Do Your Due Diligence Before Purchasing a Van
Purchasing your van will likely be the biggest expense in your Vanlife journey. It is also one of the most important purchases you will make. You need to get this step right, which means finding the right type of van, the right price, the right mileage, and the right age. In this lesson, we will go in-depth on each of these factors to help you choose the perfect van for conversion and get the best bang for your buck.
Importance of Due Diligence
To truly understand the importance of this lesson, let's start with a personal story:
It is better to spend a bit more money upfront when buying a van that is in good condition rather than one of questionable quality. I spent €7000 on a 2012 Ford Transit with a fair bit of wear and tear and a lot of mileage on the clock. In the four years since, I have spent over €10,000 in maintenance. In contrast, I have three separate friends who bought 2014 vans around the same time I did; they each spent about €11,000 on the base vehicle but have spent practically nothing on repairs since.
On the flip side, I have a Glaswegian friend who spent a meager £3,000 on his van. Within a year, it was in such disrepair that he gave up on his vanlife dreams and ditched the van. The poor lad had a tough time of it…
So, save up a bit, buy a van for a higher price, and ultimately, it will save you money down the road.
Choosing the Right Van
The very first step of the van conversion is to choose the right vehicle for your build.
Check the Legal and Insurance Requirements First!
Before going ahead and buying your van, it is important that you check the legal & insurance requirements where you live.
For instance, some countries require a standing height of 6ft inside the van, some campervan insurance companies will not insure a converted school bus, and some regions won't tax your van if it weighs over 3.5 tonnes. So check your country's requirements before buying a van!
Ireland, the UK, Australia, and Canada have country-wide requirements, while the USA differs state-by-state.
So before doing anything, do these two things:
Look up the legal regulations/conversion standards for your country (a quick Google search should sort you out!)
Research the requirements of the campervan insurers in your area, ring them up if there is any doubt as to their requirements.
A Little Horror Story…
In Ireland, the campervan insurers require 'bodily access' between the cab and the back of the van. Well, naively, I had finished my van conversion without consulting a single insurer! During the build, I had installed the kitchen unit across the front of the van, blocking access to the cab. So, I was declined insurance by EVERY insurer... I ended up having to approach an insurance ombudsman to help me get insurance. I ended up paying nearly three times the price for my insurance! Learn from my mistakes, and do your research first.
In conclusion, due diligence is really important before you even consider buying a van. Skipping this step could cost you a LOT of money and time.