Checking a Motorhome Purchase Contract: 8 Points

Anticipation is high: the right motorhome is ready and your first trip to the coast or the Alps can almost begin. This is exactly the moment to check your motorhome purchase contract properly. Because anything that is missing when you sign, left unclear or promised only verbally can cost you time, nerves and money later.

A good purchase contract is not a vote of no confidence in the seller. It simply ensures that both sides have the same vehicle, the same condition and the same services in mind. Especially with used motorhomes with accessories, retrofits or a trade-in, a close look is worthwhile.

Why the purchase contract matters so much for a motorhome

A motorhome is far more than a vehicle with a place to sleep. Besides engine, body and chassis, the overall package often includes an awning, bicycle carrier, solar system, satellite system, reversing camera, gas installation and plenty of loose equipment. Not everything is automatically part of the purchase just because it was in the vehicle at the viewing.

In addition, a campervan can look well kept on the outside and still have issues that only become visible on close inspection – such as damp, a defective fridge, undocumented conversions or an unclear maintenance status. The contract records what was agreed and in what condition the vehicle is to be handed over.

Checking a motorhome purchase contract properly: these details must match

Start with the basic data. Compare the details in the contract directly with the vehicle documents and the motorhome itself. What matters are the manufacturer, model, first registration, mileage, vehicle identification number and the official registration plate, if the vehicle is handed over registered.

Weight and seats also deserve attention. Does the contract state the right model with the equipment actually agreed? With special editions, payload upgrades or different layouts in particular, a few details can make a big difference. If a maximum permissible mass, towing capacity or number of registered seats is decisive for your travel plans, it should be clearly documented.

Purchase price, additional costs and method of payment

The final price must be clearly visible. Check whether the price is stated including or excluding VAT and whether transfer, registration, handover inspection or other services are already included. For used vehicles, the way tax is shown can also be relevant. Ask if wording remains unclear.

Pay attention to agreed deposits, due dates and the method of payment. A deposit should only be paid if it is clearly set out when it falls due and what happens if the vehicle cannot be delivered as agreed. The contract should also state when ownership passes and when you receive the vehicle, keys and papers.

If you are financing the purchase, read the purchase contract and the loan agreement separately. The purchase contract should not give the impression that the financing is already secured when the bank has not yet agreed. Also clarify what consequences apply if the financing does not come through.

Put accessories and promises in writing

Verbal promises are quickly made in everyday dealings: a new leisure battery, the retrofit of a solar system, a gas inspection, winter tyres or an awning. Do not rely on memory. Anything that affects the purchase price or matters for your use belongs specifically in the contract or in an annex.

Blanket wording such as "including accessories" helps little. A precise list with manufacturer, model and condition is better. This also applies to loose items such as levelling ramps, cable reel, adapters, table, chairs or awning. What is not being sold with it should also be clear, so that there are no surprises at collection.

With used motorhomes, the documented condition counts

A used motorhome may show signs of wear. What matters is whether these are openly named and put into context in a way that makes sense. So look at the contract together with a condition or handover report. Ideally, known damage, repairs and work still to be done are listed specifically.

Damp damage, leaks, accident damage and repairs to the body deserve particular attention. Ask about existing leak tests, workshop invoices and maintenance records. A complete service history is helpful, but does not replace a look at the actual documentation. If, for example, damage was repaired professionally, the scope and invoice should be traceable.

The mileage should not only be in the contract but also recorded at handover. The same applies to the number of keys, remote controls and the function of important appliances. At a viewing, you are entitled to check in peace whether the heating, hot water, fridge, hob, toilet, electrics, windows and habitation door work. If in doubt, an expert check before signing is cheaper than a later repair.

Putting TÜV inspection, gas and maintenance in context

A current TÜV inspection (Hauptuntersuchung) is not the same as a full technical check of the living area. So record how long the HU and, where applicable, the emissions test (Abgasuntersuchung) remain valid. For the gas system, leak testing and servicing, what matters is which proofs exist and which services were still agreed before handover.

If you are taking over a motorhome with gas heating and a kitchen, you should know when the system was last inspected or serviced and whether there are indications of defects. For carefree travel, clear documents and a comprehensible briefing are often worth more than a vague statement like "everything works".

Warranty: dealer sale versus private sale

What matters here is who is selling and who is buying. When a private person buys a used motorhome from a commercial dealer, different rules apply from a private purchase. A complete exclusion of the statutory liability for defects (Sachmängelhaftung) is not simply possible in a consumer sale. For used vehicles, the period can be shortened by contract to one year under certain conditions.

In a private sale, on the other hand, an exclusion of liability for defects is often agreed and in principle possible. However, this does not protect against defects fraudulently concealed or expressly guaranteed characteristics. If a particular characteristic matters to you – such as "accident-free", "watertight" or "new clutch" – have it included precisely in the contract.

Read pre-drafted clauses carefully, in particular statements on "bought as seen", known defects and liability. Such a clause does not automatically mean that every conceivable defect has to be accepted. But nor does it replace your own careful viewing. If you are unsure, independent legal advice makes sense.

Settle handover, papers and trade-in in binding terms

The handover date is more than a date in the calendar. The contract should state by when the motorhome is ready for collection and what is included in the handover. This usually includes registration certificate parts I and II (Zulassungsbescheinigung), COC papers where an EU certificate of conformity exists, the TÜV report, operating manuals, service documents and all keys.

If you are trading in your current vehicle, document its details, the agreed purchase price, mileage and handover date just as precisely. It is also relevant what happens if a significant defect that could not be seen at the valuation later shows up in the trade-in vehicle. Fair arrangements create clarity for both sides.

At Friedas Camper, personal advice also includes clearly explaining open points before vehicle handover. That is particularly helpful if you are buying your own motorhome for the first time and cannot immediately put every technical detail in context.

The short checklist before you sign

Take enough time for the final check. You should not leave these points open:

• Do the vehicle data, VIN, mileage, model and first registration match the papers and the vehicle?
• Are the purchase price, any additional costs, payment due dates and handover date clearly settled?
• Are promised accessories, retrofits and work still to be carried out in the contract in writing?
• Are known defects, damage and the maintenance status documented specifically?
• Do you understand the provision on liability for defects, and does it suit the seller's role?
• Are all papers, keys, inspection records and briefings for the handover recorded?

Do not let yourself be put under time pressure, even when demand for a vehicle is high. A reputable purchase may be checked carefully. Take the draft contract home, compare it with your notes from the viewing and ask about every unclear sentence. That way freedom on four wheels does not begin with an uneasy feeling, but with a contract that suits your new campervan.