Having your own home on four wheels is often a big wish for many camping fans. Whether it's a spontaneous short trip at the weekend, a long journey full of adventure or a well-deserved family holiday: a mobile home means freedom, flexibility, comfort and unforgettable moments when travelling. But buying a motorhome is also a significant investment that should always be carefully considered. This makes it all the more important to inform yourself well before buying, so that you make the right choice for your dream motorhome and feel completely at ease on every journey.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING A MOTORHOME?
We have summarised all the important tips for you so that you can start your new travel adventure well prepared and with a good feeling. At the end of the article you will also find a practical checklist for buying a motorhome to download. Our checklist accompanies you step by step: from the preparation to the first important to-dos directly after the purchase of your dream motorhome. So you are ideally equipped for the journey to your own motorhome.
PURCHASE TIME
The right time to buy can be crucial when purchasing a motorhome. This is because the timing not only influences the selection of motorhomes available, but can also have a major impact on the price. So if you plan cleverly, you can secure the best quotes!
Spring awakens the desire to travel in many camping enthusiasts and the new camping season is just around the corner. This is exactly when it's worth keeping an eye out for fresh spring promotions and securing a particularly attractive price. The start of autumn is also an ideal time to take a closer look at buying a motorhome. The special thing about this phase is that the new products in the motorhome industry are presented and many models are available at particularly tempting prices.
TIP: Take a look at our Carthago event calendar. Here you will find a clear overview of all upcoming shows and other events. A show is the perfect opportunity to experience numerous models live and benefit from attractive trade fair offers.
MOTORHOME CHOICE
The variety in the motorhome world is greater today than ever before. This makes it all the more important that you take the time to consider what wishes and needs your perfect home on wheels should fulfil before making a purchase.
These considerations will give you a good initial chassis for deciding on your perfect motorhome:
- New or used vehicle: Would you like to enjoy the advantages of a new vehicle or would you prefer a used model with attractive conditions?
- Motorhome type: Do you prefer an A-Class or Coachbuilt motorhome?
- Chassis: Mercedes, Fiat or Iveco - each chassis has different advantages.
- Size of the motorhome: How many people regularly travel with you and how many spaces do you need?
- Layout: Which living concept do you particularly like?
- Comfort features: Plenty of storage space, special technology solutions, high-quality materials - what is particularly important to you?
TIP: Also make sure from the outset which weight class you are allowed to drive with your driving licence!
PAYMENT TYPES
There are many different ways in which you can buy your motorhome. Which payment model suits you best always depends on your personal situation, your planned budget and the flexibility you require.
- Financing: Would you like to start your first travelling adventure immediately, but don't want to pay the full amount for your motorhome straight away? The advantage of classic financing is that you can pay for your motorhome step by step in monthly instalments. The term and amount of the down payment can often be determined individually.
- Leasing: Leasing is ideal for anyone who values flexibility, calculable costs and new models on a regular basis. With a lease, you pay a fixed monthly instalment and can simply return the motorhome at the end of the term.
- Cash purchase: A cash purchase offers you many advantages: you pay the entire amount of your motorhome immediately, avoid accruing interest and enjoy maximum independence. You also often receive special cash discounts.
TIP: Seek individual advice from your dealer before purchasing. You are guaranteed to find the perfect payment model to suit your personal situation.
TEST DRIVE
A test drive is the best way to find out whether your future home on four wheels really suits you. Take the opportunity to visit your regional dealer before you make the final decision to buy a motorhome. Experience your favourite model not only in the virtual showroom, but also test your desired model under real conditions. This is the only way to find out whether the motorhome really meets your expectations and needs. Pay particular attention to the following points during a test drive:
- Driving behaviour: Test how the motorhome feels on the road. Do you feel safe while driving and are you satisfied with the driving behaviour? Also pay attention to comfort during the journey. This can often be decisive, especially for longer distances.
- Clarity: A good overview is worth its weight in gold and motorhomes are significantly larger than normal cars. You should therefore test aspects such as visibility, clarity and handling when manoeuvring.
- Sense of space and storage space: Before or after the test drive, it is worth taking another close look at the interior. Check whether the room concept meets your needs and whether there is sufficient storage space.
TIP: If you are unsure about your decision, you can also hire your favourite model for a few days. This means you can easily test the motorhome in real everyday travelling conditions.
DOCUMENTS
To ensure that the purchase of your new motorhome goes smoothly, you should always have all the necessary documents to hand. After all, good preparation saves time and prevents delays at your dealer or with motorhome registration. The following documents are particularly important when buying a motorhome - always have them to hand:
- Identity card: You will need your identity card to identify yourself.
- Driving licence: With your driving licence you can prove that your driving licence category is sufficient for your desired motorhome.
- Bank details: Please have these ready for smooth payment processing.
- Proof of financing: If you want to finance or lease your new motorhome, it is important that you can provide all the necessary documents.
- Vehicle trade-in: If you already own a motorhome, have all the vehicle specifications ready for the trade-in.
- Your own notes: Make a note of any questions you would like to discuss with your dealer before you buy. This way you can keep an overview and nothing is forgotten.
TIP: Create a personal document folder. This means you have all the important documents and notes for the purchase complete and ready to hand at all times.
