BUYING ADVICE

Where to buy your next, or first, motorhome

Where to spend your hard-earned cash to get your next motorhome

There are multiple options of where to buy a motorhome from but, with the current high levels of demand, your favoured route may prove fruitless, so here all the options are explained.

There are four main avenues open to buyers, all with their own pros and cons.

First up, and the most popular, is to buy from a specialist dealer. Franchised dealers have well-trained salespeople who can guide you through the many models and layouts that its manufacturer produces. If you’re buying used, then buying from a dealer still has significant advantages. For example, the motorhome should come with a warranty (either manufacturer-backed or an insurancebased version).

The dealer should also have a workshop for servicing and repairs, and so it can fit any accessories you want before you take delivery.

Many dealers are also members of the NCC Approved Dealership scheme, which means they must follow a code of conduct and, if you have an issue you can’t resolve with the dealer, you can take it to the NCC arbitration service. You can find out more about the Approved Dealership scheme here

approveddealerships.co.uk/ motorhomes

If you are buying a new motorhome through a dealer, always note that your contract is with that dealer and not the manufacturer. If there are warranty or build issues, it is the dealer you should instruct to resolve these.

Unlike the car industry, you may not be able to visit another dealer with the same franchise to resolve a warranty problem and so you may need to go back to the supplying dealer, unless you have prearranged an alternative.

You will pay a premium for buying from a dealer but the level of service and aftercare is unavailable with all of the other buying channels.

Many people buy from a dealer at a motorhome show and this often means they can take advantage of show-only deals. If you buy at a show, your consumer rights are the same as if you were buying from the dealer premises.

If you buy from a dealer but never actually visit that dealership, and instead do all all transactions over the phone or online, and the ’van is delivered to you, then different consumer rules apply, which allow you 14 days to change your mind and get a full refund.

It’s called Distance Selling and you can get more information on this page

themotorombudsman.org/distancesales-faqs

When buying a new campervan from one of the many smaller converters, you will be buying direct from the manufacturer so, check if there is a dealer network that will do warranty or recall work and, if not, be prepared to drive back to the manufacturer if you need work carrying out.

The advantage of buying direct from a converter is the personal attention you should get, which often means the chance to have a design adapted to your needs and you will normally be regularly updated on the build.

The next option is buying privately. The first thing to do is search online on sites like outandaboutlive.co.uk or eBay, which has both private and dealer models advertised.

Buying privately requires care as, once you have paid, there is generally no comeback on the seller provided the seller has not broken the law.

There are some simple rules that could save you tens of thousands of pounds. The first is, if a deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

If a person won’t talk to you on the phone and answer questions or you can’t physically view the motorhome at the registered address, then we suggest dismissing that and moving on.

Also, check whether an advert appears elsewhere with a different phone number (Google’s image search is great for this). If you do get a response, ask for the VIN numbers and check they match the advertised vehicle.

Prices should be cheaper when buying privately, but remember you are not getting a warranty or any redress if you find damp or other defects down the line.

Damp is still an issue in used models, so ask if the annual checks have been done and to see the reports. And take a damp meter with you when you view.

Buying at an auction is the least popular option. There are specialist auctions that deal in traded-in models dealers do not want to sell, insurance write-offs, finance repossessions and some other models not suited to retail. All models are sold as seen with no warranty. You can get a bargain at an auction but you can also get a ’van that needs a lot of work.