Buying a Campervan

I like campervans, there is quite obviously something in them which evokes memories in all of us. Who has not been on holiday in a out of the way, all inclusive holiday park filled with people from middle and northern England?

Here is a small guide courtesy of Campervan Life as to how to effectively buy a either a new or used vans.

Buying Privately

If you know what you are doing you can find bargains by buying privately.

1. Check the sellers credentials. Always view the vehicle at the sellers house. Check the address on the log book is where the vehicle is.
2. Keep the original advert. The vehicle must be as legally described. If you later find that it isn’t, approach the seller, or the police.
3. Take a witness to oversee the purchase in case the van later proves faulty.
4. Always check the details of the vehicle against the log book, especially the chassis number and engine number.
5. Check the vehicles history. There any many services that check the police and insurance database to check for outstanding HP payments, crashes and thefts.
6. Inspect the vehicle well. If you are not mechanically minded then consider getting the van inspected buy a professional. In the UK, the AA offer a 1 hour inspection and road test, and a full inspection with history check. The cost depends on the size of the vehicle, but expect to pay between $145 and $249.

With the internet finding a good camper can be an easy experience, you literally have to input your post code and the type of vehicle you want on sites like Autotrader (Vans) and they will bring up the vehicles for sale in your area or even further afield. A worthy mention should go to setting a budget before ‘bidding’ on a vehicle, it is imperative to included prices for tax and insurance into your budget. Equally only buy a vehicle if you are 100% sure that is is sound. Always get a professionals advice should you buy privately.

Buying From a Dealer

At most camper van and motorhome dealers you’ll be able to find a selection of used and new vehicles in one place. They are a great place to take a look around at the types of models available and the typical prices. Buying from a dealer is always more expensive than buying privately, but, you’ll get peace of mind as the dealer has a duty to tell you of any problems and the cost of rectifying them. Typically dealers will fix and problems with the vehicles, and often they’ll include an up-to-date MOT or roadworthy certificate. Most dealers offer at least a few months of warranty, typically 3 months. So if anything major, such as the engine blowing up, happens within this period, the dealer will fix this for you.

If you are going to buy from a dealer visit as many as you can to determine which seems to offer the best value for money, and which have the best selection for your price range.

Dealers are perhaps the ‘safest’ place to buy a vehicle, of course this is due to the premise that the brand has and the potential reputation they will loose should they sell you a faulty vehicle. When buying from a dealer you can also ask for little extras to be added, like a full tank of petrol, or a new cd player and the majority of the time, the salesmen will allow this.

For Ideas as to how to check out where a camper is working correctly please click here