If you have been thinking about moving to another country and also love the idea of living the van life, then there are a couple of challenges that wait for you. The basics are quite easy, you just drive your van to your destination country and you already have a place to live. But as usual, if you are moving for a longer time, not just to travel, things are not quite as simple and you will need to do some research. Moving abroad presents a number of challenges, and if you plan to live in a van, then those challenges multiply. And even if you are just making a travel trip abroad, these tips here will be useful.
To get an idea of the sorts of challenges van life brings, then it pays to know some of the less blogged about aspects of van life. But, another aspect that hardly ever gets mentioned is what the expenses are for those not just looking to travel to other countries, but to actually move there and live in a van. Van life might sound like it’s dirt cheap, you don’t have to pay rent right?
It is definitely doable and brings with it a whole host of benefits, but you do have to know what you are getting into. Sometimes the costs still pile up nicely.
With that in mind, this article will get you started on the research by offering some examples of the expenses you will likely encounter when moving abroad in your van.
Table of Contents
Insurance Matters
One thing that many people don’t really consider is that they will need insurance. If you go without insurance then you are walking on very thin ice. Not only is it going to be required by many countries, but it is also a good way to protect yourself.
You may have this idea of a freewheeling experience beholden to nobody, but insurance is very important. When living abroad, you’ll need an International Health Plan for starters. At least until you gain permanent residency, many countries require you to pay for your own insurance so if you get sick you won’t be a strain on their local health system. You haven’t been paying taxes in that country so it makes sense that you shouldn’t be taking out of it.
Then there is the matter of insuring your actual van. You need to protect yourself from accidents, but also theft. Since you are on the road a lot more than a regular person, you are increasing your chances of an accident and need to make sure you have the right coverage.
And you have a big target on your van as a perfect opportunity for a robber to get access to some good stuff to sell. You will definitely need to have your personal items in the van insured against theft. It also helps if your van is not really flashy and if you avoid problematic areas like big cities etc… Find out in advance what the danger of theft is in the area you are traveling or moving to.
Campgrounds fees, Gym membership etc..
Unless you are living the van life in a more outfitted RV, then you likely need to use a shower somewhere. And also do laundry and the washing up. Which means that you may be needing to stay at campgrounds at least occasionally. This is where you will be paying for the facilities like having access to showers, bathrooms and a laundromat. Washing in your sink can only get you so far so you will have to do laundry somewhere. Of course, in cities you can go to a laundromat, but a campground offers you a bit of everything you need as a van lifer all in one spot.
If you don’t want to sign up for a campground, then having a gym membership where you can wash yourself up and enjoy some spacious facilities is a must. It may not be that much per month, but it does add up and if you are on a budget then it pays to make sure that you have this as an expense before you head out to your new country.
Even with a fully equipped van or RV, sometimes parking, living, sleeping outside on the road/parking lot is not allowed. In this case you will have to either use and pay for a campground or risk paying the ticket. If you are traveling and moving around one ticket won’t kill you, but if you want to stay in the same place for a while it’s really annoying to be hiding all the time.
Campgrounds can also be really expensive. Camper van stops are usually much more affordable, but often they don’t allow you to stay there for a long time.
Internet and phone
One of the fun things about van life is the hunt for a free wifi signal. It is almost like a game to try to find the treasure at the end of a rainbow. However, this is not a good long term solution so you’ll have to pay for the internet and a phone at some point.
If you are making your living working online, then this is an essential expense. You need to make sure that you are spending enough for unlimited usage on both because what can happen is that you are not able to get wifi in a certain area and end up using your phone’s mobile internet for your computer. This can burn through your data very quickly and cost you a lot more than just going with a monthly plan.
You can also save a lot if you get a local sim card. Special prepaid data sim cards for tourists are getting quite common and are way less expensive that paying for roaming on your own plan.
Maintenance and Van costs
Your van is your home and your transportation. Which means that keeping it in tip top shape is essential. You will need to be doing repairs once in a while due to wear and tear but this can really add up if you are not doing routine maintenance. Make sure you have a spreadsheet with the periodic maintenance to make sure that you don’t run your van into the ground.
Things like changing the oil and lubricants is a big one. As well as changing the timing belt so your engine doesn’t seize.
Make sure that everything is perfect before you hit the road, fixing your car at home is much cheaper that staying on the road in the middle of the night in some foreign country. And, obviously, then there are gas and road toll costs that you also need to calculate into your budget.