Every caravan show has specials. Some are good. Some are the normal price with a bow on it. The trouble is that on the day, standing at the van with a salesperson, you rarely have what you need to tell the difference. Here is how to check.
Know what the van costs the rest of the year
A show price means nothing without a baseline. Before the show, look up the maker's advertised price for the model, and note the date you saw it. Then compare three numbers: the advertised price, the price you are quoted at the show, and what the same van is listed for after the show. If you do not know the first one, you cannot judge the second.
Compare the right things
- Drive away or not. A price before on-road costs and a drive away price are not the same number. Ask which one you have been given.
- The inclusions. A cheaper van with fewer inclusions is not a cheaper van. Get the list in writing, with the extras priced.
- The same spec. Two vans with the same model name can have different batteries, solar, tyres or suspension. Compare like with like.
Ask what the deadline is for
If a special ends on Sunday, ask why. Is the price tied to stock the dealer wants to clear, a factory incentive, or just a closing tactic? A genuine deal usually survives a night of thought. If the answer is that the price disappears the moment you leave, that tells you something too.
Get it in writing, then check it again
A verbal price is a conversation. A written quote is a record. Take the quote home and check it against what you were told and against your own notes. VanVerdict keeps advertised, recorded and quoted prices side by side for a van, and the Compare screen lines your quotes up next to each other, so the odd one out is obvious.
One honest limit: we can show you what prices have been recorded, but we cannot tell you what a dealer will accept. Negotiating is still a human sport.
The simple test
If you have to decide in the next ten minutes, the deal is a sales method, not a price. Real value holds up to a calculator, a spec sheet and a good night's sleep. Our caravan show checklist covers the questions to ask, and our shows page lists where to go next.
Questions people ask
Are caravan show prices cheaper?
Sometimes. The only way to know is to compare the show price with the advertised price before the show, and with the price afterwards, on the same spec.
What does drive away mean on a caravan?
It is meant to be the price with on-road costs included. Ask exactly what is in it, in writing, because inclusions differ between sellers.
Can I negotiate at a caravan show?
Yes. A written quote gives you something to compare, and you can take it home before you decide.
The VanVerdict team