Hi guys, how much will a Van cost me per year all Van related bills included?

QrizB

Margret1994 said:

So Im on 9000 pounds a year is this simply not possible for me? 

It's not impossible once you've got the van, but the upfront cost might be a challenge. That's a "student life" budget, which is doable if you're in a house share (both my kids are).

There's an admin challenge as you'll need a physical address for things like registration, insurance and other correspondence. Most of the "van lifers" have parents (or children) who provide this service for them, plus giving somewhere they can fall back to if the van needs major work. Do you have a friend or relative (prefereably in the same Local Authority area) who could do this for you - receive your mail and act as your home base?

You were hoping to rent a flat, did that fall through?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6632560/about-to-rent-a-flat-how-does-it-work-with-housing-benefit

paul_c123

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1419758729082926

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1264296582144305

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1343807047336878

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1935891313654508

Loads more if you keep browsing. Avoid VWs, they'll be too small for more than a few nights and you'll pay "scene tax". No idea about this "Van Life-ing" crap but I am sure there are better places than this forum to find out more info and its out there.

QrizB

Margret1994 said:

sheramber said:

Add on MOT annually and maintenance for an old van.
Do your disabilities allow you to cope with living in a van? 

I have panic paranoia OCD bouts of severe depression etc getting away from people esp rough people would be a godsend. Im not going to drive much more of a secret mobile home an upgrade from my tent and I cant share, because of mental health and abuse, so theres no other option its either get lucky with a studio flat a van or a tent can u see another option for me?

Housing questions would be better on the "benefits" board. You'll get better advice over there than you will on Motoring.

If things are desperate, you can buy a van for less less than we've suggested - under £3k - but it's going to be older and more knackered.

born_again

QrizB said:

I've been looking at used vans recently (everyone needs a hobby).

You can pick up a reasonable ex-fleet (OpenReach or a utility company) 10-year-old van with 100k on the clock for about £5-6k.

Something a bit like this:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/van-details/202509226515711

The advantage of a workshop van is that they usually come with a fitted diesel heater and other little bonuses. The disadvantage is that you need to get rid of half the racking to make space to sleep.

Insurance should be something like £600 a year but make sure you pick an insurer that's okay with you living in it.

Fuel costs will depend on a lot of things but beat in mind that you're not just buying fuel to travel, you're also looking at fuel (possibly a different fuel) for heat/light/power. In cold weather you could burn them litres of diesel a day just on heating, for example.

Don't fall for all the "van life" propaganda, living in a vehicle in bad weather can be miserable.

Here's a suggestion from someone I (kinda) know who's been there and done it: mark out an area in your kitchen, including the sink and stove, that's 4x2 metres (the floor area of a larger van). Move your bed into that space. Try living in it for a week.

There are many that have done exactly what the OP is asking.
Costed out what their spends are over a year.

Baldytyke88

Margret1994 said:

I have panic paranoia OCD bouts of severe depression etc getting away from people esp rough people would be a godsend. Im not going to drive much more of a secret mobile home an upgrade from my tent and I cant share, because of mental health and abuse, so theres no other option its either get lucky with a studio flat a van or a tent can u see another option for me?

A smaller car type van would be cheaper.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/286859482856?itmmeta=01K7C1XJFW66QNG6X2WD5YQDV1&hash=item42ca2856e8:g:i9kAAeSwT25o2TJQ&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAAA4MHg7L1Zz0LA5DYYmRTS30ljxQVeCGaLZSbWHa1XzV9LOhFE1QMEAv7+8YbpZbwODCIy0kSsWfN0BUmbKRHNL2+063oBUvWihGouOx+Ke4zjQKJvtVDuFKaC9/lGVXiddzHC0NM1deyWplCPM9tYqkK/ZH9YdP/zRk7BPzxS4/Dh1GfBsUoNqPW10o4KGetDnXYjaySKeOA6YYD2C0djcprnh6IcwIGqLaqg5gQKtQ3PdZ1AyucHdK6cjjGz9/PWxV5FDglBj1qJoR7TjRhm1aePUmTyg+LqGXaz8hwtbMMo|tkp:Bk9SR4Ko9oG7Zg

But you should seek help from your local councillor if you are that desparate, a van may not be ideal.

sheramber

paul_c123 said:

Can you get housing benefit for a van?

No, you are not renting.

Mildly_Miffed

Margret1994 said:

sheramber said:

Add on MOT annually and maintenance for an old van.

Do your disabilities allow you to cope with living in a van? 

I have panic paranoia OCD bouts of severe depression etc getting away from people esp rough people would be a godsend. Im not going to drive much more of a secret mobile home an upgrade from my tent and I cant share, because of mental health and abuse, so theres no other option its either get lucky with a studio flat a van or a tent can u see another option for me?

Honestly, this has the scope to make things far worse, not better.

If there's one thing that's almost guaranteed to make depression worse, it's trying to exist in a small van on a cold and miserable wet and windy February afternoon...

Where are you planning on parking the van that will be invisible to "rough people", and won't get people trying to move you on in short order?
A van, presumably, without windows if you want to make it a "secret mobile home" - that won't help paranoia much, either. Every noise outside will have your thoughts scurrying.

Where are you planning on getting water from for basic hygiene?
Where are you planning on disposing of your used water to? Just dump it in the gutter?
How about emptying the toilet cassette? Will you even have space for a toilet in a van "the size of a parking space"? That's not a large van. It's the smaller end of medium-sized van.

Herzlos

Margret1994 said:

sheramber said:

Add on MOT annually and maintenance for an old van.

Do your disabilities allow you to cope with living in a van? 

I have panic paranoia OCD bouts of severe depression etc getting away from people esp rough people would be a godsend. Im not going to drive much more of a secret mobile home an upgrade from my tent and I cant share, because of mental health and abuse, so theres no other option its either get lucky with a studio flat a van or a tent can u see another option for me?

For what you'll spend on getting and maintaining a van you may be much more cost effective and comfortable with budget hotels. That way you'll have space, power, water heat and TV. 

I guess compared to a tent it's going to be nicer, but whilst it's a lovely idea somewhere like California it's going to miserable in the UK. 

If you really do want to go down the van route, then you'll need to find one big enough to lay down in which puts you into (at a push a Vauxhall Combo XL) or transit van sized ones. 
Though there are a lot of already converted vans for sale which takes a lot of the hassle out.