Your rights when buying a caravan


So you’ve saved up all of your hard-earned dollars and you’re ready to invest in your bucket list item: a caravan! Oh the adventures to be had, the memories to make and the stories to tell. As dreamy as this new step is for you, it’s also a great idea to get across the rights you have as a buyer.
In light of the recent disappointing statistics found by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on buyers reporting lemons, the ACCC has released a guide on consumer rights when purchasing a new caravan and we’ve spelt it out for you below.
Australian law protects you as a buyer, making sure that the products and services you buy come with automatic guarantees that they will work and do what they’re supposed to do. If they don’t, you are well within your rights to seek a remedy from the business. These are called your consumer guarantee rights. Whether you’ve bought a caravan or camper trailer, these rights are given to you and are separate from the manufacturer’s warranty. If you’ve unfortunately received a dud, fear not. A replacement or a fix is ensured by law.
Though warranties differ, the ACCC considers it reasonable that your brand-new caravan won’t develop a major defect for several years of use. In simple terms, even if your warranty is up you may well still be entitled to a refund or replacement under the consumer guarantees. This is a huge relief!
A minor failure is generally categorised as an issue with the caravan that does not stop its ability to be used. It’s typically easily fixed and requires either repair or replacement to remedy the situation.
As the name suggests, a major failure is a big issue that results in the caravan not being fit for use. Some examples include failures that suggest an unacceptable build quality, numerous failed repair attempts over a period and water leaks that hinder its ability to provide shelter.
The ACCC asserts that if you are one of the unlucky who has a caravan that requires repair, it must be rectified in a timely manner. If the timeframe ends up not being reasonable, you have the right to have the repair done by another business. You won’t end up out of pocket as you will recover these costs from the supplier. You also have the right to choose a refund instead or to have the caravan replaced by the supplier.
As a buyer, you’re also protected by the obligations the ACCC have attached to caravan suppliers. For example, caravan suppliers cannot accept payment when they’re aware that they can’t supply the caravan within a reasonable timeframe or the timeframe they quote you upon sale. The only caveat here is if delivery times fail due to reasons out of their control and they did what they could to prevent that outcome.
Having all of these rights set in place provides some ease when it comes to spending the big bucks on a caravan. Sometimes things do go wrong however, you know now that things will be rectified by a refund or repair.