Campervan conversions: how to convert your van into a camper
If you’re in the market for a second-hand van and want to turn it into a mobile home on wheels, what does a campervan conversion consist of?
The Cazoo editorial team
Published on 21 November 2025 | 1 min read
If you’re the sort of person who enjoys going on family camping trips, a campervan is a great form of accommodation.
Campervans provide you with your own mobile home on wheels, and there are many car manufacturers that sell just the thing.
However, many ready-made campervans will cost you a lot of money, with prices ranging from as much as £20,000 to more than £100,000, depending on the make, model and size of the van.
So, if you want a slice of this family-fun motoring, why not convert a second-hand van yourself? Before you do this, there are many factors to take into consideration such as, setting yourself a budget, what van best suits your lifestyle? And…what does a campervan conversion consist of?
With that in mind, we’ve compiled together a guide on how to convert a van into a campervan for the right price.
Choose a van
The first thing you need to know is what van do you want? There are thousands of second-hand examples out there that will make for a great campervan.
If you’re thinking about converting a camper for just two people, then a smaller van such as a Ford Transit is a smart choice, as it’s the perfect size to fit everything you need into it, plus second-hand values are more than affordable.
Another strong contender would be the Volkswagen Transporter with plenty of used examples available on the second-hand market, while prices are affordable and Volkswagen already sells lots of accessories with it for camping use.
If you have a family and travel frequently, then there are larger vans that are up to the job, such as the Mercedes Sprinter and Volkswagen Crafter.
Every model of van mentioned here can be found on Cazoo for as little as £5,000, with some even cheaper, depending on condition, mileage and specification.
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Set yourself a budget
Always set yourself a budget, and never overspend. With lots of ready-made campers costing as much as £100,000 when new, it’s important to keep your budget realistic otherwise costs can spiral out of control.
If you have a limited budget, you have to remember that a campervan conversion is not going to be cheap, with even the most basic transformations costing from around £10,000.
If you choose to convert a larger van, then take into consideration the extra welding, metal and materials used to turn it into a mobile home. In this instance, always make sure you plan and work out how much everything is going to cost if you decide to go ahead with the conversion.
Nevertheless, once the van has been converted, you are certainly never going to lose money as second-hand prices of campervans are currently sitting at around £20,000 to £30,000.
Contact the DVLA to tell them about the conversion
It’s vital that as soon as you go ahead with your campervan conversion that you tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
This is because your van will no longer be classed as a ‘van’, and will be registered as a ‘Motor Caravan’.
Make sure that you get hold of the van’s V5C logbook and fill in the first blue section of the form, which is the ‘change vehicle details’ and send it off to the DVLA. You’ll also have to send pictures to the DVLA for it to approve the conversion, too.
If you fail to tell the DVLA about the conversion, it could affect the vehicle’s road tax, insurance and legal compliance.
Plan what you want fitted to your campervan
If you’re planning on making your campervan from scratch, make sure you think of everything you want that fits your lifestyle.
It’s important that you cover the bear essentials such as, how many beds will you need? If you will be travelling to campsites, why not install a shower and toilet? Plus, will you be using your campervan as a mobile restaurant with a kitchen?
A nice modern touch to any campervan is to have solar panels installed on the roof, as these are a great solution if you’re not near any electrical connections.
Ventilation
When it comes to designing your campervan from scratch, start with ventilation. If you buy a panel van, you’ll need to fit glass windows all around to help improve visibility and add light to the cabin. There are loads of pre-made layout guides online if you need some assistance on where to fit the windows for your van.
To help keep air flowing through the vehicle, installing a ventilation system will be very useful, plus it will help remove water vapour if you decide to install a shower or bath. But, if you do that, make sure that you install a fully comprehensive ventilation system to allow any moisture to escape properly; otherwise, this is where mould and bacteria can build within the vehicle.
Power and gas
If you’re fitting a kitchen with a gas hob, we'd always recommend speaking to a professional with experience in this field.
Installing electrics and gas can be a complex and dangerous process. If you’re confident in how to fit them, then it’s recommended that once completed, you have a trained electrician give it a thorough check to make sure everything is working as it should and that there are no risks of fire from poor connections.
Insulation
Many vans have limited sound insulation as their purpose is to haul lots of cargo around without carrying passengers.
With campervans though, you will be transporting people around, and it’s advised that you make your campervan as soundproof as possible.
Make sure you fit proper insulation, such as foam boards, as these are a great solution in trapping sound and making the van a lot more peaceful. Also, by adding features such as a wooden floor, rubber mats and a vapour barrier, it will prevent moisture from damaging any delicate materials used within the van itself.
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Furniture
All campervans need a good set of furniture, as it makes it more homely. Make sure that you measure up your van to see what size beds will fit in the space and how many beds you’ll need. Some vans have enough space to install drawers and cupboards, to allow saucepans and cutlery to fit neatly within the vehicle.
If you’re not confident in creating your own wooden cabinets and bedding, then there are plenty of pre-made units that can be installed from the comfort of your own home.
Water storage
Don’t forget about water storage, as if you plan to have a sink, shower or bath, the water will need to come from somewhere.
Look into installing larger water tanks if you plan to have a shower or bath in your campervan, as these will consume a lot more water. If you don’t and just have a single tap, then a smaller tank will work just fine.
Then, there is the option of external portable and internal tanks. Internal tanks are more common as they can be fitted underneath the van via 12-volt pumps.
For water waste, then an external tank is also a good option, because if there is a blockage within the system in the van, it’s easy to gain access to.
The benefits of building your own campervan
If you decide to convert your second-hand van into a camper, there are loads of benefits.
The first one is cost, as it will be a lot cheaper to build your own than to buy a ready-made example from the factory. Also, once you’ve registered the vehicle as a ‘Motor Caravan’, it will retain strong residual values as campervans are very desirable products.
You’ll also be able to design and spec the van exactly how you would like it with your own materials, furnishings, insulation, features and budget. If you choose a ready-made motorhome, everything has been done for you and it doesn’t feel as special as having your personal example.
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