1. Advice and training
  2. Advice for beginners
  3. Caravan and motorhome inspectors

Caravan and motorhome inspectors

Buying a caravan or motorhome is always an exciting purchase. For complete peace of mind, why not let an expert engineer carry out a thorough inspection before you buy?

We’ve joined forces with the Mobile Caravan Engineers Association (MCEA) to launch Caravan and Motorhome Inspectors to make sure your caravan or motorhome is road worthy, safe to drive and worth the asking price.

Buy with confidence with the pre-purchase inspection service

We offer three inspection packages, where for as little as £130, an experienced engineer, registered with the Mobile Caravan Engineers Association, will:

  • come out and inspect your caravan or motorhome at an agreed location
  • issue a report
  • provide you with rapid feedback

 

Choose from 3 levels of touring inspectors

Gold inspection Silver inspection Bronze inspection

Gold inspection

From £210 (members)* £240 (non-members)

A fully comprehensive service for ultimate peace of mind before you buy, includes:

  • gas safety certificate
  • full electrical test on all 240v and 12v sockets and appliances
  • full damp inspection report
  • wheels and tyres
  • general condition statement
  • estimate for any repairs required
  • insurance quote

Silver inspection

From £160 (members)* £190 (non-members)

In addition to the Bronze package, our mid level service offers a more detailed check for greater reassurance, including:

  • damp test
  • gas test by a gas qualified MCEA engineer
  • electrical check on all major parts

Bronze inspection

From £130 (members)* £160 (non-members)

Covering all the essentials, our Bronze inspection service will establish if your caravan is road worthy and safe to tow away.

  • structural inspection of all major areas
  • full underbody chassis check
  • lighting
  • wheels and tyres
  • parking brake and emergency braking systems
  • security of body panels and other attachments
Inspected BronzeSilverGold
Parking brake - overrun actuation and recoil ✓ ✓  ✓
Jockey Wheel security  ✓  ✓ ✓ 
Safety latch/catch on coupling  ✓  ✓ ✓ 
Emergency braking system (brakeaway cable)  ✓  ✓  ✓
Raising caravan/motorhome to check condition, age and suitability of tyres              ✓  ✓  ✓
Check wheels freely rotate and that bearings are not noisy  ✓  ✓  ✓
Wheel bolt torque settings  ✓  ✓  ✓
12n lights and reflectors  ✓
  ✓  ✓
Check all doors, windows and hatches close securely  ✓  ✓  ✓
Check all other body parts and attachments are secure  ✓  ✓  ✓
Issue a general condition statement  ✓  ✓  ✓
Offer estimate for repairs needed to correct faults  ✗  ✗  ✓
Gas tightness test in accordance with UKLPG guidance 14  ✗  ✓  ✓
Check security of gas bottle straps  ✗  ✓  ✓
Gas safety certificate  ✗  ✗  ✓
Hook up unit and mechanical test at RCD electrical safety trip switch  ✗  ✓  ✓
Test all 240v sockets  ✗  ✗  ✓
Test ampere functionality of 240v appliances  ✗  ✗  ✓
Check earth bonding  ✗  ✗  ✓
Damp test ✗   ✓  ✓
Check for floor delamination  ✗  ✓  ✓
Issue full damp inspection report  ✗  ✗  ✓
Check charging circuit  ✗  ✓  ✓
Check 12v functionality and fridge  ✗  ✗  ✓

A CriS & HPI check can be purchased with any level service for an additional charge (CriS: £14.95 and HPI: £9.99) 

View disclaimer

Mobile Caravan Engineers Association
32 Drake Crescent
Chippenham
SN14 0XH

01249 651036

National Caravan Council member no MCE-01-01

Disclaimer statement:
An inspection report relates only to the condition of the caravan or motorhome at the time of completion of the inspection. Guarantee or warranty is not offered or implied in any way.

Disclaimer explanation:
MCEA will undertake pre purchase inspections of caravans and habitation areas of motorhomes.

In all instances the MCEA inspection gives no guarantee or warranty implied or otherwise in relation to the condition of the caravan or motorhome immediately following the time the inspection took place. Should a purchase be made it is entirely the responsibility of the purchaser to establish any warranty or guarantee with the vendor and the MCEA will not be held responsible for faults that may become evident following the inspection.

By instructing the MCEA the consumer understands the above and accepts this as a reasonable term of engagement of the services of MCEA in relation to a pre purchase inspection. The inspection should not be regarded as evidence of the condition at any other time.

A pre purchase inspection is:
In all instances the pre purchase inspection is a report on the condition found at the time of the inspection and only represents the exact findings at that time.

A pre purchase inspection is not:
A valuation or indication of value
A recommendation to purchase or to not purchase
A guarantee of the caravan or motorhome

MCEA & Mobile Caravan Engineers Association are trading styles of Mobile Caravan Engineers Associates Ltd. Registration no. 6776372