Motorhomes are sold by RAC Approved Dealers for first time as new preparation standard introduced

Motorhomes are being sold by RAC Approved Dealers for the first time after a new 78-step preparation standard was brought in.

It was created by the RAC in conjunction with aftersales partner Assurant and Hailsham-based dealer AMC MotorCaravans – the first retailer to hold the accreditation.

Sean Kent, RAC director of sales at Assurant, said: ‘The used motorhome sector has been booming in recent years and we have been receiving more and more requests from dealers who wanted to include them in the RAC Approved Dealer programme.

‘This is especially the case as caution around international travel remains, creating a potential trend towards an increasing number of UK holidays.

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‘The preparation standard, which has been designed by experts in this market, is extremely detailed and designed to cover the many different key points that are specific to this type of vehicle.

‘We are confident that it will play an important part in helping dealers retail high-quality, used motorhomes that will meet the needs of a large number of discerning buyers in this market.’

Geoff Takashi, sales manager at AMC MotorCaravans, said: ‘For a long time, buying a motorhome was very much the preserve of older people, perhaps something that happened as they approached retirement, but we’ve seen quite a shift in recent years. There’s been a whole new sector opening up of customers in their 40s and younger.

‘For these buyers, a used motorhome represents a significant financial outlay, probably between £25,000 and £40,000, and the presence of the RAC Approved Dealer programme within our showroom and online makes a significant difference to how we are perceived.

‘Buyers know that the RAC would only put its name to an initiative – and to a dealer – that meets the highest standards. It is a genuine advantage for our business.’

Kent added: ‘The Approved Dealer programme has been performing very well in the post-lockdown used vehicle market. Buyers are looking for peace of mind and post-purchase support, and that is very much what the proposition was created to deliver.’

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