If you're looking to purchase a used van, these are 12 things that you should check when buying a used van.

After hours of researching vanlife and watching other van lifers videos on YouTube or Instagram, doing their camper van conversions, you have decided to build your campervan, but first, you need to find the perfect van for your budget.

Read this article to learn about the 15 things to consider to find the best van for van life.

Once you narrow down your search to a few van models, you are ready to purchase a used van.

Unlike buying a brand new van with a warranty, buying more budget-friendly used vans is entirely different.

A used van might have driven thousands of miles, might not have full-service history, and may have had many multiple owners.

Read our list below to learn what to look at during the vehicle purchase process.

#1 The Bodywork

The vans bodywork is the most crucial part of the van, and rust is its biggest enemy. Finding rust can be difficult sometimes, but there are signs to indicate where there is rust. An example of this could be burble under the paintwork, which signifies that rust is underneath the paintwork and most likely very deep into the metal, which may need fixing.

Van chassis

If you can, look under the van to check for signs of rust; if you find that there is fresh paint on the chassis, you should inquire more because it may be a coverup to hide the rust. Ask why it has paint on it and when it was done, as for invoice of the work and photo before and after.

Van Roof

The van's roof is also a commonplace where rust mainly is found. It is also often overlooked when buying a van because the height from ground level makes it hard to see unless a ladder is used.

Van doors

Make sure to check all doors and the door frame for rust spots.

Wheel arches

Another good place to look is the wheel arch; because it is mostly in contact with water and salt from the road, rust is more common.

Van floor

Another place to check for rust is on the floor of the van, the plywood flooring would mostly cover this, but you can see if there are signs of rust by looking under the van. The most significant cause of rust to the van floor is holes caused by screwing the plywood floor panels to the van floor.

#2 The Suspension

The suspension is another essential component in a van. A general test is if the van bounces up and down when you press on it. It is a good sign if it smoothly bounces back into position. If you can, look under the van to see if the suspension system has any signs of damage. There are a few things to look for to determine if a van has a bad suspension. Depending on the van's suspension system, you can check how good it is from the following:

Leaf suspension:

With the van empty, does the leaf suspension look flat or curved? If the leaf suspension is flat, then it is time to have it changed. This happens when the van is overloaded for very long periods; eventually, the leaf suspension will fail. Sometimes it is hard to see if it has failed until removed, but if it looks flat, then it's a good sign it has failed.

Bump stop

When the leaf suspension has failed, the van would be on its bump stop; this is in the form of hard rubber that also helps indicate the van is loaded. It can also be used to see if the suspension has failed; if the van is on the bump stop when empty, it is clear that the suspension has failed.

Shock absorbers

The shock absorbers are a vital component of the suspension system and need to be in good working order; if there are any signs of oil on the shock absorber, then that is a clear sign that it has failed and would need to be replaced.

Air Suspension assist

The air suspension assist works in conjunction with the leaf spring and also acts as a bump stop. It also helps improve the ride quality of the van. If there are any signs of crack or wear in the rubber wall, then it needs to be replaced.

#3 Electricals

Diagnosing the vans electrical health is also a complicated process. It can be daunting, but there is a simple way to see any problem with the electricals.

When the van is running, dimly lit headlights are a clear sign that there is a problem in the van.

Either the van's battery is not getting recharged by the alternator, or there could be other underlying problems with the electrical system, from faulty ground terminals to faulty wires.

This would be hard to diagnose without going through the whole electrical system of the van, so the best thing to do in this situation is to think twice about purchasing this van.

#4 Tires

Tires are an essential part of the van because the tire is the only point of contact between the vehicle and the road. Therefore, your tires must be in good condition.

Check for uneven wear

Make sure to check the front and rear treads for uneven wear. This can indicate if there are steering, tracking, and or suspension issues.

The tire's sidewalls should be free from bulge and damage as that is the leading cause of blowouts while driving. This happens when the vehicle is in motion, the tires get hot, the air inside expands, and the weakened sidewall would be the weakest point on the tire wall.

It's good practice to make sure that the tread depth of the tire does not go below 3mm because the lower the tread depth, the longer the stopping distance, which can be the difference between an accident or a near miss.

If your vehicle has bad tires, it doesn't have to be a deal-breaker. You use this to try and negotiate free new tires, or at least for a discounted price.

#5 Take the van on a test drive

Test driving is essential when buying used vans. You might end up with engine problems or a transmission that slips. The last thing you want is to be stuck on the side of the road in your new van. Test drive and get a feel for how the van handles and if there are any issues with it. If possible, take it on highways and city streets to see how it does in different conditions. Beware of warning lights, white smoke, and any weird smells or sounds coming from the engine. If the van has cruise control and air conditioning, test if it works properly.

#6 Brakes

The brakes are the only thing that will help slow the van down to a stop, so checking the brakes before purchase is highly recommended. However, it's harder to remove each brake on the van to check because a specific set of tools are required, and it would take a few hours. An easier way to check the condition of the brakes without removing them is to find a long straight road to perform the brake test to get the feel of the brakes, and if there is any grinding or squealing noise, this will indicate very worn brakes. Additionally, make sure the brake lights work.

#7 Check for leaks and smells

Check if there are any leaks, especially oil or transmission fluid leaks. Additionally, check if any weird smells are coming from the vents. These are a bad sign and can indicate that there might be an issue with the van.

Open all the doors to see if they open smoothly. If you find something that is not in order, make sure you get a fair price.

#8 Steering

The steering wheel should have no play in it and should be responsive. If this is not the case, then this might be bad news as this could be an underline problem with the steering wheel.

#9 Interior

When buying a used cargo van, it's best to inspect the cab area for signs of wear and tear. If the van has very low mileage, but the interior is badly worn, then it's a sign that the mileage has been tampered with. You can also tell if the mileage of the van has been tampered with by how worn the gear knob and the steering wheel are, as it is one of the most used parts inside the van. Since van lifers spend so much time in their van conversions, a clean cargo area gets huge bonus points, you don't want to live in a van that has a smell you can't get rid of.

#10 Ask about the service history

Cargo vans are commercial vehicles, and not every business values keeping their vans in good condition. Ask the current owner about the history of the van, and if they maintained the van with frequent oil changes. There might even be a log book from the previous owner.

#11 Check the Vehicle Identification Number

Before going ahead and buying a used van, you have to run the VIN number to see the history of the van, this will tell you how many previous owners the van had and whether the van was involved in accidents. This may indicate how likely it is that the van has some hidden issues. In some countries, checking the vehicle identification number is needed to determine if there are any loans still outstanding on the vehicle.

#12 Get a Second Opinion

When buying a used van, it is always a good practice to take a friend who knows about vans, or you can take the van to a professional mechanic to have the pre-purchase inspection. Most breakdown companies also offer the pre-purchase inspection also because it is mostly in their interest that you purchase used vehicles that are in good condition, which would result in a lower likelihood of calling them out on a breakdown.

Not sure where to start?

Learn more about how to find the right van for you with our 15 Things To Consider To Find The Best Van For Van Life.

Want to compare vans without leaving your home? Use vanspace 3D, to compare different vans and layouts.

Visualize what your converted van will look like before buying it so that you'll be sure to purchase a van that is perfect for you!

✅ 12 Things to Check Before Buying a Used Van: How to Avoid Major Problems