Dealer versus private purchase

[specsndrumsnsausagerolls]

In the process of purchasing and hoping to find a 2021 Swift Challenger or similar with end bed. As a newbie, I've noticed that buying privately gets you a lot of accessories and often an expensive awning included. I'm very aware of scammers so I wanted to check the experiences of anyone who's bought privately? Thanks.

 

[Andy Norfolk]

I've not done this. I'd guess one issue is warranty which you're not going to get from a private seller.

 

[Buckman]

As a newbie I strongly recommend buying your first caravan from a dealership. It will then come with a warranty plus the protection offered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 should you need to make a claim.

Make sure that the caravan has a full service history i.e. serviced every year in accordance with manufacturer. You will also get the remainder of a the 6 year warranty against damp ingress. If possible I would also recommend paying a deposit using a credit card. Although you may be buying cash for extra protection, buy using finance paying a big deposit to keep repayments low. After a year or two pay off the balance and you still have the protection from the finance house. I am talking from experience.

 

[ProfJohnL]

There will be many who bought privately and got a good deal with no problems. But equally there will be not an insignificant number who have had a poor experience when buying privately. So what your really asking is "how do you spot a bad deal.

Sadly there are an increasing number of scams out there, and the scammers are becoming more adept at covering the tell tale things that can give the game away. So you have to be very aware, and if anything seems even just slightly odd be prepared to walk away. You must use your head not your heart.

With private sales, it's much much harder to protect yourself if anything does go wrong, there are no guarantees and that is one reason why using a dealer can be worth while as you automatically receive the full protection of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

You must ensure whoever is trying to sell actually has the right to sell it, does the documentation match the caravan, and the name and address of the person selling, is there any outstanding finance on the caravan. Look to see if the seller has more than one caravan to sell, if they do, he is legally a trader and may be selling privately illegally to off load a lemon.

A full service history can be an indicator of how well a caravan has been looked after, but it does not guarantee the caravan is in good condition, check for any signs of damp. Go prepared with a list of questions, for example "Has the caravan had any history of damp problems" make up other similar questions that encourage the seller to tell all.

If after seeing the caravan it looks promising, do not make an offer before asking if the seller would mind you having an Approved Workshop Scheme engineer do a full check on the caravan before you agree to buy it.

If you meet with any resistance to the questions or the suggestion of having an inspection. Ask yourself what are they trying to hide and walk away.

If you have a friend or family member who is a seasoned caravanners, ask them to come and look at the caravan with you. They may spot something you might miss

 

[audiorob]

You might find a dealer will offer new caravanners a starter pack either within the deal or at a reduced price, or will extend the warranty for you.
If you do buy privately also make sure to see the van at the owners house and expect a full demo of all the appliances . Examine the service and damp check record. When we purchased and looked at several private sales there were definitely some lies told and instead we bought from a local dealer with an extended warranty. As has been said you could employ an AWS technician (see their website) to accompany you to a private presale once-over.
Local is an important word as if any warranty work is needed it will be with the original seller - unlike cars where you could visit a local franchise.

 

[birdman101]

If being a new buyer with no experience would advise to use a main dealer who also sells new caravans and not one of these that buys any second hand caravans and sells them on.

 

[Buckman]

If being a new buyer with no experience would advise to use a main dealer who also sells new caravans and not one of these that buys any second hand caravans and sells them on.

We got caught like that in 2010. We discovered after the purchase that in the past year, the same person had sol 11 caravans. We reported it to Trading Standards.

 

[Eldorado]

as a newb also interested in this question, we are biasing toward dealers to (hopefully) reduce risk and get some decent advice

Couple of thoughts / observations, no idea how true they are
- private sellers seem to be asking higher prices than some dealers, but I guess the haggle room is there
- If we found a van we like private, was going to get a full inspection and report, it is not that expensive.

I don't know if an inspection covers it, but how do you check if a van is pinched?

FWIW used caravan accessories seem pretty cheap, if budget is tight maybe get your awning etc that way?

 

[otherclive]

CRIS should be first port of call to check a caravans legitimacy. You can also buy the equivalent of HPI checks for finance outstanding, ownership etc.

 

[ProfJohnL]

CRIS is a voluntary system it has no legal authority, Cruishally it does not legally prove ownership. but as caravans in the UK are required to be registered to use on the road, there is no other similar scheme so its a lot better than nothing, but its only as good as the consumer makes it, and when they buy or sell their caravan they need to update the CRIS register.

 

[Beachball]

We brought our last caravan private but it was a one owner from new the serviced book was stamped up and also damp checked and with proof of ownership okay it did not come with a warranty , but it came with a lot of extras . so I paid a deposit and checked the details with CRIS just to make sure and paid the balance a week later , But if you looking for newish caravan I would buy from a dealer with a warranty and they also give you a starter pack .

 

[Hutch]

CRIS is a voluntary system it has no legal authority, Cruishally it does not legally prove ownership. but as caravans in the UK are required to be registered to use on the road, there is no other similar scheme so its a lot better than nothing, but its only as good as the consumer makes it, and when they buy or sell their caravan they need to update the CRIS register.

I just looked at the Gov.uk website. Gov page
And it states that Non commercial trailers up to 3500kg Do Not have to be registered, for use in the UK.
Is there somewhere else that states about caravans. ?

 

[otherclive]

I just looked at the Gov.uk website. Gov page
And it states that Non commercial trailers up to 3500kg Do Not have to be registered, for use in the UK.
Is there somewhere else that states about caravans. ?

No; in UK caravans do not have to be registered, but if your insurer requires CRIS registration you cannot help but comply, otherwise there's no insurance cover.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I just looked at the Gov.uk website. Gov page
And it states that Non commercial trailers up to 3500kg Do Not have to be registered, for use in the UK.
Is there somewhere else that states about caravans. ?

As far as the UK's road law is concerned a caravan is just a trailer, and all touring caravans are under 3500kg so there is no formal registration required.

No; in UK caravans do not have to be registered, but if your insurer requires CRIS registration you cannot help but comply, otherwise there's no insurance cover.

Insurance companies can make their own rules for trailers (inc caravans) but the insurers policies T&C's requiring CRIS registration before insurance can be provided is a commercial demand, not a stautory requirment. When you are towing a caravan or any other trailer, on UK highways, the cars third party insurance is all that's legally required. But the cars insurance will not cover the caravan when its unhitched, or being towed on private ground.

You are not obliged to isepartaely nsure a trailer for the road regulations, but you are then towing at your own risk should you suffer any loss of the trailer or its contents, and bearing in mind caravans and their contents represent a significant investment by a caravanner, most owners do choose to protect them by taking out additional specialised caravan insurance, for loss or damage and third party claims for when the caravan is unhitched.

In cases where a caravan has be bought on finance, the finance company may make it a clause in the finance agreement the caravan should be insured, and compliance is required or the finance package may be withrawn or voided. Insurance for this purpose is not a statutory legal requirment, it is a commercial agreement.

 

[Dustydog]

Cruishally it does not legally prove ownership. but as caravans in the UK are required to be registered to use on the road, there is no other similar scheme so its a lot better than nothing,

Prof was there a typo ? 😉
We do not need to register to use on the road😎

 

[Buckman]

No; in UK caravans do not have to be registered, but if your insurer requires CRIS registration you cannot help but comply, otherwise there's no insurance cover.

I have never ever been ask if the caravan is registered with CRIS as it makes zero difference to the quote. However I have been asked for the CRIS number on the caravan.