Buying a used caravan provides newcomers to the world of touring and those looking to upgrade their existing model with a more budget-friendly way of getting their new (to them) van. However, it also means they can be exposed to the more unscrupulous sellers and scammers, particularly if you’re buying from private vendors.
The best used caravans offer an affordable way of entering the world of touring and there are some undoubted bargains that can be had. But it pays to be aware of the scams out there.
A few years ago, I spent a lot of time dreaming about car purchases, scanning the trade magazines for my perfect motor. I soon became adept at spotting the scams. It wasn’t rocket science – they were simply too good to be true: a bargain price, always a tale of woe, and often abroad.
The vendor usually had a very English name, too: Amelia or Caroline, say, and a surprising number were doctors. All contact was by email: ‘Send the money,’ they’d write, ‘then we’ll deliver the car’. And all in strangely flawed English!
More recently, I saw a caravan advert along the same lines. A beautiful Hobby, worth £20,000+, for £6000. The story? An acrimonious divorce, an aggrieved wife wreaking revenge by flogging her ex’s pride and joy. And oh, the van was in Holland.
Well, what a stroke of luck, I was visiting that town next week – could I pop by and pick it up, and pay cash on delivery?
Of course I couldn’t. The van didn’t exist, except in pictures, and when I dropped the woman’s profile photo into Google Images, it turned out that she was a model from
a Brazilian toothpaste advert!
If this example proves anything, it is that scammers will go to any length to separate you from your cash – and also provide a reminder of just how sophisticated they can be. The pre-owned market can be a great opportunity to buy a tourer made by one of the best caravan makes, but the need for vigilance is real. With that in mind, we’re sharing 28 top tips to help you find the used tourer that suits your needs.
Buying a used caravan – our top tips:
1 Think about where you will buy it from
Typically, a used caravan can be bought from a major dealership with full facilities, from a smaller dealership (often found on former petrol station forecourts) or from a private individual via a small ad or a portal such as eBay or Gumtree. For instance, one of our contributors, Nigel Donnelly, recently purchased a caravan off of Facebook Marketplace for £1,200.
If you are buying from a dealership, aim to pay for all of your purchase, or even just the deposit, on a credit card. This ensures your entire outlay will be covered by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act (between £100 and £30,000). Different legislation offers protection above this amount.
2 The benefits of buying with a dealership
Large dealerships have reputations to protect, so buying from one is seen as being a pretty safe bet. Check the results of our Owner Satisfaction Awards 2024 to find the dealers that have especially impressed our readers and are offering the best customer satisfaction.
3 What to be aware of if buying privately
Private purchases are covered by the principle of caveat emptor (buyer beware): the responsibility for checking any purchase’s suitability or condition lies with the buyer. You’ll have little comeback if something proves to be wrong.
4 Extra benefits
Private sellers often throw in lots of extras with the sale, but with dealerships, you’ll have to negotiate fairly hard. They can make money on your part-exchange, finance, the new van and the extras that they sell you, so negotiate on all of these to get the very best deal.
5 Don’t overlook the basic decisions
Before you think about buying a used caravan, you’ll need to make sure you think about matching a caravan to a tow car. This is necessary to ensure your car can safely and legally pull the caravan you are thinking of buying. There are many different caravan layouts too, so consider the arrangement carefully. Is it right for you and your family? These two steps may sound obvious, but failing to get these basic decisions right can prove costly.
6 See the van at the seller’s home
Again, this may seem a basic one but make sure you meet the vendor at their home to view the van, not in a random car park or service station.
7 Do your research in advance
Research similar vans for sale, to get a rough idea of the price you should pay. It’s well worth printing out a screen grab to check the caravan you’re viewing is the model from the same year as that stated in the advert.
8 The benefits of online forums
Online forums can offer a great deal of very useful advice and in-depth detail about problems to look out for with specific ranges and models.
9 Carry out exterior checks
View the caravan in daylight and when it’s not raining. There are numerous exterior checks to give a used caravan, including looking for evidence of problems such as dents and damage, cracks, scratches, filler and mismatched paintwork.
10 Inspect the van
If you’re operating on a tight budget and don’t want to pay for an independent expert to check out your prospective purchase, do make sure that you give the van a thorough inspection yourself.
This should include all of the electrics (when plugged into the mains and on a caravan leisure battery). Ask the vendor to chill the fridge before you arrive. Likewise, request that the space and water heating system is on when you arrive (especially with Alde heating, which takes longer to warm up). You’ll soon know if everything’s working as it should.
Check tyre wear, all exterior lights, hitchhead mechanisms and the handbrake and spare wheel.
