A camper-van check is a professional, purchase-oriented on-site inspection of a used camper van or panel-van camper by an independent vehicle expert — directly at the seller or dealer, with no interest in the sale. checkdenwagen.de is an independent provider of on-site used-car inspections operating throughout Germany, based in Berlin with a network of inspectors across the country. A camper van combines the vehicle technology of a van with a habitable interior — and that is exactly what makes it so complex. A classic used-car inspection focuses on engine, chassis and body, but leaves the conversion almost entirely out of scope: how was the water system routed? Does the gas installation comply with the DVGW standard? Does the pop-top roof have intact canvas with no leaks? Are the leisure battery and charge booster correctly secured? A standard car check does not answer these questions. Our camper-van check examines both levels systematically: the base vehicle with all safety- and value-relevant components as well as the entire interior conversion with water, electrical and gas infrastructure. A note for international buyers: across Europe, Germany is regarded as the most important market for high-quality camper vans — many T5 and T6 conversions head to France, the Netherlands, Scandinavia or Switzerland. Our network covers the whole of Germany; the digital report can also be used from a distance. The inspection checklist comprises over 100 points; the inspection takes around 1.5 hours on-site. You receive the digital photo report with all findings within 24 hours by email.
Camper-van check before you buy: price on request · on-site
A used camper van is more than a vehicle — it's travel, home and workshop project all in one. Whether a professional conversion, a DIY self-build or a dealer conversion: what sits behind the panelling, no listing will show you. Our independent on-site check examines over 100 points — base vehicle, conversion, water, electrics, gas and pop-top roof — and delivers your full report within 24 hours. Price on request.
The 8 critical weak spots of used camper vans
Conversion quality: professional conversion versus DIY self-build
Professionally converted camper vans often differ from self-build solutions only at second glance — or when you look behind the panelling. Critical inspection points: the mounting of cupboards, bed and galley frame (load-bearing bolted connections in the vehicle's load points, or merely into composite panels), structurally correct routing of lines through the floor panel and partition wall, as well as proper edge and joint sealing. An unstable conversion is a serious safety risk in an emergency stop.
Water system: fresh and waste water, pump, lines
The water system is the most common trouble spot in used camper vans. Leaking hose connections, cracked tanks, missing check valves and a badly seated submersible pump cause damp rings under the floor and mould behind the panelling. Particular attention goes to the waste-water tank and its venting: if grey water is forced back into the vehicle interior, odour and a hygiene problem arise. Our check inspects tanks, lines, fittings and pump delivery performance.
Electrical setup: leisure battery, solar, charge booster, fuses
A modern camper-van conversion carries a separate leisure battery (AGM, LiFePO4 or gel), a solar array on the roof, a charge booster (DC/DC converter) for charging via the alternator, plus a mains charger for the campsite. Critical weak spots: connection resistance on correctly dimensioned cables, missing fuses close to the battery, starter and leisure circuits that aren't separated, and incorrectly parameterised charge profiles that permanently damage the battery. The electrical check covers the charging system, cable cross-sections and consumer protection.
Gas installation: stove, heating, visual inspection
An LPG installation in a camper van is subject to DVGW guideline G 607. A gas bottle in a ventilated compartment, pressure-resistant lines, approved hose connections with an expiry date, a gas pressure regulator matched to the burner and a safety shut-off at the stove — those are the minimum requirements. In practice, many DIY conversions are operated with non-approved components, incorrect pressure regulators or hoses without a validity date. Our inspection checklist assesses the gas installation by visual inspection for obvious defects.
Pop-top roof: mechanism, canvas, watertightness, hydraulics
A VW Westfalia pop-top roof, a Fiamma roof tent or a hydraulic pop-top roof is both a comfort feature and a weak point. Typical defects: cracked or frayed canvas, bent guide rails, weak gas struts, faulty hinges and — particularly expensive — a leaking rain gutter that channels water into the roof insulation. Our check opens and closes the pop-top roof several times, inspects the canvas for tears and seams, and assesses the sealing edge all the way round.
