The number of stolen caravans sold over the past few years has increased. There are many people who fall for low prices and quick sell advertisements and end up with stolen caravans. Here is what you should check for to make sure the caravan you’re buying is not stolen.

The second had caravans market is hot and with literally hundreds of people in search of a great deal caravan thieves find it increasingly easier to sell. That said people who end up with stolen caravans are often liable to lose their money, not to mention even end up paying fine in some countries. Commonly people who do not find out more about the caravan they want to purchase beyond price and a few pictures posted online are 70% more likely to end up with stolen goods. Below we look at how avoid making a bad investment.

Take a closer look at the pictures

If you are searching for caravans online then you need to look closely at the posted pictures. Ideally, there should be pictures of the caravan from all sides. Check to see if any part has been repainted or seems to be replaced. Many caravan thieves will just upload two or three pictures of the caravan from one angle and this is to mainly get people to pay them a visit. If the pictures posted are not enough ask the seller to send you more photos. Don’t choose to visit the seller unless you’ve had a good look at the caravan online.

Seller’s profile

If you are on a classified website like Craigslist then make sure to take closer look at the seller’s profile. Find out what else the seller has sold over the past two years. If you see him or her sell many other caravans over the years then it’s a potential red flag. If you see an advertisement on Facebook for instance, check the seller’s profile. If it seems fake then this is a good reason not to trust this person.

Know the collection option

Caravan thieves obviously do not want to get caught and so they will never ask a buyer to visit their home. On the other hand genuine sellers who have nothing to hide will ask the buyer to visit their home to inspect the caravan. Thieves will make excuses and ask you to visit often secluded locations, far away from any possible police intervention. So, as a rule of thumb if the seller insists that you pay cash and collect the vehicle from a location other than his or her home its best to assume that the caravan is stolen.

Be careful with rebuilt caravans

Many caravan thieves selling via online advertisements will disguise their vehicles as rebuilt models. So, if you ask them why the trim is a different type from the original they will say it is rebuilt after perhaps an accident. However, when accidents happen it is mostly one or two parts which are damaged and require replacement. If you see that the caravan has parts replaced from all over it should sound alarm bells. In any case buying a caravan which was rebuilt owing to a major accident is not a good idea simply because it may have not been rebuilt the way it was and so it’s dangerous for you and your family regardless of the price.

JB Caravans has been building and selling caravans for decades. Our caravans are built from the ground up to be comfortable, durable and beautiful. Regardless of where you want to venture off to our caravans can take you there.