Inspection and collection

Inspection exists to confirm what you have already told us, not to look for reasons to reduce a figure. Somebody looks over the bodywork, inside, the appliances, the floor and the damp-prone areas, and on a motorhome the cab, the engine and the MOT record as well.

Collection is arranged around where the vehicle actually is. Driveways, storage compounds, farm yards, seasonal pitches and relatives' addresses are all normal. You do not tow or drive the vehicle anywhere, and access problems — a narrow lane, a locked compound, restricted hours — are worth mentioning early rather than on the day.

Paperwork, keys and payment are all sequenced around that visit, which is why having the documents together beforehand makes the day short.

What you can work out here

• What is checked at inspection, and why
• What to have ready on the day
• How collection works from storage or a site
• What happens if the vehicle is not as described