Statutory warranty rights for your motorhome or caravan
Make an informed purchase and know who to contact if questions arise after handover.
Buying a motorhome or caravan involves more than equipment and layout. It also matters who you can contact if a problem appears after delivery. At Milster & Bahls in Milmersdorf, we receive your enquiry and discuss the next steps in assessing it.
This page explains the distinction between German statutory rights concerning defects, known as Gewährleistung, and additional warranties. It also outlines the information that helps us handle an enquiry. Specific warranty products, durations and cost commitments are assessed using the documents applicable to your vehicle.
Statutory rights and additional warranties are different
These terms are often used interchangeably. When considering an enquiry, however, it matters which basis a claim may have.
Gewährleistung
Gewährleistung refers to statutory rights where purchased goods are defective. The seller is generally your point of contact. Whether a claim exists depends on the legal requirements and the circumstances of the case.
These rights include having a defect remedied or receiving a replacement, subject to the applicable rules. Further remedies may apply where their legal requirements are met. You do not need an additional warranty to exercise statutory defect rights.
Additional warranty
An additional warranty is an undertaking by a warranty provider, such as a manufacturer or another organisation. Its scope is set out in the relevant warranty statement.
Whether a warranty already exists or is available for your motorhome or caravan is clarified for the specific vehicle. An additional warranty does not restrict your statutory defect rights.
Have you noticed a problem after handover?
Describe the issue as precisely as possible. Tell us when it first appeared and under which circumstances it occurs. This helps us identify your enquiry and discuss the next steps with you.
How you can help us assess your enquiry
Whether the issue concerns vehicle mechanics, the living area or equipment, an accurate description helps with assessment. Please discuss the next steps with us.
Identify your vehicle
Provide your name, vehicle model and purchase or handover date. A contract or invoice number helps us locate the relevant documents.
Explain the problem
What is not working as expected? Does the problem occur continuously or only in certain situations? Where possible, add photographs, error messages or a short video.
Clarify the next steps
We discuss which further information is needed and whether the vehicle requires examination. The underlying cause cannot always be established remotely.
Agree how to proceed
Following assessment, we clarify the way forward. Any work, responsibilities and questions about costs are discussed according to the particular case.
Which information is useful?
The purchase contract, handover documents and any additional warranty statement help us understand your enquiry. Maintenance records, repair invoices and documents for fitted accessories may also be relevant to technical questions.
A motorhome enquiry may concern the base vehicle, the habitation body or an installed appliance. Please identify the affected area as clearly as possible. For appliances, the manufacturer, model and any displayed error message are useful.
You do not need to diagnose the cause yourself. Start by describing what you have observed. We will clarify which further details are required.
Discuss work with us beforehand where possible
If you wish to report a defect, please contact us before commissioning another workshop where possible. This allows us to organise an assessment and any remedy that may be required.
In a breakdown or safety emergency, making the situation safe comes first. Necessary immediate action and subsequent reimbursement are separate questions. Document the incident and contact us as soon as it is safe to do so.
These coordination requests do not restrict your statutory rights.
Understand the requirements and keep records
Regular servicing and appropriate care support the reliable operation of your home on wheels. Follow the instructions for the base vehicle, habitation body and installed appliances, and retain available records.
An additional warranty may include specific servicing or inspection requirements. Ask which obligations, reporting procedures and deadlines apply to the particular warranty product.
A missing service record does not automatically remove all statutory defect rights. Statutory rights and additional warranty conditions must also be considered separately in this respect.
Questions about statutory rights and additional warranties
Is Gewährleistung an optional extra?
No. Gewährleistung is based on statutory defect rights. An additional warranty is a separate undertaking with its own conditions.
Who should I contact about a problem?
If you purchased the motorhome or caravan from us, you can tell us about your concern. Where an additional warranty exists, the provider's reporting procedures may also be relevant.
Does every vehicle automatically have an additional warranty?
An additional warranty should not be assumed. The relevant warranty documents establish whether such an undertaking exists for your vehicle and who provides it.
Which warranty duration and benefits apply?
Where a warranty exists, its specific terms apply. Check its duration, geographical scope, included components and the procedure for reporting a warranty claim.
Will every repair be covered free of charge?
No. Not every repair requirement automatically gives rise to a claim. Statutory defect rights, any additional warranty and routine servicing must be distinguished. For a valid statutory remedy, the seller bears the necessary costs prescribed by law.
Can I immediately instruct another workshop?
Please discuss assessment and possible work with us beforehand where possible. Whether independently commissioned repair costs can be reimbursed depends on the individual circumstances. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
What should I include in my message?
Include the vehicle model, purchase or handover date, current mileage and a description of the problem. Add when it first appeared and any available photographs or error messages.
What if the problem occurs while travelling?
In a breakdown or dangerous situation, make the situation safe first. Document the problem and contact us as soon as it is safe. Tell us your location and how to reach you so that the next steps can be discussed.
Should I keep servicing documents?
Keeping them is useful because they help with technical assessment. An additional warranty may require records under its conditions. Missing documents do not create a blanket exclusion of statutory defect rights.
Can I ask about protection before buying?
Yes. Tell us which vehicle interests you. We will discuss the relevant documents and clarify whether an additional warranty exists or can be offered.
Talk to us about your enquiry
Do you have questions before buying or need to report a problem after handover? Tell us which vehicle is involved and how we can contact you.