FINANCE & WARRANTIES

You’ve chosen your dream motorhome! Now, before you close the deal, it’s time to consider the important questions of finance and warranties

Financing your purchase

Arranging finance for your purchase is often easier than paying in one lump sum, but you need to be careful not to spend more than you meant to.

Think about your monthly income and outgoings. How much is left to pay for the motorhome? Don’t forget to budget for annual servicing, insurance, and storage if necessary.

Dealers at a show will usually offer finance packages, but do compare the interest rates with a personal loan to find the best deal for you.

A few minutes online will give you a clear idea of how much you’d have to pay each month if borrowing from a bank rather than arranging finance through a dealership. Consider the size of the deposit and the whole cost of the loan, not just the monthly payments.

Checking out the warranty

Warranties provided by manufacturers in general offer to repair any defects without cost to you as the consumer – with certain exceptions and provided that certain conditions are met.

But motorhomes are almost always a base vehicle made by one company and the conversion provided by another.

That means two warranties, one for the base vehicle and a bodyshell warranty for the conversion. Large components in the motorhome, such as the microwave or the heater, usually have their own warranties, too.

More modern motorhomes also have a specific water-ingress warranty, which lasts longer than the bodyshell warranty – often up to a decade.

These can be extended warranties – optional, but you pay for them. It’s

because you pay that the Consumers’ Association says such warranties are more like an insurance policy.

Finally, your dealership might also offer you its own warranty, particularly if you are buying a used model. These are organised by the dealer through a separate insurance provider, and are far more varied.

No matter which brand you go for, you should always read all of the small print extremely carefully when buying a motorhome that’s covered under warranty, to check exactly what you are getting, and what you would need to do in terms of ensuring that the warranty is maintained.

For example, you might be required to have your vehicle serviced only at a specific workshop – which could be a long way from where you live.