48 Hrs
Collected anywhere in the North West
Free
No-obligation valuation, no fees
40+ Yrs
Buying caravans across the North West
How much is my touring caravan worth?
Touring caravan values in the North West typically range from £2,000 to £20,000, depending on age, condition, and make.
As a rough guide:
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3–7 years old, good condition: £6,000–£20,000
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10–15 years old, solid condition: £2,000–£7,000
The four things that affect value most are:
Make and model — Brands like Bailey, Swift, Elddis, Coachman, and Lunar hold their value well. Lesser-known brands or caravans without paperwork are worth less.
Condition — Habitation damp is the single biggest value killer, even in small amounts. A caravan with damp will always be worth significantly less than one without.
Service history and CRIS documentation — A full service history and a clean CRIS certificate both increase buyer confidence and the price you can achieve.
Working fixtures — Gas appliances, heating, oven, fridge, and electrics all need to function. A caravan where everything works commands significantly more than one with outstanding issues.
The most accurate way to know what your caravan is worth is to get a quote from a specialist who buys regularly in your area. At Red Lion, we've been buying touring caravans across Southport, Lancashire, and Merseyside for over 40 years. Call 01704 889973 for a fair, no-nonsense valuation — usually within hours.
How much is my motorhome worth?
Motorhome values vary more widely than touring caravans, ranging from £5,000 to £60,000+ depending on age, mileage, and condition.
As a rough guide:
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5–8 years old, low mileage, good condition: £25,000–£60,000+
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10–15 years old, higher mileage: £5,000–£20,000
The five things that affect value most are:
Mileage and service history — Both vehicle servicing and habitation servicing matter. A full history directly offsets high mileage in a buyer's mind.
Habitation condition — Damp, worn upholstery, and non-functioning appliances all reduce value significantly.
Manufacturer — Hymer, Auto-Trail, Swift, Elddis, and Burstner hold their value well.
Leisure battery and solar — Working leisure electrics add value. A dead battery or faulty solar system is a negotiating point for buyers.
Timing — Motorhome values peak in spring. Selling March to June typically achieves 5–10% more than selling in autumn or winter.
At Red Lion we buy motorhomes of all makes and sizes across the North West. Call 01704 889973 with your registration, mileage, and condition and we'll come back with a fair valuation fast.
How do I sell my touring caravan or motorhome in the North West?
There are three main routes for selling a touring caravan or motorhome in the North West:
Selling privately — through AutoTrader, Facebook Marketplace, or Caravan Finder. This typically achieves the highest price but requires you to photograph and list the vehicle, handle enquiries from strangers, arrange viewings at your home, and deal with payment safely. It can take weeks or months with no guarantee of a sale.
Part-exchange at a dealership — quick and convenient if you are buying a new caravan or motorhome. The downside is dealers typically offer 10–20% below private sale value to cover their margin and preparation costs.
Selling to a specialist buyer like Red Lion — the fastest and safest option. We give you a fair market valuation, collect from your home anywhere across Lancashire, Merseyside, and the North West within 48 hours, and handle all paperwork. Payment goes directly into your bank account before we leave.
For most sellers in the North West who want a fair price without the hassle, selling direct to Red Lion is the obvious choice. Call 01704 889973 or fill in our form and we'll be in touch within hours.
How quickly can I sell my caravan or motorhome?
With Red Lion, most sellers go from first enquiry to money in their account within 48 hours.
Here is exactly how the process works:
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Contact us — call 01704 889973 or fill in our short form with your make, model, year, condition, and CRIS number (caravans) or registration (motorhomes)
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Receive a valuation — we come back to you within hours with a fair offer
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Agree a collection time — we arrange collection anywhere across the North West at a time that suits you
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Get paid — on collection day we inspect the vehicle, confirm the price, and transfer payment directly to your bank account before we leave
You do not need to write a listing, deal with lowball offers, arrange viewings, or worry about cash payments.
Compare that to selling privately — the average private caravan sale takes several weeks, and many sellers end up accepting less than their asking price after months of enquiries. If you need a quick, hassle-free sale in the North West, Red Lion is your best option.
Is it better to sell my caravan privately or to a dealer?
Both options have genuine advantages. The right choice depends on how much your time, safety, and certainty are worth to you.
