As you would expect with most Australian manufacturing sectors, the caravan, RV and camper industry is subject to compliance under a range of government regulations. When purchasing a caravan, buyers should be aware of the compliance aspects surrounding the type of RV they are considering. There are a number of current and approaching issues that Jade Caravan Finance would like to make buyers aware of, to ensure they are purchasing a compliant vehicle.
While the finance side of the caravan purchase may not address the issue of compliance, the insurance and registration of the vehicle may be impacted.
RVMAP Accreditation
Before we cover off on the current matters, we draw your attention to the RVMAP accreditation scheme which is operated by the Caravan Industry Association. RVMAP stands for Recreational Vehicle Manufacturing Accreditation Program and the Association claims 90% of the major RV manufacturing businesses in Australia have opted into the program.
This is a voluntary scheme and does not reflect or is associated with guarantees and warranties but having the RVMA accreditation key indicates the commitment by the business to supply their goods and products which adhere to and meet the Australian Design Rules that apply to the industry and the Federal Compliance Regulations. Businesses are regularly inspected to ensure they comply.
This accreditation is seen as providing confidence to buyers as these businesses must comply with the code of ethics as stipulated by the RVMAP. These can be reviewed on the association’s website www.caravanindustry.com.au
New Road Vehicle Standards Act (RVSA)
On 1 July 2021, the new RVSA comes into effect and is seen as the most significant piece of legislation change for the caravan industry in Australia for more than 30 years. The new Act replaces the act of 1989 and reflects the developments in the vehicle manufacturing industry, especially in regard to technologies.
The new legislation is seen as providing regulators with the enforcement powers required to combat non-compliant operators and ensure unsafe RVs are not on our roads. The changes to the legislation affect caravan and RV manufacturers as they will need to have Federal Government approval. Self-certification by manufacturers will no longer be permitted.
In addition, all vehicles under this Act will have their vehicle identification number (VIN) recorded in a Register of Approved Vehicles. This is an online system. If a vehicle is not in the register, the state authorities will not issue vehicle registration. So caravan manufacturers will need to have the appropriate approvals and registrations in place, in order for buyers to register their caravans.
This is an important aspect to watch out for when buying a new caravan.
ACCC Caravan Compliance
Another aspect of caravan compliance which is currently being addressed is the work being done by the ACCC to take action against those manufacturers that do not meet their obligations under the consumer law for non-compliant and sub-standard build RVs.
ACCC Chairman Rod Sims, in a recent address to a business group, reportedly said the pursuing of RV and caravan businesses that were not complying with their obligations under consumer law was a 2021 priority for the organisation.
The caravan industry has seen significant recent growth and the ACCC had received complaints from buyers about defective issues, faults and non-compliant vans and the manufacturers not meeting warranty and other requirements. The ACCC is looking to increase compliance across the industry.
Buying Processes
As with the purchase of any high value goods, when buying a new caravan, most buyers will be taking the utmost attention to every detail. Extra attention should be made to ensure the manufacturer meets the relevant compliance regulations so your vehicle is safe and you will get many years of travel and holiday enjoyment.
When buying a caravan under finance through Jade Caravan Finance, our consultants have the resources to check with a range of aspects around regulations but not all aspects. The caravan is used as security against the loan so should the vehicle be found to be faulty in any way, the borrower will still be obligated to meet the loan repayments. Any faults and other defects would need to be addressed with the dealer or manufacturer under the relevant consumer law.
When purchasing a caravan, it’s essential to update on what is covered under the consumer laws as well as the warranty and guarantees as provided by the manufacturer and the dealer. Caravans include components from multiple suppliers. Each may be covered by different warranties or collectively by the manufacturer as part of the process. Additionally, using a camper trailer finance calculator can give you an insight into your financial commitments. Having a full knowledge of these details may be worthwhile should any issues arise, which we genuinely hope do not for you!
Before committing to a caravan purchase, contact Jade Caravan Finance to organise a pre-approved loan and request assistance from our consultants, where possible, in regard to compliance checks and information.
Speak with one of our Jade Caravan Finance consultants on 1300 000 003 regarding a loan for your next caravan
DISCLAIMER: THE DETAILS AND INFORMATION IN THIS CONTENT ARE PREPARED AND PRESENTED PURELY FOR INFORMATION AND NOT INTENDED IN ANY WAY AS THE SOLE SOURCE OF FINANCIAL ADVICE FOR CARAVAN PURCHASING. IF ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ADVICE IS REQUIRED, READERS SHOULD REFER TO A FINANCIAL ADVISOR. NO LIABILITY IS ACCEPTED FOR ANY ERRORS, PRODUCT DESCRIPTION VARIATIONS, OR OTHER MISREPRESENTATIONS OF INFORMATION AS PRESENTED.
