can take advantage of GreatRVLoan’s competitive rates; however, individuals with less-than-stellar credit scores and/or histories will pay steep interest rates. That said, it’s not unusual to see higher interest rates associated with worse credit profiles. 

Accessibility: Compared to larger institutions, GreatRVLoan is limited to a digital platform (their website). For applicants that would prefer in-person lending options or a more detailed and user-friendly online platform, GreatRVLoan may fall short of expectations.

Inactive Blog: GreatRVLoan’s blog is limited and has not been updated since February 2019. While it’s not the only indicator, a blog can establish a lender as an informed authority in their particular field. Individuals that seek additional guidance around the RV financing process would be better served elsewhere.

Who Is GreatRVLoan Best For?

Creditworthy borrowers can secure up to $2 million in financing, allowing for the purchase of top-of-the-line motorhomes and trailers. For instance, GreatRVLoan promotes a detailed lending program specifically for Prevost Motorcoaches. 

That said, GreatRVLoan is the best solution for individuals with “challenged” credit, as GreatRVLoan has looser restrictions and minimum credit thresholds. This company is expressively open to applicants with poor financial histories. While other lenders often require credit scores to be at least 700, GreatRVLoan only requires a minimum score of 550 to be eligible for financing. 

GreatRVLoan is also transparent with its loan rates. GreatRVLoan’s challenged credit rates vary between 7.95% and 17.95% for loans between $10,000 and $75,000.

What Type of RV Loans Does GreatRVLoan Offer?

GreatRVLoan can meet various RV financing needs, including pre-approval loans, private party purchases, dealership purchases, and refinances. 

Pre-qualify

If you want to know your spending capabilities before you shop for an RV, you can pre-qualify for a loan with GreatRVLoan. This can streamline the process once you select an RV that you’d like to purchase. 

New/used purchase

GreatRVLoan offers financing for new and used RVs whether you’re purchasing from a private party or a dealership. 

Challenged credit

GreatRVLoan has a lending program for individuals with poor credit and negative financial histories, including late payments, bankruptcies, repossessions, and charge-offs. Within this program, loan amounts range between $10,000 and $75,000. 

Refinancing

For RV-owners with existing loans, GreatRVLoan offers refinancing and handles title changes and other documentation requirements. Only existing loan balances above $25,000 are eligible. 

What Are GreatRVLoan’s Credit Score Requirements?

Whether applicants have a history of late payments or something more significant like bankruptcy, GreatRVLoan is willing to work with a variety of credit profiles. So long as you have a credit score of at least 550, you’ll be eligible for financing. This is lower than most other lenders in the RV financing space. 

What Kind of APR Can You Expect?

GreatRVLoan is transparent with its rates, which are competitive if you have a strong financial profile and request a large enough loan. GreatRVLoan’s standard rates range from 3.99% to 5.99%, while their challenged credit rates range between 7.95% and 17.95%. We’ve pulled the following rates from GreatRVLoan’s website, which are subject to change.

Standard Rates

Loan Amount Rates Term (Months)
$10,000 – $24,999 5.99% 60 – 120
$25,000 – $49,999 5.49% 60 – 180
$50,000 – $74,999 4.75% 60 – 180
$75,000 – $149,999 4.49% 60 – 240
$150,000 – $349,999 3.99% 60 – 240
$350,000 – $1,999,999 3.99% 60 – 240
$2,000,000 Call for rate Call for term

Challenged Credit Rates

Loan Amount Rates Term (Months)
$10,000 – $19,999 9.95% – 17.95% 60 – 120
$20,000 – $50,000 9.95% – 17.95% 60 – 144
$50,001 – $75,000 7.95% – 17.95% 60 – 180

Other Financial Products Offered

Beyond RV financing, GreatRVLoan’s portfolio of services also includes RV insurance and Used RV Transfer Kits

RV Insurance

GreatRVLoan offers a variety of insurance coverages to California residents, including:

  • Comprehensive
  • Collision
  • Bodily Injury
  • Property Damage
  • Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist
  • Uninsured Motorist Property Damage
  • Medical Payment
  • Emergency Expense
  • Vacation Liability
  • Personal Effects Value
  • Roadside 

In addition, GreatRVloan’s insurance plan includes a disappearing deductible benefit for Collision and Comprehensive deductibles for each consecutive policy period without a claim. 

