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Planning

Laying the Groundwork for Your Van Life Dream

Build stage

1 of 10

Time

30 - 60hrs

A well-planned van conversion is a successful van conversion. In this section, we'll highlight the important planning processes that you should square away leading up to the purchase of your van and the start of your build. Taking the time to lay this groundwork will give you a rock-solid starting point and avoid nasty surprises further down the line.


Legal and Insurance Requirements

Camper van insurance isn’t just an optional extra: normal car or van policies usually don’t cover fixed furniture, pop-tops, gas lines, or heating systems. A dedicated motorhome policy, however, protects both the vehicle and everything you’ve added to it, including unique benefits like overseas cover and contents insurance.


Special Considerations for DIY Conversions

It’s crucial to research insurance requirements before committing to a layout or build. Laws and insurer regulations vary by country (and by state in the US), so if your vehicle can’t be registered as a camper, you won’t be able to insure it as one. Our founder Shane learned this the hard way: he blocked off cab access with a kitchen installation and only later discovered bodily access was a requirement for a campervan policy in Ireland. Planning ahead avoids expensive fixes or bespoke insurance plans.



Types of Coverage

  • Third party / Liability: Legally required at a minimum, covers other people’s property if you’re at fault.

  • Collision: Pays for damage to your own camper, regardless of fault.

  • Comprehensive: Covers collisions, fire, theft, and more—often with optional add-ons.

  • Personal effects: Protects valuables in your van, such as electronics or sports equipment.

  • Emergency expenses: Helps with unexpected costs like accommodation if your van’s unusable on the road.

  • European/International cover: Extends benefits abroad.

  • Agreed value: Lets you and the insurer fix a camper’s value, factoring in all those costly modifications.


Factors Affecting Insurance Costs

Several key factors affect insurance costs—vehicle age and type, usage frequency, driving record, storage conditions, and security measures—while self-builds with pricier or riskier components often command higher premiums. When choosing a policy, compare reviews on sites like Trustpilot, Clearsurance (US), and Which? (UK), and seek personal recommendations from social media and forums.


Recommended Providers

  • US: Roamly (campervan-focused), Progressive, Foremost, Good Sam, National General

  • UK: Adrian Flux, Caravan Guard, NFU Mutual, Comfort Insurance, Principal Insurance



To read more about why we recommend these providers and get access to exclusive discounts, check out our full article on van conversion insurance. In that article, we also go over tips for lowering the cost of your DIY van conversion insurance policy, temporary and seasonal insurance, and many more tips.


Ultimately, insurance research is best done early in your build to avoid costly surprises. With the growing vanlife scene, more specialized policies are popping up all the time—so explore what’s out there, and find the coverage that fits you and your dream van best.


Take a look at the full article on van conversion insurance here.


Budgeting Your Van Conversion and Choosing the Right Base Van

Project Management and Planning Your Van Conversion

Designing the Layout for Your Van Conversion


Having checked these items off, you should now have a very strong foundation from which to start your van conversion into camper project. You should have a base van ready, and know about the legal and insurance requirements for the van conversion process. You might already have an insurer picked out. You should have an idea of your van conversion cost, detailed in a project management dashboard along with a supplies list, initial to-do list, and timeline. Finally, you should have finalised your interior layout.


With all of this ready to go, we can start on the first stage of the build: shaping your van's exterior metalwork.

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