When buying a used motorhome it could be considered prudent to do as much research into the various motorhomes available before committing time and money to the purchase. Identifying what use you will make of the vehicle is essential; a van conversion maybe suitable for day or weekend trips but for longer tours something offering more comfort and space might be advantageous. Make a list of the features you wish the vehicle to include but do not be too ridged. Remember, the price should reflect the vehicles mileage and condition and you might decide to forgo low mileage in favour of a certain layout or the inclusion of particular accessories.

A realistic budget is also required, to assist with this, look at the price range of the used motorhomes of your choice. Remember to add in factors like insurance, servicing and fuel economy. If you decide to buy privately, vehicles are often cheaper but are sold as seen. Purchasing from a dealer maybe more expensive but they often come with a guarantee and the dealer is legally obliged to disclose full details of the vehicle’s condition. If the vehicle is under three years of age, a manufacturer’s guarantee maybe transferable to the new owner.

It may well be wise to view the vehicle in daylight and in good weather when buying a used motorhome as this can make assessing its general appearance easier. Have the seller fully demonstrate all the equipment and accessories to ensure that all are in good working order and that you are at ease with their use. Check for any signs of damp, damp-meters are inexpensive and could help with this.

If possible, ensure that a full service history is available and verify the engine and chassis numbers against the documentation. If you are buying privately, always view at the seller’s home address so you can confirm the registered address.

Motoring organisations, such as the RAC and AA offer online history checks, full inspections and road test should you require support when buying a used motorhome.

For ease of access and after-sale care, it is often best when buying a used motorhome to shop locally. Take your time when purchasing, do not yield to time-pressured deals. Spend a couple of hours in the motorhome, as you are likely to spend longer continuous periods in it than you would a car. Always take the motorhome for a test drive, travelling along both country lanes and town roads and try parking the vehicle. If possible, before buying a used motorhome, hire the type of motorhome you wish to buy to ensure it meets all your requirements and that you are comfortable with all its aspects. This could prove a deciding factor in your choice when buying a used motorhome and help reduce the risk of making a costly mistake. Finally, always haggle at least over the price and if applicable, the extras you would like included.

As with anything else, when selling a motorhome you need to make it as presentable as possible. Take time to clean thoroughly, making sure all accessories are in good working order and make any repairs so that it looks its best. Dampness in a motorhome can easily deter a would-be sale so rectify the problem and remove all traces of damp if possible, ensuring the vehicle smells fresh. Gather all its documents, including its service history and decide how you wish to sell your motorhome.

It is probably best to investigate the selling price of other motorhomes, which are similar to yours. Remember the mileage, condition, the popularity of the make and model, could determine the selling price range. If you are selling a motorhome privately, then put it on the market at the higher price and let the buyer haggle you to a lower price, which you are prepared to accept. It is often considered best practice by private buyers to view a vehicle at its registered address, so be prepared to handle the sale from your home address and be ready for the buyer to take a test drive.
Legally, a private seller does not have to make a statement regarding the vehicle’s condition but must answer truthfully any questions.

The method of payment must not be overlooked; cash might be the best option if you do not mind handling cash. However, if selling on-line, then often credit card payments are possible using the website’s own services. Alternatively, a bankers draft or a money transfer maybe more appropriate, with a non-cash method, it could be prudent to wait until the money has cleared in your account before relinquishing ownership of the motorhome.

When advertising, choose the best media for your requirements, it maybe the local newspaper, a specialist magazine or perhaps the owner of a local campsite may agree to advertise your motorhome for you. You may wish to consider selling a motorhome by auction, if so, there are a number of reputable auction-houses specialising in the selling of vehicles. Usually, they will assist you with realistic information on how best to facilitate the sale, including the setting of a reserve price.

If you are going to use a dealer, then brace yourself for the price they offer to be much lower than if you sold it privately. Remember, a dealer has overheads and needs to make a profit on the buying and selling of second-hand motorhomes. If you are going to use your motorhome as a part-exchange, then there maybe room for you to haggle for a better deal. Regardless if you are selling your motorhome privately or to a dealer, unless you require a quick sale, do not be pressured by time-limited deals, take your time.

Deciding to invest in a new motorhome can be quite exciting and often a big step financially, so it is important to do as much research as possible before buying a new motorhome.

Firstly identify your budget and what are you going to use the new motorhome for? Do you fancy spending months enjoying the winter sun in the Mediterranean, only holidaying for a couple of weeks at a time or just weekends away? Will you be travelling mostly in Europe or just in the UK? This could determine whether you buy a left or right-hand drive. It is often cheaper to buy a left-hand drive motorhome in the UK. How many will be occupying the motorhome will ascertain the layout and body type; a single person or a couple may require a van conversion or compact which is usually more spacious but still under 6m long. Whereas the larger coach-built or a Class-A motorhome may be the best choice for a family.

Then read those enthusiast books and magazines on motorhomes, search the internet, attend motorhome shows and exhibitions and take time to talk to motorhome owners. They are often more than happy to discuss their vehicles and could prove invaluable when giving you the practical details on various models, their layouts, running costs, manoeuvrability etc.

When ready to purchase that new motorhome it is often more convenient to buy locally for ease of access, after-all, you probably would not want to travel miles for any after-sales issues. It is important to take your time when buying, do not be pressured by time-limited deals. Test drive the vehicle, making sure that you are comfortable driving it in town as well as those tiny country lanes and try parking it. Have the dealer demonstrate how every accessory works and if possible, hire the vehicle for a weekend to make sure it suits your requirements, for example, does it fit on your drive if you are going to store it at home?

Once you have decided upon your motorhome then haggle with the dealer over those extras that are not included in the price. Compare their finance arrangements with those from other providers and check to see if the dealer offers part-exchange deals, they might accept cars, motorbikes, boats etc.

Remember, there is a vast array of new motorhomes in the marketplace that could suit your needs but at the end of the day, it is for YOU that you are buying the new motorhome and not family and friends!

Campervans are also known as Class-B motorhomes or day-vans and are invariably panels vans, such as the Ford Transit, fitted out as motorhomes. When considering where to buy a new campervan, the majority of people choose to buy from a dealer. With the latest technology available, it is now possible to view many campervans using the internet before venturing out to visit the dealers. For ease, it is often advisable, to shop locally, thus reducing the amount of travelling time required for both buying and making any trips for after-sales care.

There are many campervans to choose from so good research to find the one that most suits your needs can be important. It might be advantageous to visit motorhome shows and exhibitions to view first-hand the selection of makes and models with their variety of layouts. There is also a vast array of add-ons available, which may prove desirable, for example, awnings and bike racks. Visiting a motorhome show may possibly assist you when deciding which campervan to buy, however, a buyer might be shrewd not to be too ridged with their requirements, as this may inhibit obtaining a good deal when purchasing.

It can be prudent to take your time when buying a new campervan; do not be pressurized into taking a time-limited deal. If possible, hire the type of campervan you wish to buy first to ensure that it meets all your requirements and that you are comfortable with its lay-out and manoeuvrability. Failing that, at least spend a couple of hours in the new campervan before committing to the sale.

Always take it for a test drive, making sure that you travel down both country lanes and town roads, and try parking it. Have the dealers demonstrate all the equipment and accessories are in good working order and that you are familiar with their operation before proceeding with the purchase.

Be brave and haggle, not just over the price but also the extras that are often not included, for example, the gas hook-up lead. If you require finance when purchasing, always compare their financial arrangements with those on offer from other providers. The dealer may also offer part-exchange deals, which may include taking cars, motorbike and boats. These are all factors you may wish to take into account when considering where to buy a new campervan.