Insulation, damp and mould behind the panelling
Condensation is the silent enemy of every camper van. A poor or missing vapour barrier between the vehicle's bodywork and the insulation material causes moisture to condense behind wooden panelling and foam layers and form mould — often only visible after months. Seepage through roof penetrations (solar cable feed-throughs, ventilation grilles) also leaves characteristic damp patches in the roof area. Our inspection checklist includes a systematic damp and mould inspection, as far as accessible.
Base-vehicle technology: T5/T6, Transit, Vito — engine, DSG, rust
The conversion sits on a base vehicle that brings its own history of wear. VW T5 and T6 are the most popular camper-van platforms: the 2.0 TDI in the T6 suffers from timing-chain wear and oil leaks; the DSG7 (DQ381) reacts sensitively to poor maintenance with the wrong transmission oil. The T5 predecessor, with its chain drive, has a typical crankshaft bearing failure if oil changes are neglected. Add to this rust on sills, wheel arches and the rear cross member — typical T5/T6 spots that our inspection checklist explicitly addresses.
Registered seats, sleeping berths and registration
Camper vans can be registered as a 'motorhome' (sleeping furniture registered), as a 'car' or as a 'van' — with significant differences in insurance class, vehicle tax and rights of use. Unregistered seats are a problem in insurance terms. Modifications (pop-top roof, conversion) can affect the type approval. Our check includes a document review for completeness and plausibility — this also covers whether the conversion matches the registered sleeping berths.
Have your dream car inspected on-site
No-obligation enquiry, tailored quote — straight from the inspector on-site.
What the camper-van check examines — the full scope
Over 100 inspection points — base vehicle and conversion
The inspection checklist covers both levels of the camper van: all safety- and value-relevant components of the base vehicle (body, engine, transmission, chassis, brakes, electrics, underbody) as well as the entire interior conversion with water, electrical and gas infrastructure. No point is skipped, no finding glossed over.
OBD diagnostics and base-vehicle technology
Reading the fault memory via OBD-II captures all relevant control units of the base vehicle — engine, transmission, ABS, ESP and driver assistance systems. Typical base-vehicle problems such as DSG fault codes (T6), timing-chain warnings (T5/T6) and AdBlue fault entries are detected and documented in the report.
Conversion and system check: water, electrics, gas
The water system (tanks, pump, lines, fittings), electrical setup (leisure battery, solar controller, charge booster, cable cross-sections, fuses), gas installation (visual inspection for obvious deviations from the standards) and pop-top roof mechanism (opening, closing, canvas, seal) are recorded and assessed separately.
Damp and mould inspection
Insulation, vapour barrier and roof penetrations are examined for damp patches, mould traces and condensation damage — as far as accessible without disassembly. The finding is documented photographically and noted in the report.
Document check: registration, conversion and sleeping berths
Vehicle registration parts I and II, conversion entries, sleeping berths, HU sticker, service booklet and available maintenance invoices are checked for completeness and plausibility. We also assess whether the registered vehicle type (motorhome, car, van) matches the actual conversion.
Digital photo report within 24 hours
All findings are documented with annotated photos — base vehicle and conversion structured separately. You receive the full digital report within 24 hours by email, ready to use for a purchase decision or price negotiation. The report is also readable from a distance — important for international buyers acquiring a German camper van.
Choose your package for a reliable used-car inspection
Standard Check
Travel included
- Certified experts
- Engine check
- Transmission check
- OBD fault readout
- Brake inspection
- Paint thickness measurement
- Accident check
- Visual bodywork inspection
- Tire tread check
- Visual interior inspection
- Electronics function test
- Vehicle document check
- Photo documentation
- Seller rating
- Market price assessment
- Vehicle price comparison
- Repair cost estimate
- VIN lookup
Premium Check
Travel included
- Certified experts
- Engine check
- Transmission check
- OBD fault readout
- Brake inspection
- Paint thickness measurement
- Accident check
- Visual bodywork inspection
- Tire tread check
- Visual interior inspection
- Electronics function test
- Vehicle document check
- Photo documentation
- Seller rating
- Market price assessment
- Vehicle price comparison
- Repair cost estimate
- VIN lookup
- Everything in Standard plus market value, repair cost estimate, seller rating & VIN lookup.
