Unhappy campers

Any caravan not previously registered in New Zealand is 'a knacker' says one dealer. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Thousands of Kiwis holiday in caravans each year.

But an investigation has revealed many imported second-hand caravans have been stolen or badly water damaged before hitting our shores.

English auto theft investigator Ian Walker launched an investigation into stolen caravans in the United Kingdom and traced which had been shipped to New Zealand and sold to unsuspecting Kiwis.

"There were no checks carried out before the caravans left the UK or once they arrived in New Zealand," he said.

Walker also discovered accident and flood damaged caravans which had been written off by insurance assessors in England were being repaired and sold in New Zealand.

"We became aware of a caravan that had been involved in a very serious accident and its remains sold to a UK salvage company for approximately £300 ($630)," he told Motor Caravanner magazine.

"Eight weeks later this caravan had arrived in New Zealand and cleared Customs with a declared value of £6000 ($12,610).

"This particular UK salvage company we know has exported approximately 60 caravans over the past 18 months.

"Unfortunately this has come to light after the caravans have already been distributed into the public network."

But Walker said there was a simple way to protect yourself from unwittingly buying a stolen caravan.

Since 1992 a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) has been stamped on all windows and chassis of British-built caravans.

VIN numbers are recorded on the UK's CRIS (Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme) database.

Walker said all would-be buyers had to do was go to www.hpicheck.com.

Walker said he was working with Customs and police in New Zealand to reduce the problem.

He also urged buyers to beware of tampered VIN on caravans.

Caravan dealership Barrons owner David Hold, of Taupo, said about 800 used caravans were imported from the UK every year. "I'd say 200 are stolen, 200 are flood damaged, 200 accident damaged and 200 moveable but absolutely crap," he said.

"British dealers don't let go of anything good. My guess is anything used and not previously registered in NZ is a knacker."

He urged buyers to check caravans for dampness before buying.

Hold said damaged caravans were written off by insurance companies, sent to salvage yards then being repaired and exported to New Zealand and sold for up to $30,000.

It cost $7000 to ship a caravan to New Zealand so the dealers were making big profit.

Caravan Imports owner Troy Ives, of Auckland, said he had employed a person in the UK to check all caravans before he purchased them after being stung.

"When I started out I didn't think I needed someone over there checking but the problem was so widespread," he said.

"You just doesn't know what you are buying and who you think is a reputable dealer turns out to be a crook,"

Paul Hague-Smith, of Four Seasons Caravans in Te Horo, near Otaki, said he bought a caravan which had been imported from the UK about two years ago.

He bought it for $35,000 and sold it for $39,000.

The new owners later wanted to sell it but a prospective new owner checked the VIN and discovered the caravan had been stolen.

The owner went back to Hague-Smith who replaced the caravan and paid them a cash settlement.

Protect yourself

* Go to the website, www.hpicheck.com, and carry out a CRIS Check. This will confirm the identity of the caravan and alert you to whether it has been reported stolen or has been written off by an insurer.

* Check the serial numbers on windows and chassis for any signs of tampering.


Do you have a consumer story? email joanne.carroll@hos.co.nz or phone (09) 373-9341.