What kind of van do you want? This is partly influenced by your budget, but you may have a favorite brand (volkswagen, mercedes, ford). The prices of (second-hand) cars depend on the brand, but also on the mileage, year of manufacture and horsepower. Be aware of very high mileage cars as they may need some work done before they are safe to drive. If you buy a van with a lower mileage and a more recent year of manufacture, you may be able to sell it for a nice price. In addition, think about which options you definitely want to have in your van and what would be a nice extra. Examples are airbags (only for you or also for passengers), air conditioning, cruise control, bluetooth, parking sensors, window heating, seat heating, etc.

It is also important to look up the rules in the places you want to visit. If you mainly want to visit cities, they might have Eurozones. It is also good to think about what kind of diesel the car uses.

Another point you’ll want to think about is your priorities and expectations of your perfect tiny home. Do you want to be able to stand completely or is it fine with a lower roof? Do you want a fixed bed with lots of storage space or is a larger dining area more important to you? Look up the dimensions of different brands. Some vans are wider, which could mean that you can sleep in width and that way you also gain a few centimeters extra for a kitchen or sofa. Think about what is crucial to you and what would be deal breakers.

It’s a good idea to lay out what you want in your van and how much space each component takes up. This way you know approximately how big your van should be. However, remember that the bigger the van, the more stressful it can become later when you travel, for example when it comes to finding parking. Plus, I’ve heard stories of police in some countries looking specifically for white sprinters, as they’re known as campers. However, as long as you park neatly on camper spots, I wouldn’t think too much about this.

Good websites that can help you find your perfect van are: autotrack, autowereld, car dealers, and marktplaats.