The Ultimate Motorhome Buying Guide (2027 Edition)

Buying a motorhome is a major purchase, but choosing the right one does not need to feel complicated. From deciding between new and used to comparing layouts, weights, manufacturers and finance options, a little preparation can make the entire process much easier.

Whether you’re researching your first motorhome or upgrading an existing model for 2027, this motorhome buying guide covers the key decisions to make before you buy, along with a practical checklist to take with you when viewing potential vehicles.

TL;DR: What to Ask Before Buying a Motorhome

Before choosing a new or used motorhome, start with the practical questions:

• How many people need proper belted travel seats, and how many sleeping berths do you need?
• Will you mainly take short breaks, longer tours, winter trips or extended journeys through Europe?
• Which bed, lounge, kitchen and washroom layout will work when everyone is inside at the same time?
• Would you be happier driving a compact campervan, a coachbuilt motorhome or an A-Class model?
• Do you want the latest specification and manufacturer warranty, or better value from a used motorhome?
• What is your full budget once insurance, servicing, storage, fuel and useful accessories are included?
• Is the motorhome within your driving licence entitlement, and does it have enough payload for your passengers and luggage?
• Does the price include preparation, warranty, a full handover and ongoing aftersales support?

The best motorhome is not necessarily the largest or the one with the longest equipment list. It is the one that suits how you will travel, fits your licence and budget, and makes everyday use straightforward.

Why Buy a Motorhome?

For many owners, the biggest attraction is flexibility. You can head away for a weekend in the Highlands, tour through Europe for several weeks or change your plans halfway through a trip. Your transport and accommodation travel together, so there is less unpacking and less dependence on hotel availability.

Sleeping accommodation is, of course, a basic part of every motorhome, and almost every model will also have a toilet, cooking facilities and heating. The real differences are in how well those features work for you. One vehicle may have a fixed bed and separate shower, while another uses a drop-down bed and compact washroom to create more living space. Storage, worktop space and the size of the lounge can vary just as much.

Ownership also means you can keep the vehicle equipped around your own routines. Bedding, outdoor chairs, cookware and touring essentials can remain ready for the next trip instead of starting again with a different hire vehicle each time.

If you are not yet sure which size or layout will suit you, Dicksons of Perth offers motorhome and campervan hire with the opportunity to try before you buy. Treat the hire as a proper test: drive familiar roads, cook a meal, use the washroom, make up any convertible beds and take the equipment you would normally carry. It is much easier to judge a layout after living with it than after ten minutes on a forecourt.

Motorhome vs Campervan: Which Is Right for You?

A campervan is normally built within the original body of a panel van, while a coachbuilt motorhome has a separate habitation body. The terminology is not always used consistently, so look at the construction and layout rather than relying entirely on the name.

Campervans are usually narrower and easier to park, which can make them a good choice for shorter trips, narrow roads or use as an everyday vehicle. The trade-off is less living space, a smaller washroom and more compromise around beds and storage. Motorhomes generally provide more headroom, larger lounges and better separation between sleeping, cooking and washing areas, but their extra width and length require more confidence and somewhere suitable to keep them.

Within the motorhome category, low-profile coachbuilts are popular because they balance space and aerodynamics. Overcab models use the area above the cab for an additional bed and often suit families. A-Class motorhomes integrate the cab into the living area and can feel particularly spacious, although they tend to sit higher in the market. Try more than one body style before deciding.

New vs Used Motorhomes: Which Should You Buy?

The choice between new and used is not simply a question of how much you can spend. A new motorhome gives you the latest model, no previous ownership and a manufacturer warranty from first registration. If you are ordering from the factory, there may also be opportunities to choose upholstery, packs or optional equipment. The possible drawbacks are a higher purchase price and a longer wait if the model you want is not already in stock and must be factory ordered.

A used motorhome can allow you to buy a higher-grade model or a more generous layout for the same budget. It may be available much sooner and could already have useful upgrades such as solar panels, an awning or a bike rack. You may also find a discontinued layout that is no longer available in a new range.

Condition and dealer preparation matter more than age alone. Every used motorhome at Dicksons of Perth is carefully selected, checked and approved before sale, with its mechanical condition, habitation equipment and essential systems checked before handover. Buyers can also review the available service history and confirm what warranty cover applies, providing greater reassurance than buying privately.

Buying from an established dealer gives you somewhere to ask clear questions about preparation, warranty, finance and handover. At Dicksons of Perth, buyers can compare new motorhomes and used motorhomes side by side rather than judging either option in isolation.

Choosing the Right Motorhome Layout

Layout is more important than almost any individual extra. Attractive upholstery and a large television may catch your attention, but neither will make up for a bed that is awkward to reach or a kitchen that blocks the walkway. Move around the vehicle as if you were already away: sit together, open cupboards, stand in the shower and make every bed.

Travel seats and berths

Berths are sleeping spaces; they do not guarantee the same number of safe, belted travel seats. If four people will travel, confirm that the motorhome has four suitable seat belts and check whether child seats can be fitted where required. Buy primarily for the people who will use it regularly rather than compromising the entire layout for occasional guests.

