Having a campervan checklist before you set off on your first van adventure is both sensible and can avoid a lot of discomfort later on. Whether you’re planning for winter van survival or summer travels, consider the climate and road conditions when finalising your essential van packing list. The key is striking the perfect balance between minimalism and preparedness.
We’ve complied 7 categories of must-have items and considerations. Ensure you’ve checked off these camper van essentials from each group for a comfortable and well-prepared journey.
– Insurance documents – ensure your vehicle has proper van life insurance coverage and breakdown cover. Keep both physical and digital copies of your insurance accessible. You might like to add personal belongings insurance for your most expensive items.
If you’re travelling outside of the UK, make sure you have appropriate van insurance for the countries you’re travelling to, and international breakdown cover.
“We only realised late into our travels that we needed different insurance for Montenegro, Albania and other Balkan countries and ended up paying a premium. With the Schengen zone so accessible, it’s easy to forget about the countries it doesn’t cover.”
Also, consider travel insurance if you are leaving the UK, visit gov.uk’s driving abroad insurance guide for international coverage requirements.
– MOT & Road tax – don’t let either of these lapse and remember that getting these services for a van can take longer than a car as not all garages will be able to offer the services. It’s always better to plan ahead, especially if you plan to be on the road around the time that cover is due to elapse.
Check your vehicle age and category for MOT exemptions if applicable. You can check your vehicle’s MOT status on the official MOT check service.
Verify the road tax category based on the van emissions and weight.
– First Aid Kit – pack essential first aid items, including bandages, antiseptic wipes and pain relief medication. It’s a good idea to write down some emergency contact numbers and details, as when you are in a panic it can be hard to easily recall these details. Ensure the first aid kit is waterproof and clearly labelled.
This is great to have prepared as it’s a legal requirement for travelling to Europe.
– Warning Triangle & Hi Vis Vest – these are very inexpensive items and can be really handy in the dark and in emergency situations. Again, these are compulsory in mainland Europe and for good reason.
– Small Fire Extinguisher – mount the fire extinguisher near the cooking area for easy reach. You should also test the extinguisher to ensure you know how to use it and it’s in working order.
–Working Torches – for safety have a strong working torch to hand,
“don’t reply on phone torches, they won’t be strong enough if you find yourself broken down and in trouble, needing to do some night fixes or navigate around country roads on foot.”
Navigation & Connectivity Van Checklist items
– Paper Road map or pre-downloaded online maps– yes, we all rely on our phones and sat-navs now but having a downloaded or hard copy can we really helpful.
“Unfortunately, as seasoned UK van lifers will know all too well, our 4G and 5G networks leave a little to be desired, especially in remote areas.”
-Phone mount – get a handsfree mount for your phone. It’s safer and the UK is increasingly investing in smart cameras to stop people using their phones while driving. It’s just worth it.
– Phone Signal Booster – is essential for remote Scottish Highlands and Welsh valleys. You should position the antenna high inside the van for better range and test it before long trips to ensure it covers UK frequencies.
Comfort & Bedding Essentials
– Appropriate Bedding – If you’re opting for a duvet, you will likely want a high TOG count all year even summer nights can get cold. I would suggest a TOG 12. You can opt for down or synthetic, down is great but more work if it gets wet so we personally opted for a sustainable synthetic choice.
I would also have sleeping bags on hand for very cold winter nights as these are specially designed for cold temperatures. You can get a double sleeping bag for added comfort if travelling as a couple.
-Warm Blankets- An essential! Wool is the ultimate sustainable material for this, but there are many cheaper, synthetic options that can feel much softer.
– Hot water bottle – inexpensive and so useful for colder nights! We also used these to quickly warm up after hikes
– Blackout Curtains & Window Covers – use insulating materials for added warmth.
“In our van, we used left over moisture preventing insulation with felt and suction cups to make these but there are great, affordable options to buy online.”
 Magnetic stick strips are also a great option. Dual-sided covers – reflective for summer and black for winter, are useful.
Kitchen & Food Storage campervan checklist
– Collapsible Cookware – silicone nesting bowls and measuring cups are good for space savers. Include a heat-resistant mat for placing hot items on.
