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The sale of stolen caravans remains a persistent issue, with a large portion being resold on UK soil. Not only does this make recovery much more difficult, but it also increases the risk of unsuspecting buyers becoming involved in criminal investigations.
Responsibility sits with the buyer to ensure (to the best of their ability) the caravan they’re purchasing is not stolen. Failure to do so and purchasing a stolen caravan can result in it being seized and returned to the original owner. Even a buyer who purchased in good faith may lose both the caravan and the money paid for it, including storage fees, maintenance expenses, and insurance premiums.
Who should you buy a used caravan from?
In an ideal scenario, used caravans should be bought from established dealers and recognised retailers. However, this isn’t always the case, and a large portion of second-hand sales come from private sellers. This isn’t necessarily problematic, but it does require greater scrutiny.
How long has the seller’s account existed? Do they have other listings or previous sales? Are there any reviews or feedback available? A seller advertising multiple caravans without being tied to a business may be cause for concern, but newly created profiles with a single listing should also be approached with caution. Avoid cash-only listings, and always meet the seller at their home, business premises, or storage facility.
Never send a deposit or payment before seeing the caravan in person, and don’t commit to the sale before carrying out the following checks.
Visual inspection
Perhaps the most obvious step is to visually inspect the caravan for signs that parts have been altered, replaced or damaged. If a caravan has been broken into, its locks, doors, and windows may show signs of forced entry or repair, and if branding, badges, or fittings aren’t consistent with the caravan’s make and model, that may indicate they’ve been purposely changed.
Changing physical features of the caravan can aid in disguising its identity, so check for unexplained consistencies and ask the seller to clarify any areas of concern.
Vital VIN checks
A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique combination of 17 digits, given to every caravan manufactured after 1992, and can most often be found on the chassis, windows, and interior (usually near the door frame), but a simple Google search will tell you where to check on the particular model at hand. Inspect these numbers for signs of tampering or replacement, and check that they all match.
For a fee, you can enter the VIN into the Central Registration and Identification Scheme (CRiS) – the UK’s national caravan registration database. This will confirm:
- Whether the caravan has been reported stolen
- The details of the current registered keeper
- If outstanding finance exists
- Whether the caravan has previously been written off
If you still have any concerns, the police can run the VIN through their database to determine if the caravan has been recorded as stolen.
See the paper trail
Always request the caravan’s original paperwork, including its CRiS registration certificate, service records, and previous purchase documentation, and check that the seller’s ID matches the ownership documents. Missing paperwork, inconsistent names or incomplete records, while often innocuous, should be treated as warning signs.
Time to break the cycle
Thorough pre-sale checks remain an important part of disrupting the resale of stolen caravans and protecting your investment; even the most comprehensive of caravan insurance policies can’t protect you from buying a stolen caravan.
Shop smart, and always check whether a caravan has been stolen before you buy it.
Looking for Caravan Insurance?
Police Mutual are pleased to introduce Compass Insurance who are a specialist provider of caravan and residential park home insurance, with over 50 years’ experience, so they can help you find the right cover for you.
Compass Insurance is part of the Bspoke Insurance Group Ltd, which also includes Police Mutual, so you know you’re in safe hands.