How to Buy a Caravan: What to Check Before You Commit

Caravans look like the simple option next to motorhomes, but they bring their own set of decisions — and their own ways to lose money. Towing weights, damp and ageing tyres catch more first-time buyers than any other issue, so it pays to understand them before you start viewing.

Match the caravan to your tow car

The first rule of caravan buying is not about the caravan at all. Your car has a maximum towing limit, and an empty caravan needs to sit comfortably under it. In most cases, buyers aim to keep the caravan's fully loaded weight at or below around 85% of the car's kerb weight for confident, stable towing. Check both the car's maximum towable weight and its kerb weight before you look at any caravan, then compare them with the caravan's MTPLM. Getting this wrong makes for an unstable, unsafe and frankly scary journey.

The three numbers that matter

Every caravan has a plate listing three weights: the MTPLM (maximum permitted loaded weight), the MIRO (weight when empty) and the noseweight. The noseweight is the downward force on the towball, and it has to sit inside your car's limits too. A caravan that matches on paper but sits outside your car's noseweight range is the wrong caravan, however good a deal it seems.

Inspect like a pro

The same habits that protect campervan buyers apply here. Walk the exterior for cracks and sealant that has lost its flexibility, then check the floor inside the gas locker and the edges of the roof — damp gets into caravans around the windows, rooflights and the door. Press every wall panel and look under the seats for staining. Caravan tyres age even when the caravan stands still, so check the sidewall date codes; tyres over six years old are due for replacement whatever the tread looks like. Look at caravans for sale to get a feel for prices and what the condition of a well-kept van actually looks like.

Check the documentation

Caravans have a different paperwork trail to cars. Ask for the original invoice, the CRiS registration certificate and the service and damp check history. A caravan that has been serviced annually and damp-checked is worth a genuine premium, while a complete absence of records should set off alarm bells.

Sort storage before you commit

Few buyers have space for a caravan on the driveway, and storage is a real cost. Check local storage sites and their security before you buy, and factor a typical £20 to £40 a week into your budget. Insurance is separate from your car policy too — most owners insure the caravan itself and rely on their car policy for third-party cover while towing. For the full picture on living costs, our motorhome vs campervan comparison explains how the ownership numbers compare across the three types.