Buying A Caravan for The First Time: A Complete Guide

As we write this in the summer sun, we are sure that many of you are either embarking on a holiday, planning one or counting down the days until you get to go away.

For some, it’s a hotel stay, for others it’s time in a villa, but for large, and increasing numbers, it’s time in a caravan, enjoying a host of locations, at a pace you choose. Like a quote from iconic comedy The Inbetweeners states, “It’s a sense of freedom you just don’t get with other holidays.”

So, if caravan holidays are starting to inspire you a little, but you’ve not yet taken the plunge into buying your accommodation on wheels, fear not. We’ll guide you through everything you need to know so buying a caravan for the first time is easy, stress-free and the start of new adventures.

At Euphoria, we provide affordable caravan finance for both new and used models, allowing you to indulge in your caravan holidays even sooner. Once you’ve read our guide, give us a call or get your free no-obligation caravan finance quote so you can start your adventure today.

What you need to know when buying a caravan for the first time

As much as it would be great to just go out and buy a caravan and set off on your next holiday, there is a fair bit of research and planning you need to put in first. Below you’ll find a host of answers to common questions and a mixture of top tips for that first caravan purchase.

Can my car tow a caravan?

This is probably the first question you should be asking yourself. Some vehicles can tow practically any caravan, but others struggle with even the smallest caravans on the market.

You’ll also need to look at when your driving licence was issued.

If you were granted a licence after January 1st, 1997:

• Your combined car and caravan weight cannot exceed 3,500kg MAM, unless you hold a B+E licence.

If you were granted your licence before January 1st, 1997:

• Your total weight of caravan and car can be up to 8,250kg.

Before you go thinking you can attach any caravan to your car within these weights, you’ll also need to check the maximum towing capacity of your car.

A general rule is that your caravan shouldn’t exceed 85% of the vehicle’s weight. Find your vehicle’s kerb weight, divide it by 100 and multiply by 85. You’ll now have a figure for what your car should be able to tow comfortably.

How much should I spend on a caravan?

Caravans can be snapped up for bargain prices or set you back a small fortune. Set yourself a budget and work around that first. If you notice that your requirements for a caravan don’t align with your budget, consider finance. That way, you can spread the payments without taking the immediate large financial hit.

The second-hand market for caravans is also a great place to find something that ticks all your boxes without the need to spend excessively.

Do some research and see whether buying new or used works best for you. Whilst a new caravan means everything is in perfect condition, it’ll come at a cost. A second-hand caravan may have a few scratches and signs of wear, but as long as it is safe and functions as it should, it’s likely the best option for a first caravan.

Check the service history

Once you’ve found a caravan you are interested in, look at its service history. You’ll want to know that it is well looked after and is in a safe, habitable, and roadworthy condition. A caravan should be serviced annually. There are two types of service to be aware of. The habitation check and the service.

The service looks at features such as the brakes, tyres, and corner steadies, whereas the habitation check looks at the water system, the appliances, the gas connections, and anything else that makes the caravan safe for habitation.

It’s worth noting, a habitation check isn’t a legal requirement, but it will certainly give you more confidence in making a purchase.

Can you store it somewhere?

You won’t be using your caravan all year long, so you’ll want to make sure that when it is not in use, it can be safely stored. Ideally, you’ll put your caravan on your driveway or in your garage, but depending on the space you have available, this might not be possible.

Parking it on the road is another option, but each town, city or village may have specific rules about parking a caravan on the road. You’ll need to find out these rules first, as parking on a road when it is forbidden could see you face expensive fines.

How many berths do you need?

You might have found a caravan that looks great, is affordable and has a full service history, but think about how many of you are likely to be staying in it. If it is for regular family trips, will 2 berth work, or do you need to go to 4 or 6 berth caravans?

What is the caravan interior like?

You’ll want to look way beyond just the décor. Look for damage to furnishings and whether things like doors, windows, taps and appliances work correctly. It’s also useful to check that the relevant user manuals for fridges, freezers and cookers are still available. If you encounter a problem with any of these items, you’ll want a quick solution readily available.

Check for signs of damage to the aesthetics, too, though. Even though some of these can be easy fixes, anything that needs repair or shows signs of excessive wear should be used as a tool to negotiate a reduction in price. That being said, if the seller has already indicated that the price is low due to these issues, you may have a more difficult time trying to get them to lower the price further.

Check that it has the features you require

Some caravans are minimal in terms of features, others come with an abundance of tech and other features to enhance your living space.

Decide what is essential, what is luxury and what you could go without. Then mould your search around that. Common features you’ll find in most touring caravans include:

• Shower
• Toilet
• Stove
• Sleeping space for 2-6 people
• Fridge
• Kitchen work surfaces
• Table
• Sofa (bed conversion)
• Storage space

Other features such as a TV, internet connectivity and more may also be available with some caravans but assess whether these added extras justify the additional price before buying.

Check for signs of damp

Caravans are unfortunately prone to damp. When you go to view a caravan, look for signs of damp. It not only becomes a danger to the integrity of the caravan, but it also poses a danger to health. We recently wrote a guide on how to stop condensation in a motorhome, and you can apply much of what we talk about there to a caravan.

If you have one, take a damp meter to a viewing of a caravan, you can then check what the levels of dampness are like and make a more informed decision.

Get a CRIS check

As with anything on wheels, theft is always a concern. When you go to buy or view a caravan, look for signs of damage around the windows and doors. It could be harmless, but could also be a sign of a break-in.

Then look to see if the CRIS number is present on the chassis and windows. This number is like an ID tag for the caravan, and if the caravan has been stolen, these numbers have likely been removed.

You can then also have CRIS check complete. CRIS (Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme) checks are the industry standard background check for used caravans and will let you know whether the caravan has been reported stolen or written off.

Caravan trips can be exciting and a cheap way to enjoy a holiday. If you are looking for a new or used caravan, speak to our team. Our affordable finance options mean you can soon enjoy some new freedom without having to break the bank.