You’ve found the right unit, agreed a pitch, and now you need the caravan to actually arrive – safely, on time, and without a nasty surprise when the invoice lands. Whether you’re taking delivery of a second-hand holiday home, a brand-new residential park home, or a twin-unit lodge, the delivery process involves more moving parts than most buyers expect. This guide walks you through every stage, from the day you book right through to the moment your caravan is levelled on its pitch and ready for the utilities to go back on.

New static caravan being delivered and lowered onto its pitch

Why a static caravan delivery is nothing like a furniture delivery

Static caravans cannot be towed behind an ordinary vehicle. A typical single unit is 10–12 ft wide and 28–40 ft long, and weighs several tonnes – far outside what any domestic tow hitch can handle. As soon as a load exceeds 2.9 m in width (that’s roughly 9.5 ft, which almost every static caravan exceeds), it becomes an abnormal load in law, and specialist transport is the only legal option. If you’d like to understand why towing is never an option, see our guide Can You Tow a Static Caravan? and for the full picture on dimensions, Static Caravan Sizes, Widths & Weights.

The practical result is that your caravan travels on a specialist low loader, with route planning, permit notifications, marker boards, and sometimes an escort vehicle all arranged in advance – none of which falls to you. Static Caravan Movers handles all of that as part of our static caravan transport service.

Step-by-step: what happens from booking to siting

Here is the typical sequence for a delivery and siting job.

Quote and access check. You provide dimensions, collection and delivery addresses, and any access concerns. Transport starts from £950 for most moves. We flag anything that needs advance attention – tight gates, overhead lines, soft ground.
ESDAL notification and route planning. For loads over 2.9 m wide we submit an ESDAL notification to highway and bridge authorities – minimum two clear working days’ notice. Loads over 3.5 m typically need an escort vehicle; wider units may need National Highways consent. We handle all permits, route planning, and marker boards.
Your pre-move preparation. Skirting and decking need to come off (usually customer-arranged; we can price it). Internal contents must be secured or removed. Most importantly, gas, water and electricity must be disconnected and signed off by a suitably qualified professional before we load. Some parks insist only their own engineers may do this. See our How to Prepare a Static Caravan for Transport checklist.
De-siting at origin. Our team jacks the caravan clear of its stands, removes it from the pitch, and loads it onto the low loader. For twin-unit homes, each half travels separately. The de-siting process is methodical – rush it and you risk chassis damage.
Road movement. The caravan travels with all required marker boards and (where the route demands) an escort vehicle, during daylight hours.
Siting at the destination. The siting team jacks the unit into position and levels it on stands or axle supports using a spirit level. An unlevel caravan causes sticking doors, warped windows, and long-term chassis stress.
Twin-unit rejoining. Both halves are bolted together, the roof line rejoined and resealed to make the unit weathertight. See Moving a Twin-Unit Static Caravan.
Utility reconnection – your responsibility. Gas reconnection needs a Gas Safe engineer; electrical reconnection needs a qualified electrician. Static Caravan Movers does not carry out certified utility connections and is not liable for them. Book tradespeople before your move date.

Costs to budget for

Transport and siting are two separate costs. Below is a realistic ballpark; for a detailed breakdown see our guide How Much Does It Cost to Move a Static Caravan?

What you’re paying for	Typical range
Transport (single unit, most UK moves)	From £950
De-siting & re-siting (standard single)	£300 – £1,200
De-siting & re-siting (large, twin-unit or specialist)	£4,000 – £5,000
Abnormal load escort (where required)	Included in our quote
Utility disconnection / reconnection	Arranged by you separately
Skirting / decking removal	Can be priced on request; usually customer-arranged

Payment terms: a 50% deposit secures your booking date; the balance is due when the unit is loaded at the origin.

Access: the question that catches people out

Access problems are among the most common causes of delays on delivery day. A loaded low loader is a large vehicle. Before confirming your booking, check:

Park entrance width and height clearance – overhead barriers, trees, and power lines are common obstacles.
Whether the access road can take a loaded low loader – soft ground can be an issue in winter.
The turning radius onto your pitch; older parks are sometimes tight.
Any overhead lines crossing the pitch itself.

Raise any concerns at the quote stage – problems are far easier to solve before the lorry leaves than on the day.

Park age limits and what to check before delivery

If the caravan is going onto a park, check the age limit policy before you commit to a purchase. Many holiday parks operate a 10–20-year maximum; some residential parks (BS 3632) are stricter. Also confirm the pitch dimensions – a 40 ft unit will not fit every pitch. If you’re moving because pitch fees have become unworkable, see Pitch Fees Rising? When to Move. If it’s a site closure forcing your hand, see Moving Your Static Caravan After a Site Closure.

Long-distance deliveries across the UK

Static Caravan Movers is based in Rye, East Sussex, but covers all of mainland UK. Long-distance moves – Scotland, Wales, the far South West – are part of our regular work, not occasional exceptions, so they are priced accordingly. Our Long-Distance Static Caravan Transport guide explains how we manage multi-hundred-mile moves and what affects the price. The national network of transport and siting teams means you get a competitive rate whether you’re moving 50 miles or 500.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does a static caravan delivery take from booking to completion?

Most deliveries complete within one to three weeks of booking once ESDAL notifications are filed. Moves needing National Highways or police consent take a little longer. See How Long Does It Take to Move a Static Caravan? for a fuller breakdown.

Do I need to be present on delivery day?

It is strongly advisable. You’ll need to confirm the pitch position with the siting team, sign off on the levelling, and be ready to hand over the balance payment when the unit is loaded at origin. If the park warden needs to open barriers or approve positioning, coordinate that in advance.

Who disconnects and reconnects the gas, water and electricity?

This is entirely your responsibility to arrange. Gas disconnection and reconnection must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer; electrical work by a qualified electrician. Water is less regulated but still needs proper capping and reconnecting. Some parks will only allow their own approved contractors to do this work. Static Caravan Movers does not carry out certified utility connections and is not liable for them. Budget for this separately and book your tradespeople ahead of the move date.

What is included in siting – and what is not?

Siting covers: jacking the unit off the low loader, positioning on the pitch, levelling on stands or axle supports, and – for twin-unit homes – rejoining and resealing both halves to make the unit weathertight. On request we can refit skirting and steps. Siting does not include utility connections, internal fitting out, or any groundwork to the pitch itself (concrete strips, hardcore base, etc.), which is usually handled by the park or a groundworker before we arrive.

Does the caravan need to come off its pitch before delivery day?

If you’re moving an existing caravan from one park to another, yes – it needs to be de-sited (lifted from its stands and loaded) at the origin first. That is part of the job we quote for. If you’re taking delivery of a brand-new or trade unit that is already on a lorry or storage yard, the collection part is straightforward. Either way, make sure utilities are already disconnected and signed off before we arrive – we cannot load a caravan that is still connected to live services.

What happens if the lorry cannot reach the pitch?

Where the low loader cannot reach the pitch directly, the caravan may be manoeuvred into place using a specialist site vehicle over short distances on private land. This is why we ask about access in detail at the quote stage – share photos or a site plan if you have them.

Is my caravan insured during transport?

Transport companies carry goods-in-transit insurance, but the extent varies. Check your own static caravan policy and ask your haulier about their cover before you book. Our guide Static Caravan Transport Insurance: What to Know explains what to look for.

Can I get a fixed price, or will the quote change?

Provided the details you give us are accurate, the price is fixed. The only things that can affect the final cost are significant changes discovered on the day – for example, skirting embedded rather than clip-on, or access that requires extra equipment. We discuss any variation with you before proceeding.

Static Caravan Delivery Guide: What to Expect