10 top tips for buying a motorhome in the UK

If you’re considering buying a motorhome, you’ve come to the right place.

Buying a motorhome can be a stressful and confusing experience, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. But even if you’re an experienced motorhome buff, the UK market—both new and used—can be tricky to navigate.

After all, motorhomes are complex vehicles, and there are many different types to get your head around. No two motorhomes are the same, so it’s easy to get caught out when buying one if you’re not necessarily clued up on what to do or look out for.

Whether you’re buying a new or second-hand motorhome, there will always be various obstacles you’ll need to overcome.

However, fear not—we’ve got your back. Here are our 10 top tips for buying a motorhome in the UK.

Assess and understand the market

When buying anything, it’s important to understand the market to ensure you’re getting the best possible deal. For example, you wouldn’t buy a house without looking at the local market and price range in the area. The same principle applies to buying a motorhome.

Do online research and consider attending some in-person motorhome shows to get a real flavour of what’s to come. Attending shows is a great way to connect with motorhome dealers and experts, who can give advice and address any doubts about the buying process.

Use this guide to find upcoming shows near you. Don’t feel intimidated if you’re attending a show for the first time, either. You’ll find that most dealers are friendly, helpful and happy to talk.

Be certain about the size and layout you want

Motorhomes come in all shapes, types and sizes, so it’s important to know exactly what you’re looking for before you buy one.

For example, if you’re going to use your motorhome purely for relaxation and holidaying, having a desk to work from will be less important to you than if you were planning on working remotely.

Sit down and make a list of all the things you want from your motorhome. Having everything written down on paper will make it much easier to understand what you need and what you’re looking for.

We’ve written another article on the different types of motorhomes available and their layouts. Check it out here to get a better understanding of your options.

Try before you buy

Buying a motorhome is a big commitment. Not only do they cost a lot of money, but they also need lots of regular TLC to ensure they’re running smoothly and safely.

If you’re still weighing up the pros and cons of buying a motorhome, hiring one out for the weekend (or longer, of course) is a great way to test the water. Think of it as a ‘try before you buy’ service.

Hiring out a motorhome for a short period will help you get a taste and feel for the lifestyle on the road, as well as an understanding of some of the demands of full-time ownership, but without making such a big financial commitment straight away.

Research local dealerships that offer ‘try before you buy’ schemes—you might be surprised at the options available. And you never know—a few days away in a rented motorhome might just be all the convincing you need to take the plunge for real.

Related: Hiring a motorhome—nine essential steps

Check vehicle registration and service history

Checking the vehicle registration and service history is only really necessary if you’re buying a used motorhome.

You’ll want to know:

• what repair work your motorhome has previously had done (if any at all)
• when said work was carried out
• to what extent the work was carried out

The last thing you want is to agree to a purchase and then find out your new motorhome is potentially riddled with problems.

If you’re buying second-hand, make sure you ask the seller to provide all the relevant service and registration documents in advance so you can check that everything is as advertised. Though we hate to say it—you can never be too careful when protecting yourself from rogue sellers.

It’s also important to be aware of any conversion work your motorhome might have had done.

Check the inside with a moisture meter

Again, this is something you’ll probably only need to do if you’re buying a used motorhome, as damp is far less likely to be an issue in a brand-new vehicle.

Checking the interior for damp is important because if left untreated for too long, damp can cause substantial damage to your motorhome, which can be expensive to resolve.

Moisture meters check the amount of moisture in the air and thus the potential for damp problems to develop. Moisture meters will normally provide a percentage score.

Here’s a rough guide to what the different percentages usually mean:

• 0-15% score: indicates a normal, dry surface with no current damp issues
• 15-20% score: could be an indication of the start of a small damp problem, but nothing to worry too much about for now
• 20-25% score: indicates a potential damp problem which may need further investigation or professional assessment
• 25-30% score: indicates a likely damp problem which will probably require work, but not necessarily a full wall strip-down
• Scores above 30%: indicates a serious damp problem that requires urgent attention and potentially a full wall strip-down

Having a score above 15% is not necessarily the end of the world, but it’s important you know about it before committing to a purchase. Low-level damp issues might also put you in a better position when it comes to negotiating the sale price, too.

Related: How to check a motorhome or caravan for damp

Try to buy locally

Let’s say you’ve found your ideal motorhome online, but the dealer or seller is based at the other end of the country. Things could get complicated (and expensive) very quickly when trying to organise pre-purchase servicing or additional work—not to mention the time you’d probably have to spend travelling to and from.

Of course, if you’re prepared to spend the extra money and put in the travel hours, then proceed as you wish, but you should know in advance if that’s going to be the case.

If distance does become an issue, speak to your dealer about options and how best to move forward. Larger motorhome dealer groups might be able to arrange for any necessary servicing to be carried out at a workshop more local to you.

Don’t leave with questions unanswered

Don’t leave any questions unanswered, whether it’s a new or used motorhome you’re buying. You need to be confident that you’re making the correct, informed decision.

Examples of questions you might want to ask include the following:

• Are there likely to be any additional fees or charges I need to be aware of?
• How many miles can the vehicle do on a full tank of fuel?
• How much does the vehicle weigh?
• What is the towing capacity?
• How many people have owned this motorhome previously?
• What are the terms of the warranty?

Sit down and write a list of questions so you’re always prepared when talking to the dealer or seller.

Related: 7 questions you should ask when you buy your next motorhome

Take your time buying accessories

Just like there’s no rush to buy the motorhome itself, there’s no rush to deck it out with gadgets and accessories once it’s officially yours, either.

Yes, you may want to treat yourself to a few essentials to get you started—there’s no harm in that. But try not to get totally lost in all the excitement, as you may end up buying things you don’t actually need and won’t ever use.

The best thing to do is wait until you’ve done your first few trips, at least, before looking at accessories. That way, you’ll have a much better idea of what you really want and need.

Check you’re allowed to drive it

This might sound obvious, but you MUST check you’re legally allowed to drive the motorhome you’re buying. You’ll be able to find this information on your driving licence.

A typical motorhome falls into Category B on your driving licence, so as long as you have this, you’ll be able to drive a motorhome up to a maximum weight of 3,500kg.

Note that most standard motorhomes will be this weight or under.

However, if you’re buying a motorhome heavier than 3,500kg—up to 7,500kg—you’ll need to make sure you have a C1 entitlement on your driving licence. If you passed your driving test before January 1^st, 1997, you’ll automatically have a C1 entitlement and will, therefore, already be allowed to drive heavier motorhomes.

But, if you passed your driving test after January 1^st, 1997, you’ll need to take an additional test to obtain your C1 entitlement.

Your driving licence will need to be renewed when you reach 70, and you’ll need to pass a separate medical examination to drive motorhomes weighing more than 3,500kg past this point.

Speak to experts

Last but not least, speaking to others is crucial when buying a motorhome.

As well as the specific dealer or seller you’re buying from, seek advice and guidance from other motorhome owners, join online forums and communities, attend motorhome shows, read motorhome magazines, and talk to other prospective buyers at your dealership.

The more information you can absorb, the more informed you’ll be when it comes to making your final purchase decision. The UK motorhome community is growing, and it’s full of friendly faces happy to talk and share knowledge—so don’t be a stranger!