Selling privately:
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Typically achieves the highest price
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Requires listings, photos, viewings at your home, and safe payment handling
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Can take days to several months with no guarantee of a sale
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Buyers often renegotiate on collection day
Part-exchange at a dealer:
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Quick and convenient if you are buying something new
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Typically 10–20% below private sale value
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No hassle but you leave money on the table
Selling to Red Lion:
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Fair market valuation — more than a part-exchange
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We collect from your home anywhere in the North West within 48 hours
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Payment in your bank account before we leave
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No viewings, no strangers at your home, no uncertainty
For most North West sellers who want a fair price without the stress, Red Lion sits in the sweet spot between private sale and part-exchange. Call 01704 889973 to get a no-obligation figure today.
Will a caravan buyer collect from my home?
Yes — we collect touring caravans and motorhomes directly from your home address anywhere across the North West, completely free of charge.
We cover Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and Cumbria. If you are just outside these areas, get in touch — in most cases we can still reach you.
On collection day our team arrives at the agreed time, inspects the vehicle, confirms the price, and transfers payment directly into your bank account before we leave. You do not need to arrange transport, tow anything, or travel anywhere.
For touring caravans have your CRIS certificate and service history ready. For motorhomes we will need the V5C logbook, MOT certificate, and service history. Having these ready on the day speeds everything up.
Call 01704 889973 to arrange a collection time that suits you.
What is the best time of year to sell a caravan or motorhome?
The best time to sell is spring — typically March through to June.
This is when buyer demand peaks ahead of the holiday season. More buyers in the market means more competition for good stock, which pushes prices up. Sellers in spring typically achieve 5–10% more than those selling in autumn or winter.
Seasonal breakdown:
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March–June: Peak demand, best prices, fastest sales
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July–August: Good demand but buyers are often already away
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September–October: Demand starts to drop as season ends
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November–February: Slowest period, prices soften, fewer buyers
That said, there are good reasons to sell at any time of year — storage costs, a change of circumstances, or simply wanting it done. Red Lion buys touring caravans and motorhomes all year round at fair market value regardless of the month. We do not pay less in winter.
If you can wait, aim for spring. If you need it sorted now, call 01704 889973 — we will make it worth your while.
How do I prepare my caravan or motorhome for sale?
Good preparation can make a genuine difference to the price you receive. Here is what actually matters:
The most important steps:
Be honest about condition — buyers will inspect carefully. Disclosing issues upfront builds trust and leads to a smoother sale. Trying to hide problems always backfires.
Clean it thoroughly — a clean caravan inspects better, photographs better, and gives a better first impression than anything else you can do. Inside and out.
Check all appliances work — gas, heating, oven, fridge, and electrics. A caravan where everything functions commands significantly more.
Get your paperwork together — CRIS certificate, full service history, V5C logbook for motorhomes, and any warranty documents.
Minor repairs — small issues like a blown bulb or a draughty seal are usually worth fixing. More significant problems like habitation damp are better disclosed honestly and reflected in the price rather than patched up.
If you are selling to Red Lion — you do not need to deep clean or carry out repairs before we visit. We assess vehicles as they are and price accordingly. Just have your paperwork ready and we will handle the rest. Call 01704 889973 to arrange a convenient time.
Can I sell a damaged or damp touring caravan or motorhome?
Yes — a damaged or damp caravan or motorhome is not automatically unsellable.
Habitation damp is the most common issue we encounter in older caravans. We factor it into our valuation rather than using it as a reason to walk away. The extent matters — minor localised damp is very different from structural damage throughout — but even caravans with significant damp can still have value if the chassis and main structure are sound.
Bodywork damage and mechanical issues on motorhomes affect the price but do not make a vehicle unsellable. We buy motorhomes in all conditions.
What we need from you:
An honest description upfront. Tell us about any known issues when you contact us — there is no penalty for honesty. We would rather know in advance and give you a realistic figure than adjust the price at the door.
Even if you assume your caravan or motorhome is worth very little, it is worth getting a valuation before writing it off. Call 01704 889973 with the make, model, year, and a description of any known issues and we will give you a fair assessment.
Can I sell an old touring caravan — 10, 15, or 20 years old?
Yes — we buy touring caravans regardless of age. An older caravan is not automatically worthless.
