Buying From Caravan Dealers in Melbourne? Sort Out Parking Before You Sign

Buying a caravan is exciting, and it is easy to get swept along. A shiny showroom, a clever layout and a friendly salesperson can all make the decision feel simple. Then the van comes home, and two kinds of questions start to matter: the ones you forgot to ask the dealer, and the one most buyers never ask at all. Where will this thing actually live for the 40-odd weeks a year it is not on the road?

This guide covers the dealer checklist first, then the parking plan: your driveway, what Melbourne councils now allow on the street, and storage.

Key Takeaways

• A caravan is a major purchase, so the dealer's advice, service and support matter as much as the van itself.
• Ask whether the caravan suits your tow vehicle, your travel plans and your budget before you talk about features.
• Find out how servicing, warranty claims and spare parts are handled once the sale is complete.
• Measure your driveway, gate and carport before you pick a length, and include the drawbar and any roof air conditioner.
• Street rules for caravans now differ council by council across Melbourne, from a permit after 14 days to a hard 14-day cap in any 60.

Why the Dealer Matters as Much as the Van

When you start looking at caravan dealers in Melbourne, the choice can feel overwhelming. Every dealer has vans on display, and most will tell you theirs are the best.

The real difference often shows after you drive away. A good dealer helps you choose the right van, explains how it works and stands behind it when something needs attention. A poor one disappears once the paperwork is signed. Start with a few visits and a list of questions. The way a dealer responds tells you plenty about the service you will receive later.

Questions About Your Tow Vehicle

The most important question is whether the caravan matches your vehicle. Ask the dealer to check your tow vehicle's towing capacity, its gross vehicle mass and its tow ball limit, and to explain what is left once you add passengers, gear and water. A van that is too heavy for your vehicle is a safety risk and may be illegal.

Find out what equipment you need, such as a weight distribution hitch, extended mirrors or a brake controller, whether the dealer can fit these, and what they cost.

Lined up and waiting for the next trip: the van spends far more of its life parked than on the road. Photo: Pexels

Questions About Build Quality and Your Travel Plans

Tell the dealer where you plan to go. Weekends at caravan parks need a different van from remote dirt tracks and long stays off the grid. Ask what the chassis, suspension and coupling are designed to handle, what battery, solar and water capacity is fitted, and how long the van runs without hookups.

Ask where the van is built, how the joins are sealed against dust and water, and for the empty weight and payload. A heavy van with a small payload leaves little room for your gear. Open the doors and drawers, check the seals and catches, and look under the van. Neat wiring and solid fittings are a good sign. For a used van, ask for service records, check for water damage and rust, and confirm a clear title with no money owing.

Questions About Servicing, Warranty and Price

Ask who handles servicing and repairs, how warranty claims work, what the warranty covers and whether it transfers if you sell. Find out how easy spare parts are to get, since waiting weeks for a minor fix can ruin a trip. Then ask for a written quote listing the van, extras and on-road costs such as registration, stamp duty and delivery, and compare any finance offer with your bank. Be cautious about pressure to sign quickly.

Measure Your Driveway Before You Measure the Van

Showroom specs quote body length, but the number that decides whether a van fits at home is overall length including the drawbar and spare wheel. Height matters too: a roof air conditioner or solar panels can add enough to rule out a carport or a garage door.

Before you visit a dealer, measure your driveway to the front boundary, the gate opening and the lowest beam of any carport, and give those numbers to the dealer with your tow vehicle details. In a townhouse or unit complex, check your owners corporation rules too.

Trailers left at the kerb on a residential street, the kind of spot councils are now putting day limits on. Photo: Pexels / Phil Evenden

What Melbourne Councils Say About Caravans on the Street

If the plan is to leave the van out the front, check your council before you buy, because the rules have been tightening and they are not the same across Melbourne:

• Port Phillip introduced a local law from 19 July 2026 that bans storing or parking a caravan, boat or trailer on a council road or council land for more than 14 days within any 60-day period. The days add up even if you move the van and bring it back, and the fine is two penalty units, reported as currently $418.
• Kingston requires a permit once a caravan stays in the same spot on a road or council land for more than 14 days, and only issues one for a registered van under 7.5 metres, on a street with no parking restrictions.
• Hobsons Bay requires a permit to leave a caravan on a road for more than 28 consecutive days, and on a reserve or foreshore reserve for more than 24 hours.

There is also a state rule on top of the local ones. Under the Victorian road rules, the driver of a heavy vehicle or a long vehicle, which RACV describes as 7.5 metres long or longer, can only stop on a road in a built-up area for up to one hour unless signs say otherwise. A tourer hitched to a dual cab can pass that length easily.

Storage Options If It Will Not Fit at Home

When the driveway is too short or the street is off limits, the options are a caravan storage yard or a private space rented nearby. Ask:

• Is the space covered? Sun and hail are hard on seals and decals.
• What are the access hours, and is the site gated or lit?
• Is there room to hitch up without reversing out into traffic?

Spare driveways, side yards and large garages are often closer to home than a storage yard. You can search for private driveways, garages and secure spaces near you on Parksy, and our guide to camping, caravan and RV spaces covers what to look for in a long-stay spot.

Handover Day and the First Drive Home

The handover is your chance to learn the van properly. Ask for a full walk-through of the electrics, water, gas, brakes, hitch and awning, and ask the dealer to show you how to hitch, level and pack up. Take notes or videos, and make sure you leave with the manuals, warranty documents and compliance details. Ask about a first service and a point of contact for after your first trip.

Before the first trip, practise reversing in an empty car park, then have someone spot for you on your own driveway.

Mistakes to Avoid

The most common mistake is buying the van before checking the tow vehicle. Another is focusing on price alone and overlooking support, servicing and build quality. Some buyers rush the handover. Take your time, and ask every question you have.

Frequently Asked Questions