How we test and rate motorhome & caravan sat navs

Last updated: 28 August 2026

Every rating on this site comes from the same process, so a 4.3 on one review means the same as a 4.3 on another. This page explains that process – what we test, how we score, and where our information comes from.

Hands-on use, not spec sheets

The devices we recommend are ones we have set up and used ourselves – the unboxing, mounting and on-road photographs in our reviews are our own, taken during testing. Where a review includes first-hand photography you will find it in the review's photo gallery. We treat the difference between what a manufacturer claims and what the device does on a real journey as the whole point of reviewing.

What we score

Vehicle-dimension routing – does the device actually plan around height, width, weight and length once a profile is set? This is the reason these devices exist, so it carries the most weight.
Campsite & overnight-stop data – which databases are on board (ACSI, CamperContact, club directories), how complete they are for UK and European touring, and whether you can judge a site's quality before arriving.
Navigation quality – clarity of guidance, lane assistance, rerouting behaviour.
Screen & everyday usability – readability at a glance, touch response, and whether the size suits the vehicle it is aimed at.
Updates – whether maps are free for the life of the device and how painlessly they install (built-in Wi-Fi versus plugging into a computer).
Value – what you give up against the cheaper alternatives, and whether the difference is worth paying for.

Specifications are verified, not copied

Specs quoted in our reviews are checked against the manufacturer's current listings, and we correct our pages when ranges change. Discontinued models are labelled as discontinued and kept online for reference – with a pointer to what we would buy today – rather than quietly deleted.

How the affiliate side works

When you buy through a link on this site we may earn a small commission from Amazon. That is how the site is funded. We earn the same small percentage whichever device you buy, and our scores are set before any link is added – our comparison table ranks the same way it would if no affiliate programme existed. The full disclosure is in our terms & affiliate disclosure.

Mistakes and corrections

If a claim on this site turns out to be wrong, we correct the page rather than remove the evidence. Product ranges, prices and software change quickly in this niche; the "last updated" date on each review reflects the most recent time its facts were checked.