Buying new vs. buying used motorhomes

There's advantages to both buying your motorhome brand new and buying it second hand either from your local dealer or privately.

Buying your motorhome new from your local dealer is great for those who want to be the first to own and holiday in their motorhome. You'll also get to choose the exact specification of the base vehicle and habitation part so you get the finished look you want. There should be a host of features and extras for you to choose from, from engine size and performance to curtain and carpet colour.

With a new motorhome, you'll also have the reassurance of a manufacturers warranty should anything go wrong in the first few years. Of course, all this comes at a price, so you need to think carefully about your budget and what you can afford.

If your budget is more modest, you could look to buy a motorhome second hand from either your local dealer, who should stock a selection of used vehicles, or you could buy privately. The latter option is often seen as the cheapest option and you may find yourself a bargain in the classified ads, however, it's not without its risks.

Buying a motorhome privately, is much like buying a car privately, so make sure you've done your homework and made all the necessary checks. Perform a MINDER check to look into the motorhome's history - it will validate the seller, check for outstanding finance and ensure the vehicle hasn't been an insurance write-off. Ask to see all the paperwork and evidence that the motorhome has been serviced regularly by a reputable service centre. Check the motorhome is in good working order, both under the bonnet and in the habitation part.

Buying from your local dealer takes away some of this risk as most will sell second hand motorhomes with a warranty and will carry out a full service before putting them up for sale. Always check with your local dealer that this is the case.

If your used motorhome doesn't come with a full service, it's worth booking it into your local dealer to have everything checked over before you set out on your first holiday with it.

Before you make a decision on whether to buy new or used, it's a good idea to find out what the insurance cost will be. With a new motorhome, it's likely that your sum insured will be higher due to the value of the vehicle, and you may also want to insure your new purchase on a New for Old policy that will replace your motorhome with a brand new one should it be damaged beyond economic repair or stolen and not recovered.

For a second hand motorhome - depending on the age of it - the value may be considerably less and you will be insuring it under a 'market value' policy whereby you'll receive the current market value of the motorhome should it be damaged beyond economic repair or stolen and not recovered.

Whether you buy new or used, make sure you get the motorhome that suits your needs in terms of space, facilities and price!