What the camper-van check is not — a clear distinction
The camper-van check by checkdenwagen.de is an independent, purchase-oriented condition assessment — not an official expert report, not a periodic technical inspection (HU) and not a TÜV certificate. It makes no statement as to whether a vehicle meets the legal requirements for road use, and it replaces neither an HU inspection nor a separate gas-standard inspection under DVGW G 607 by a certified installer. The gas check within the camper-van check is a visual inspection for obvious defects — not a leak test with a pressure gauge and not an inspection under DVGW. Anyone who needs a standard-compliant gas-system inspection should additionally commission a certified LPG installer. That is not part of our scope of service. Also not included: a repair-cost estimate and market-value analysis are optional add-on services that can be discussed on request. Anyone who needs a solid, traceable basis for intensive price negotiations is best off contacting us directly — by phone (030 301 32 327) or via the contact form. We discuss the scope transparently and individually. If the viewing falls through due to our fault, we refund the amount paid.
How your camper-van check works
Submit an enquiry — non-binding and free of charge
Send us the listing link or the vehicle details, the postcode of the vehicle's location and your contact details. The more you know about the conversion (professional conversion or DIY, pop-top roof yes/no, gas installation present), the more precisely we can prepare the check. A brief enquiry is enough — we'll get back to you.
Inspector travels out to the vehicle's location
An experienced vehicle expert from our network arranges the appointment directly with the seller. The inspection takes around 1.5 hours on-site — systematic, with their own measuring equipment, and covers both the base vehicle and the entire conversion. You don't have to be there in person.
Digital report within 24 hours
You receive your full inspection report by email: annotated photos for base vehicle and conversion structured separately, OBD findings, damp and mould inspection, conversion system check (water, electrics, gas), pop-top roof finding and document check — all clearly structured, with no jargon. Ready to use for a purchase decision or price negotiation, even if you only know the vehicle from the listing.
What our customers say
“I had my 5 Series inspected before buying — the report was very detailed and made my purchase decision so much easier.”
Emre E.
Berlin
“When the vehicle wasn't available for the viewing after all, the refund was completely hassle-free. Very fair and transparent.”
Bartosz K.
Hamburg
“The Premium package gave me a clear overview of the expected repair and maintenance costs. Exactly what I needed.”
Amir O.
Munich
“Excellent knowledge of the German car market, the dealer landscape and price ranges. Highly recommended.”
Denis B.
Cologne
Camper-van check in your city
Frequently asked questions about the camper-van used-car inspection
The price is communicated on request, because camper-van checks are quoted individually depending on the base vehicle, conversion complexity and location. A panel-van camper with a simple conversion involves different effort than a T6 with a solar-battery system, gas heating and a pop-top roof. Give us a call (030 301 32 327) or send us a brief enquiry — we'll get back to you with a concrete quote.
More vehicle types and services
Motorhome Check
For integrated motorhomes, semi-integrated models and over-cab campers: body, fresh water, gas, heating and base-vehicle technology — systematically inspected.
Learn moreVan Check
Have the base vehicle inspected as a commercial vehicle — Sprinter, Crafter, Ducato, Transit: load space, sliding door, body and commercial history.
Learn moreUsed-Car Inspection — Overview
All check variants, scopes of service and processes at a glance — for private customers and businesses.
Learn moreAll vehicle types
From sports car to caravan — checkdenwagen inspects every type with a vehicle-specific inspection checklist.
Learn moreBuy a camper van with confidence — conversion and base vehicle inspected independently.
What sits behind the panelling, no listing will show you. Our check examines both — price on request. Tel. 030 301 32 327.