PC's GUIDE TO...CARAVAN WARRANTIES

In these financially challenged times, it's more important than ever to have the back-up of a good caravan warranty. But how do they work and what exactly do they protect? Here's our handy guide

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WHEN YOU BUY a new caravan, it should come with warranties on both the construction/habitation area, and the individual appliances fitted inside it.

It's best to think of your tourer as being like a house, with separate warranties on kitchen, washroom and bedroom fittings.

This makes caravan warranties more complicated than those of a car, where you will only have one provider to deal with.

A problem with the habitation equipment should usually be handled by the supplying dealership, if it is a new caravan still under the manufacturer's warranty.

Common exclusions to these warranties tend to be wear and tear items, such as trim and - the most common issue of all - hinge, latch or catch failures.

Caravan habitation warranties typically run for around three years and can include separate water-ingress warranties (often lasting longer), which are usually subject to an annual habitation inspection.

Appliances in the van, such as the boiler, cooker, heater or fridge, are subject to the manufacturer of that particular component (for example, Dometic). These tend to carry 24-month warranties against defects.

Used caravan warranties

If you buy a pre-owned tourer that is out of manufacturer warranty, a dealer will often give you a warranty of their own.

This is partly to cover themselves against unforeseen problems that might arise and partly to avoid falling foul of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 - more about this below.

These warranties vary enormously, from basic versions that cover almost nothing, to comprehensive policies. Generally, if the dealer throws it in for free, it's likely to be a more basic one, while if you have to pay for it yourself, it can be more comprehensive.