ASK THE EXPERTS

where can we find the ’van that’s just right for us?

We simply cannot find the right motorhome at the right price at the moment – our choice is so restricted. What are the alternatives? David Palmer

Nick Harding replies...

Good for you for identifying the motorhome that best suits your specific needs. Normally at this point, I’d say the right vehicle is out there for you, somewhere. But I’m not surprised to hear that you can’t find what you’re looking for right now.

In the current climate, things are very different for anyone considering the purchase of a motorhome. Stock levels are exceptionally low, across the whole of the UK.

I will suggest an alternative, though. How about hiring (1)? It’s a great way of finding out if the touring lifestyle is for you – and it means that you can literally try before you buy.

are there pitfalls to buying a motorhome in europe?

I’m thinking about buying a motorhome and I have been told you can get the best deal in Germany. I don’t mind if it is left-hand drive and I would be paying in euros. Could you please advise me of the pros and cons of doing this, and what I would need to do to register the ’van in England? Jeff Durnell

Gentleman Jack replies…

The rules and regulations have changed following Brexit, so it is essential to visit the Government website detailed below.

Privately importing a new motorhome from mainland Europe was actually quite popular 10 years ago, but appears to be less so today. A poor currency exchange rate might well be the reason for this. In addition, today, more UK dealers will price-match, or get very close, than was previously the case!

Everything that you will need to do to register an imported new or pre-owned motorhome in the UK can be found here: gov.uk/ importing-vehicles-into-the-uk.

Carefully study all of the relevant sections, making sure that you follow the instructions to the letter and in the correct order, especially regarding the Certificate of Conformity (COC), the Notification of Vehicle Arrival (NOVA) online service, and paying VAT and any Customs import duty.

The website also has a section on what you have to do to make your vehicle road-legal. Basically, this concerns the dipping of headlamps, the position of the rear foglight and the speedo read-out.

If you are buying a new vehicle, you will have to think about how you are going to get it home. Assuming you don’t have access to UK trade plates and trade insurance, it was possible

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(before Brexit) for German dealers to offer temporary German registration plates and third-party insurance.

I guess the latter (in standard format) will now become invalid when the vehicle leaves the EU. Reports suggest it’s difficult to get insurance cover from UK insurers for what they see as an unregistered vehicle. But some buyers have succeeded in getting short-term cover for importing pre-owned ’vans.

The alternative is to pay a specialist haulier with a low-loader to pick it up for you. Some European dealerships will deliver to Calais or Dunkirk.

Pros

It might be cheaper. Unless you compare the price of sourcing a left-hand drive model of similar spec from a UK dealership with one from a dealer based in mainland Europe, savings might be illusory.

It will enable you to buy a model that isn’t sold in the UK.

There are many more pre-owned ’vans to choose from, especially bargain ex-hire examples.

Pre-Brexit, you could pay VAT in either the country of the supplying dealer, or the UK, a potential saving.

Cons

Getting it home, making it road-legal and registering it in the UK.

Probably having to return it to the supplying dealer for conversion warranty work.

It will be to European specification; for example, different 230V sockets.

It will not be ‘handed’ for the UK; habitation door will be on our offside.

The resale value of a left-hand drive example in the UK might be affected post-Brexit (unlikely!).

Any extended warranty that is insurance-based might not be valid for non-residents of the country in which it was arranged.

There are several useful websites and online guides from folk who have imported a motorhome, although obviously this would be pre-Brexit.

Just type ‘Importing a motorhome from Germany’ into your search engine.

You asked about buying in Germany, but in the past, other readers have found Campirama in Belgium very helpful in this regard (campirama.be). Best wishes and good luck if you do decide to go ahead.

how can we prevent water leaking into aerial cable?

When arriving on-site, if you need to use levelling blocks at the front of your motorhome, will the rain still run off the top of the ’van?

The reason I ask is, at the rear of the roof on my Auto-Trail 2005 Frontier, there is a large lip all the way round.

While staying at Castlerigg, Keswick, we had torrential rain (no surprise there). And while watching TV, we noticed water was dripping down the inside of the window, underneath the TV aerial. On closer inspection, the water was coming not from outside the aerial shaft, but inside, down the cable. Any thoughts on what we should do? Gerard Moloney

Diamond Dave replies…

Whether or not water will run off the roof depends on your particular vehicle. Auto-Trails usually have drain points in the roof mouldings to allow standing water to drain away.

If you can get access safely, check they haven’t become blocked with leaves or other debris.

As for the aerial leaking water, that sounds like the seal between the mast and the head has failed. You’ll need to get up on top, remove the aerial, then strip it down to check, or get a reputable workshop to do it for you.