| History check | Habitation check | Pre-purchase inspection | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stolen, outstanding finance, write-off | Yes, from the registers | No | No |
| Mileage and MOT history | Yes, every MOT reading | No | Sometimes, as part of the paperwork review |
| Damp | No | Yes, with meter readings | Yes |
| Gas, electrics, water, heating | No | Yes | Yes |
| Engine, brakes, chassis, tyres | No | No | Yes, scope varies by provider |
| Cost, read 15 September 2026 | £4.99 | £179.95 plus VAT to £350 | £299 at Habcheck; others quote on request |
| Time | Minutes | Three to four hours (Caravan and Motorhome Club) | Not stated |
| When | Before you travel to view | Annually, and before buying | After the history check, before paying |
| What it cannot see | Condition of any kind | The registers, the base vehicle | The registers |
The order that saves money
History check first, from home
£4.99 and a few minutes from the registration in the advert. If it shows finance, a write-off category or a stolen marker, you have saved the trip and the inspection fee. Start with the free DVLA and MOT summary on the motorhome history check page.
Then the viewing, with your own damp checks
Corners, window frames, under seating and the floor, by hand and nose. Our motorhome damp guide explains the readings. Ask to see the last habitation certificate.
Then the professional inspection, if it is still in the running
A habitation check if the base vehicle has a recent service and MOT history you trust; a pre-purchase inspection if it does not. Prices are on motorhome habitation check cost.
When a habitation check is enough
On a dealer sale with a written warranty and a fresh habitation certificate with damp readings, a separate pre-purchase inspection often duplicates what you already have; a history check still matters, because the dealer's printout is dated the day they bought it. On a private sale of an older coachbuilt, the pre-purchase inspection earns its £299 many times over if it finds the soft floor the seller did not mention.
None of them is the MOT
The MOT is a legal test of the base vehicle, class 4 for motor caravans at a maximum of £54.85, and looks at none of the habitation systems and none of the registers. A valid MOT tells you the vehicle passed on one day; see do motorhomes need an MOT.
Check a motorhome before you buy
Enter the registration for a free summary. Full history check £4.99.