Then step inside the van to scrutinise taps, showers, toilet flush mechanisms, and the hob, oven and grill.
11 Inspect the paperwork
The paperwork is also important – be sure to inspect the most recent service documents to check for any advisories.
12 Check the windows
Inspect all of the windows closely. Are any of them scratched or misted up?
13 How often has the van been used?
Find out how often the previous / existing owners used the van. Remember, any van that’s been used for one two-week holiday once a year, rather than five UK tours and a trip to Spain, will have experienced much less in the way of wear and tear, but if the previous owners have been storing a caravan for long periods, it will have also been immobile for quite a while.
14 Have a CRiS check done
The CRiS registration scheme assigns tourers with unique codes, allowing you to have a CRiS check done on the tourer. This compares the vehicle’s VIN number with a database listing stolen, damaged and written-off vehicles.
The 17-digit CRiS number is displayed on at least seven of the windows, and stamped onto the chassis. Thieves often try to remove the number by grinding or scratching it off. Walk away from any caravan with CRiS damage.
15 Check the documentation
Check all of the van’s ownership and service documentation. Has it been regularly and properly serviced? Was the caravan servicing carried out by a reputable technician? Ask who has done the servicing when you call the seller, then check them out online.
16 Examine the tyres
Examine the age of the tyres. You’ll find this information on the tyre wall. It comprises two numbers – say, 37 15 – which denotes that the tyre was made in week 37 of 2015.
In this case, the van’s tyres – however much tread depth remains – should be replaced in the next few months, because they’ll be five years old in the 37th week of 2020.
Find out more about what you should be doing for your tyres by taking a look at our guide to the various caravan tyre safety checks that need doing.
17 What about the tourer’s condition?
Check the caravan’s condition – do you think it matches its declared age and usage or does it raise some questions?
18 Don’t forget the floor
Check the floor for delamination. You should be able to feel if the outer veneer of the plywood floor has bubbled up. Take a look inside cupboards and under beds and sofas, too.
19 Are there any signs of water ingress?
Keep your eyes peeled for signs of caravan water ingress – after all, damp is the hidden tourer killer. Does the van smell damp when you enter? If there is a heavily fragranced interior, it could be being used to mask the smell.
Look for the telltale signs of damp in corners, including those under the beds and in lockers. Also, check back through the paperwork for any note of damp that’s previously been picked up by a professional tester. The best caravan moisture meter can help you detect water in a van, but take care to never use it in a van that isn’t yours and take care to avoid leaving marks in a visible surface.
20 Electrical connectors
Investigate the van’s electrical connector. Is it going to be compatible with your tow car?
21 Roof wear and tear
Check out the roof of the caravan for signs of damage, and likewise, make sure you also look underneath it for any potential problems with the chassis and floor.
22 Are the accessories working?
We’ve already said that buying privately can be a great way of getting extras thrown in – but do all of them work? This includes things such as the motor mover, auto-levelling, air-con, alarm, tracker and satellite dish. If it doesn’t come with one, you can check out our guide to the best caravan motor mover to see our top picks on the market.
23 Power
How old is the van’s leisure battery and is it a reputable brand? Is the gas bottle included in the sale?
24 Is the remote working?
Are any remote controls supplied and if so, are they working?
25 Do the keys work?
Are all of the keys available, and do they work properly? It’s not going to be expensive to get new ones sorted, but it’s certainly a bit of unnecessary hassle.
26 Don’t forget a numberplate
Remember, if you intend to bring your new purchase home, you’ll need a numberplate for it!
27 Negotiate
Use any problems you find, along with the associated repair costs, to negotiate on price. Take a pen and paper with you to make notes, and factor in the time and travel that the repairs will incur, as well as any lost touring time.
28 If it looks too good to be true…
Always remember the golden rule: if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is! And never get involved in sales with vans which are ‘abroad at the moment’ – it’s
very likely to be a scam.
Take a look at our guide to financing a caravan to find out about the different options for covering the cost of your tourer.
The final word on buying a used caravan
Buying a used caravan is a really great way to save money, and you’ll find there are some brilliant bargains if you take your time and you’re prepared to walk away.
Apply our advice and your purchase should be as safe as any can be. The price of buying from a private vendor should reflect the fact that you have little or no comeback – we’d say a minimum of 15-20% less than a large dealership price.
But remember, buying your next van from a passionate caravanner, who feels their beloved van is worth more than a dealership will offer them, can often be the best way to get your hands on an absolutely top-class bargain tourer!
Our guide to the best used tow cars could help you find the ideal pre-owned towing vehicle to suit your needs.
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