Short answer: treat a caravan show as a research and comparison event, not a deadline. A “show-only” price does not replace checks of the supplier, contract, weights, warranty, intended use and delivery terms. Do not assume you have a cooling-off period; get the full agreement and take time away from the stand before signing.
Prepare a shortlist before the show
Write down who travels, bed and bathroom needs, road types, storage, trip length, budget and tow-vehicle limits. Select two or three layout types rather than dozens of brands. Bring the exact vehicle ratings and a comparison sheet.
Use the Caravan Layout Finder and Caravan Comparison Tool before attending.
Compare like with like
The display caravan may include options that are not in the advertised starting price. Record:
- exact model, layout and displayed build;
- base price and show price;
- every included option;
- dealer, freight, preparation and on-road costs;
- represented tare, ATM, GTM and payload;
- delivery timing; and
- warranty and service arrangements.
Photograph the specification board only with permission and ask for the final quotation by email.
Is the show discount genuine?
Compare the total drive-away or tow-away offer with the supplier’s normal advertised price and the same specification elsewhere. A bonus accessory has value only if you need it, it is suitable and its added mass is accounted for. Do not let an inflated accessory bundle distract from the final price and contract terms.
Do not assume a cooling-off period
Australian Consumer Law provides cooling-off rights for certain unsolicited sales such as some door-to-door or telemarketing transactions. That does not create a universal cooling-off period for a purchase you initiate at a caravan show. State or territory laws and contract terms can differ. Confirm the rule for the actual transaction before signing.
Check who is selling
The stand may represent a manufacturer, local dealer, interstate dealer or distributor. Identify the legal entity on the contract, its ABN, who receives the deposit and who will handle delivery and remedies. Ask whether your local dealer is obliged to service a caravan bought from another dealer.
Put every promise in writing
- Delivery date or window
- Exact component brands and models
- Ratings and expected payload
- Factory and dealer-fitted options
- Off-road or intended-road capability
- Repair and spare-parts network
- Trade-in amount and conditions
- Deposit refund conditions
A spoken assurance can be disputed later. Ask for it to be added to the agreement or quotation before paying.
Test the layout under real use
Put every traveller inside. Make convertible beds, sit at the dinette, open the fridge and bathroom, check bunk dimensions, and see whether doors block each other. Note steps, aisle widths and storage access. A quiet return visit late in the day can reveal more than a rushed first look.
Challenge towing and payload claims
Ask whether the displayed tare includes the fitted show options. Record water and battery assumptions. Check your vehicle’s GVM, GCM, tow-ball and axle limits rather than relying on a salesperson’s “your vehicle will tow it” statement.
Read warranty limits beside advertising
If the caravan is promoted with corrugations, beaches or 4WD tracks, compare the images and claims with the written warranty. Ask which surfaces and conditions are included. The same applies to nationwide repair or spare-parts claims.
The ten-minute pause
Before signing, leave the stand. Sit somewhere quiet and compare the offer with your written criteria. Call the person sharing the decision. Check the business and product records on your own device. If the offer cannot survive a short evidence check, it is not a safe basis for a major purchase.
Do not sign until
- You have the full contract and attachments.
- The supplier’s legal entity is clear.
- The exact specification and total price are written.
- The deposit and cancellation terms are understood.
- The delivery and substitution terms are acceptable.
- The loaded towing combination remains plausible.
- Important capability and service claims align with the warranty.
- You know whether independent advice is needed.
Continue with the New Caravan Contract and Deposit Checklist after publication, or use the verified Before You Buy: 25 Questions.
Continue through the Buying a Caravan in Australia hub for the complete buying pathway.