Budget

By this stage you should have some idea of your budget for the whole build.
If you are planning to buy all the materials, appliances and furniture new, then it’s possible to get an idea of what it will cost you to convert the van by requesting price lists with the catalogues you requested from suppliers during your planning stage.

However if you are planning to buy things a bit at a time, as and when they’re needed, then it can be much more difficult to get an accurate idea of what the build will cost you. Look on internet auction sites and local ads to get as much information as you can about the cost of the items you think you’ll be including in your build.

Another option is to buy a used caravan to strip out and use as a ‘donor’ for your build. Older caravans can be had for under £250 whilst modern ‘crash damaged’ caravans start at around £1500.

Do allow for the cost of fixings, adhesives, catches, hinges and other sundry items which can take a sizable lump out of an otherwise carefully planned budget!
Whatever method you choose, once you have an idea of what your conversion costs are, you will be able to set a budget for acquiring your van.

Of course one of the great things about self-build is that you can turn the whole thing on its head, by buying the van first then seeing what’s left in the budget for the build!

DVLA requirements for a van to be classified as a ‘Motor caravan’