Used RV Transfer Kits

GreatRVLoan also helps individuals sell their used RVs, trailers, and 5th wheels via its Used RV Transfer Kits. Featured services included within the kit include:

  • Extended warranty products for the buyer
  • Gap insurance products for the buyer
  • Secured payment processing
  • Title and registration transfer processing
  • Legal bills of sale
  • Prior loan payoff for the seller
  • State sales and use tax disbursements

GreatRVLoan’s Used RV Transfer Kit can be downloaded from the company website

Customer Service Experience

Due to the business’s regional focus and digital-only operation, there are limited customer service reviews for GreatRVLoan. In addition, this company does not include customer reviews on its website. 

GreatRVLoan is an affiliate of SeaDream Inc., which has been an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 2015. To date, no customers have filed complaints against GreatRVLoan or SeaDream to the BBB. 

According to the BBB Customer Review page, SeaDream Inc. maintains a 4.38-star rating on a 5-star scale. Of the company’s 13 reviews, only 1 indicates a negative customer experience. 

How to Bank With GreatRVLoan

GreatRVLoan is an online brokerage for RV financing. Once you apply on their website, GreatRVLoan will assess your financial profile and loan request and match you with the most applicable program. After processing your application, a loan officer will reach out with available options. GreatRVLoan handles payment processing as well as ownership transfer documentation.

GreatRVLoan’s affiliate, SeaDream Inc, has an office located at the following address: 1599 Superior Ave. Ste. A4 Costa Mesa, CA 92627

You can contact their office by phone (949-515-0055) from Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm PST.

Peer Comparisons

GreatRVLoan has competitive rates that stack up well against the rest of the industry. Loans above $150,000 are eligible for an interst rate of 3.99%. In comparison, LightStream’s lowest rates begin at 4.29%; Good Sam’s lowest rates begin at 4.39%; and Southeast Financial’s lowest rates begin at 4.49%.

GreatRVLoan’s lending program for applicants with challenged credit is industry-leading in terms of minimum eligibility requirements. Only one other lender, Southeast Financial, also offers RV financing to applicants with credit scores as low as 550. 

Other lender programs have more user-friendly websites with more resources and tools, which can help potential applicants make informed decisions. For example, Southeast Financial has webpages dedicated to frequently asked questions, customer reviews, and loan calculators.

Lastly, if you’re interested in unsecured loans (i.e. you don’t want your RV to be used as collateral), LightStream — a division of SunTrust Bank — may be a better lender for your needs. 

Lender Terms

Specific lender terms beyond rates and term length are not made available to the public. 

Eligibility Requirements

GreatRVLoan has inclusive eligibility requirements that accommodate individuals with poor credit backgrounds. To qualify for this lending program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • A minimum credit score of 550
  • A model that’s 15 years old or newer
  • A minimum loan amount of $10,000
  • A minimum downpayment of 10%

Further, the following RVs are eligible for challenged credit financing:

  • Motorhomes (Class A, B, and C)
  • Travel Trailer
  • 5th Wheel
  • Utility Trailer
  • Horse Trailer
  • Toy Hauler
  • Toter Home

GreatRVLoan loans do not include a prepayment penalty, which enables borrowers with poor credit to refinance at lower rates once their credit profiles improve. 

How to Apply

Applying for RV financing with GreatRVLoan can be done through its site or by visiting this page. Interested applicants will need to have the following information ready. 

Preliminary information:

  • Vehicle information (make, model, year)
  • Whether you will have a co-applicant
  • Dealer contact information (if applicable)

Personal information needed:

  • Standard contact info
  • Drivers license number
  • Social security number

Income:

  • Current employer
  • Monthly income and expenses 
  • Credit rating (general range)

Loan request:

  • RV sale price
  • Down payment estimate
  • Loan amount

Verdict

GreatRVLoan is a viable RV financing option with competitive rates for creditworthy borrowers and options for individuals with poor financial profiles. It also can help with your RV insurance needs if you live in California and assist with the sale of a used RV if you don’t want to deal with documentation requirements.

If physical branches, other customer reviews, and online functionalities are key aspects of your lender preferences, you may be better off banking with another institution. 

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