Age matters far less than condition. A well-maintained 15-year-old Bailey or Swift with no habitation damp, working appliances, and a clean service history can still be worth a meaningful sum. Conversely, a 5-year-old caravan with significant structural damp may be worth very little.
What we look at in an older caravan:
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Habitation damp — check walls, floors, and roof edges. This is the biggest factor.
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Gas and electrical systems — do all appliances, heating, and electrics work?
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Chassis condition — any signs of corrosion?
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Paperwork — CRIS certificate and service history both add value even on older vans
Even if your caravan has some issues, it is worth getting a valuation before assuming it has no value. At Red Lion we assess every vehicle on its individual merits — we will not dismiss an older caravan without taking a proper look. Call 01704 889973 for a free no-obligation valuation.
Can I sell my caravan or motorhome if it still has finance on it?
Yes — in most cases you can sell a touring caravan or motorhome with outstanding finance. It requires one extra step but it is entirely manageable.
How it works:
The outstanding finance must be settled as part of the sale. The amount you owe is paid from the sale proceeds first, and any remaining balance comes to you. If the settlement figure is higher than the vehicle's value you would need to cover the difference — but this is less common than people assume, especially a few years into a finance agreement.
Step by step:
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Contact your finance provider and request a settlement figure — the exact amount needed to clear the agreement at a given date
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Compare that figure to a valuation to understand where you stand
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If you are happy to proceed, the settlement is handled as part of the sale transaction
At Red Lion we deal with financed vehicles regularly. We can guide you through the process and in many cases liaise with the finance company directly on your behalf to simplify the transaction.
Do not let outstanding finance stop you getting a valuation. Call 01704 889973 and we will walk you through it.
What is a CRIS number and do I need it to sell my caravan?
CRIS stands for Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme — it is the touring caravan equivalent of a car's V5C logbook.
What it is: Every touring caravan manufactured since 1992 should have a CRIS number — a 17-digit code etched onto all windows of the caravan. You will also find it on your CRIS certificate, which should have been provided when the caravan was new or transferred to you when you bought it second-hand.
Why it matters: The CRIS certificate proves you are the registered owner, confirms the caravan's identity, and gives the buyer confidence the vehicle has not been stolen. It is not a legal requirement to have it to sell, but it significantly increases buyer confidence and can affect the price you are offered.
Lost your certificate? You can apply for a replacement at cris.co.uk for a small fee. It is worth doing before selling — it will almost certainly increase the value of your caravan.
At Red Lion we ask for your CRIS number as part of our valuation process. If you are unsure where to find it, call 01704 889973 and we will walk you through it.
Can I sell my motorhome if it has high mileage?
Yes — high mileage does not automatically make a motorhome unsellable, and in many cases it matters less than you think.
Condition beats mileage every time. A 100,000-mile motorhome with a full service history that runs and drives well will always be worth more than a 50,000-mile motorhome that has been neglected. Mileage is one factor in the valuation, not the deciding one.
What we look at alongside mileage:
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Full service history — both vehicle servicing and habitation servicing
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MOT status — a current MOT adds confidence
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Engine condition — does it start, run, and drive well?
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Habitation area — condition of upholstery, appliances, and damp levels
If your motorhome has high mileage, gather as much service history and documentation as possible before contacting us. This directly offsets the mileage concern and will be reflected in the offer we make.
Call 01704 889973 with the make, model, year, and mileage and we will give you an honest assessment.
Are there any fees or hidden costs when selling my caravan or motorhome?
No — there are no fees, no admin charges, and no hidden costs when you sell to Red Lion.
What this means in practice:
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The price we agree is the price you receive — no deductions at the end
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Collection is free — we come to you anywhere in the North West at no charge
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No administration fees, no paperwork charges
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No surprises on collection day
On price renegotiation: We do not renegotiate the price on collection day unless the vehicle's condition is materially different from what was described. If you have been honest with us upfront the price will not change when we arrive.
This is worth stating clearly because some national online buyers give an attractive headline valuation then reduce the offer on the day based on minor inspection points. We do not do this. If we agree a price, we honour it.
We are a local family business serving North West customers for over 40 years. Our reputation is built on straight dealing. Call 01704 889973 before you commit to anything and we will talk you through the whole process.