When it's time for you to buy a new caravan, whether it's fresh from the forecourt or it's been loved by another owner before you, there are some things you should keep in mind to make sure your purchase is as straightforward and as safe as it can be.

Here you'll find some go-to points to keep in mind before you crack out your card or write a cheque.

Does it fit the purpose?

When picking your tourer, think of what you'll actually be using it for. Not just for now, but in the future too. A titchy two-berth might be pitch perfect now, but what about if/when you have kids? Or if the grandchildren want to go on holiday with you?

Look into layouts

Things change but, if you get it right, your caravan won't have to.

Similar to the above, really do think long and hard about whether or not a layout will suit what you need the caravan for. Do you want other family members traipsing through your bedroom to use the loo? Will the high microwave play havoc with your tennis elbow mid-trip to Norfolk? Things change but, if you get it right, your caravan won't have to.

Can you legally tow it?

One of the biggest mistakes made when buying your first caravan, is to forget about what your car is actually able to tow. This may seem like an implausible oversight, but it's easy to get carried away in the moment.

Always have your chosen towcar's kerb weight to hand so you can work out the 85% limit that you'll have to adhere to in order to tow your new tourer purchase safely. Also be mindful of any B+E concerns if you're planning on purchasing any of the big berth load luggers.

Security and finance

Like an HPI check for your car, the Central Registration and Identification Scheme (CRiS), is the only way to ensure that what you're buying is legitimate. For example, a CRiS check will show up any outstanding finance on a tourer, if it's been previously reported as stolen or if it's been written off by insurers.

Storage

You'll need to consider if there is any neighbourhood legislation prohibiting you keeping your tourer on your drive? If you're upgrading, check if there's enough room for your new, bigger caravan. Or will you need to find a new alternative storage space?

Our advice is to invest in a place at a CaSSOA Gold Standard storage site to keep your pride and joy perfectly safe whenever it's not in use.

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