What factors to consider when buying a motorhome

Buying a motor caravan can seem like a daunting experience, so here is some advice on how to choose and a quick motorhome insurance buyer's guide to help you through the process.

The first thing you will need to do is decide what exactly it is you are looking for - be it a motorhome, static or touring motor caravan.

A touring motor caravan is one that you attach to your car or van and tow behind you, while a static version has a permanent base that you travel to and from.

It may be that it is the actual motorhome that most attracts you, as with this option your vehicle and accommodation are wrapped up in one package, meaning you do not have to worry about sorting out two sets of insurance.

Now that you have decided that this type of vehicle appeals to you, the time has come to buy one.

To begin with, browse a range of manufacturers' brochures if you are purchasing new, flick through the classified advertisements or look online if you are opting for second-hand.

You can use the measurements, descriptions, engine size details and photographs to give you a good idea of what the vehicle is like and narrow your search down.

Once you have come up with a shortlist of a few options you should visit them so that you can view the choices firsthand. Just like when you are buying a car, a motorhome may look different when you see it up close to how it appeared in the brochure.

Pay particular attention to what the facilities are and ask yourself questions like how many people does it sleep, how much room is there for cooking and does it have plenty of storage?

You should also consider taking it for a test drive so you can determine how comfortable you feel behind the wheel, while it makes sense to ask how much it costs to run in terms of fuel.

Indeed, how much money you will need to pay to get on the road could be an important factor in your decision-making process as you will not want this to eat up the vast majority of your holiday budget.

The age of the motorhome could go some way to giving you an idea of how efficient it is, along with the type of fuel it uses - such as petrol or diesel.

Once you have purchased your vehicle, you can start thinking about the motorhome insurance you will need. While you don't want to pay over the odds you should take care to get the cover you need and not try to cut corners.

After all, not only is your new purchase a vehicle that will be used on the road among other automobiles where it could be involved in an accident, but it also houses many of your belongings.

If necessary, check you are covered to travel abroad and remember you may be able to get a lower quote if you invest in security devices or if the mileage is low.

Where the vehicle is parked when you are not travelling could also make a difference and it is always wise to consider how much space you have to store it in when you are deciding what size to buy.

By following this advice, you could be hitting the road in next to no time.