– 12V Portable Fridge – if you need an additional cooler or fridge space chose a 12-volt cooler. For your camper fridge choose a compressor fridge for better efficiency and keep ventilation space around the fridge for airflow. Check the energy consumption rating, as you don’t want this appliance sucking any more energy than needed.
– Water Storage Containers & Filter – Think about how you plan to use your water and drinking water while you travel. We filled up potable drinking water and purified our storage tank to keep it safe, but many people will have an extra filter to give them flexibility filling up. If you are planning to use a filter, be sure to pack extra cartridges.
Tools & Maintenance
– Basic Toolkit – can include spanners, piers and a multitool. Pack spare hose clips and jubilee clips which can be helpful with plumbing repairs. Tape, glue and extra screws will also always come in handy.
– Jump Starter Pack – Be sure to have an appropriate pair to hand! Store in a dry place. You should also learn how to jump start your campervan safety.
Personal Care & Hygiene
– Quick-dry kitchen microfiber clothes – These come in useful for pretty much everything and their quick drying is so useful; we use them for cleaning, drying dishes, mopping up spills and pretty much everything else…they can be washed and reused whenever they get dirty.
– Eco-friendly toiletries – look for eco-friendly soaps and shampoos and go for solid forms of soap and shampoos to reduce plastic waste. These can be kept in small waterproof pouch bags.
-Eco-friendly wet wipes – having wet wipes on hand is so useful during your travels. These can be used for cleaning, personal hygiene and extra convenience when there are longer breaks between showers!
-Toilet Paper – No matter what your waste plan is, plenty of toilet paper is essential. This can be used as tissues as well.Â
– Travel Loo or Composting toilet – can be essential if you don’t have an inbuilt campervan toilet, and can use sawdust for composting. Regularly empty in approved waste disposal sites.
– Portable Shower (Solar Bag) – even if you have an indoor camper shower an additional solar bag shower can be useful for rinsing off from ocean swims. Also, for any reason you can’t use your indoor camper shower, you can still take a quick shower. To explore other outdoor shower solutions see our campervan outdoor shower guide.
Sustainability & Outdoor Gear
-Reusable Bags – choose bags made from recycled materials and a few different sizes.
-Thermos flasks – for hot teas on route! this is such a luxury, it’s almost a must have!
-Outdoor Chairs – If you like to sit outdoors while you eat, consider extra chairs that can quickly fold up and down. We use these all the time when there is a lovely sunset but our van isn’t pointed towards it. Or when we want to keep the van cosy and warm, and just have a cup of tea outside in the elements before we snug in for the night.
-Eco-friendly Laundry Soap – look for cold water formulas and opt for sheets or pods to reduce bulk Good options for eco-friendly soap is labco.Â
-Waterproof gear – UK weather conditions can be really changeable, cold and windy, so choose good quality Gore-Tex or similar breathable waterproof materials.
Also, gaiters for muddy UK conditions can easily keep you pants dry and clean. Check the Met Office for weather updates.
-Hiking boots or wellies – no matter where you are, these will come in handy, even in summer.
-A door mat – or somewhere to put muddy shoes that can get wet when you come in from a muddy walk. If you’re likely to be coming into the van with wet rain jackets from time to time, think about where you will hang them, and where they can drip dry. We set up a drying rack in our can shower for this.
-Collapsible Fire Pit – If you’re in an area where open fires are allowed, fold up fire pits are great! Often campsites charge for firepits so having your own means you can create a lovely evening for a fraction of the costs. It’s also much nicer for the environment (and safer) than open fires. If you’re off grid, you can get firepits with BBQ grills for a really outdoorsy dinner as well!
Happy travels! Last words of advice,
It’s best to do a shorter trip or two, before any longer-term trips to ensure that you’ve packed for your personal needs. Breaking down any checklist into item areas will help ensure that you have the most important items for your van journey.
For more inspirate check out our interview with experienced van lifers who’ve quit the UK rate race and embraced the freedom of van life.
Dani does vanlife in her bright yellow Peugeot boxer called “Sunny”.  Based in Bristol, UK, with her partner she DIY the complete van conversion of Sunny and then tripped around Europe. She now does vanlife around the UK. Outside van life adventures and trip planning, she works as a project developer in renewable energy. See Dani’s full vanbandits profile.
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