Bed layouts

Fixed island beds are accessible from both sides and remain ready to use, but they occupy permanent floor space. Fixed single beds can be easier to access and often provide a large garage below. French beds sit against a side wall and save space, while transverse beds can provide excellent storage but may require one person to climb over another. Drop-down beds disappear during the day, and lounge conversions maximise daytime seating, but both need to be tested properly.

Lounge, kitchen and washroom

If you expect to tour Scotland throughout the year, the lounge needs to remain comfortable when the weather keeps everyone inside. Check whether people can sit without blocking the kitchen, whether there is enough worktop for the meals you cook and whether the fridge is practical for longer trips. In the washroom, decide whether you need a separate shower or are happy with a compact combined space because you will normally use campsite facilities.

Storage, payload and dimensions

A large garage is only useful if the motorhome has enough payload to carry what you put in it. Payload must account for passengers, water, fuel, gas, food, luggage and any accessories added to the vehicle. Ask for the weight information for the exact model and calculate it around a realistic trip, not an empty motorhome.

Measure your parking space and check the vehicle’s height, width, length and rear overhang. Consider gates, low branches, ferries, narrow roads and height barriers. A test drive should include ordinary junctions, reversing and parking, not just a short run on a wide main road.

Budgeting, Finance and Part Exchange

Set a purchase budget and a separate figure for annual running costs. Allow for insurance, vehicle tax, fuel, MOT and mechanical servicing where applicable, habitation servicing, damp checks, tyres, gas, campsite fees, storage and repairs. You may also need a leisure battery, hook-up cable, gas bottle, water hose, levelling ramps and additional security.

If you are using motorhome finance, compare the deposit, interest rate, agreement length, monthly payment and total amount repayable. Check whether there is a final payment, when ownership transfers and whether the monthly figure still leaves room for running costs. Finance is subject to status and eligibility.

If you already own a motorhome, campervan or caravan, part exchange can reduce the balance and simplify the changeover. Bring the V5C, MOT and service documents, habitation history, manuals, spare keys and details of fitted accessories so the valuation is based on complete information.

Dicksons of Perth Motorhome Manufacturers

Dicksons’ current new motorhome range includes six established manufacturers. Each offers different body styles, layouts and price points, so use the brand as a starting point rather than choosing on reputation alone.

• Itineo offers coachbuilt and A-Class models, with a strong choice of flexible family layouts and multi-berth vehicles.
• Malibu sits towards the premium end of the market, with campervans, low-profile coachbuilts and A-Class motorhomes designed around detailed storage and touring comfort.
• Pilote provides a broad selection of French-built low-profile and A-Class motorhomes across compact and larger layouts.
• Rapido is another long-established French manufacturer, offering coachbuilt and A-Class models with a wide range of bed and lounge arrangements.
• Roller Team covers compact, family and A-Class options, making it useful for buyers who want to compare several berth and layout combinations within one brand.

For a 2027 purchase, compare the specification of the actual vehicle. Base vehicles, standard equipment, weights, factory packs and availability can change between model years, even when the model name remains familiar.

Motorhome Licence Requirements: Do You Need C1?

In Great Britain, the licence category depends on the motorhome’s Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM), meaning the maximum it is permitted to weigh when loaded. Category B covers vehicles up to 3,500kg. A motorhome above 3,500kg and up to 7,500kg requires Category C1, while a vehicle over 7,500kg requires Category C. Trailer entitlements are separate.

Do not assume that you have C1 simply because of your age or when you passed your test. Check the categories printed on your current licence and the plated MAM of the exact motorhome. Rules differ in Northern Ireland, and entitlements can be affected by licence renewal or medical requirements.

Motorhome Buying Checklist

Take this checklist with you when a motorhome becomes a serious possibility:

• Confirm the MAM, realistic payload, external dimensions, berths and belted travel seats.
• Test the driving position, visibility, mirrors, gearbox, reversing aids and turning circle.
• Make every bed and check access, mattress size, privacy and bedding storage.
• Open the cupboards, drawers, fridge, washroom door, shower screen and external lockers.
• Ask what is included in the price, what is optional and what will be completed before collection.
• For a used motorhome, review the MOT, mechanical and habitation history, damp reports, tyre age and ownership documents.
• Request a demonstration of the heating, hot water, fridge, cooker, water pump, toilet, electrical system and fitted accessories.
• Confirm the warranty provider, length of cover, exclusions, claims process and servicing conditions.
• Agree the finance terms, part-exchange value, preparation work, collection date and any promises in writing.
• Ask what handover, servicing, repairs, damp checks and aftersales support are available once you own it.

Next Steps: Find the Right Motorhome for You

Start with the journeys you want to make, then narrow the choice by licence, payload, size, travel seats, berths, layout and budget. Compare at least two realistic options and record the same information for each. A motorhome should not require you to overlook several awkward compromises simply because you like one feature.

Browse Dicksons of Perth’s complete range of new and used motorhomes, or visit the Perth dealership to compare different layouts in person. Ask the team about vehicle preparation, finance, handover and aftersales support before making your decision.