Buying a Camper in an Auction

You need to be clear on the type of motorhome or camper you need and purchasing this way is not recommended for first time buyers as you need to know how to put an accurate value on a camper in a short time. The prices in the 'Blue Book' or 'Nada' guides are not all that accurate because it is difficult to value a camper as they have the vehicle side of things and the living side as well. The book guide prices are based on the vehicle age, condition, model and mileage. The fittings and fixtures in a camper along with the overall condition of the living space affects the price to a great extent.

To find the value of a camper, the only real way to do this is to compare it with similar vehicles with similar features and fittings. You will need to check out the press and the specialized magazines in order to find similar campers to give you your guide prices.

To be able to bid with security you need to put a price on the camper you will be bidding on. When the bidding starts the opening bid is usually quite low. Often the price won't rise much more and you will end up getting a motorhome at a fraction of the price it is worth. At other times however the bidding will be fierce and the price will quickly rise up to and beyond your calculation of what the vehicle is worth. This is why it is so important to work out the value of the vehicle before bidding starts. Also bear in mind any repairs or modifications that you will need to do and remember that the auctioneers will take a percentage of the sale price too (usually around 10%)