It’s time to enjoy the vanlife

Imagine cruising the highway in your holiday-home-on-wheels or parking in the open air and watching a beautiful sunset from the back of your van. Interested? Now could be the time to start the search for the perfect getaway vehicle.

Before you get ready to escape the everyday, there are a few decisions to be made and one of them is how you’ll pay for the vehicle you need.

If you don’t have enough savings, People’s Choice can help you with a great loan at a competitive rate, with no fees for additional repayments.

It's 100% member-owned and dedicated to helping Australians like you realise their dreams.

People’s Choice is the personal loan expert who wants to help you enjoy the #vanlife.

For anyone who wants more value and less fees, a Discounted Personal Loan (Car Loan) from People’s Choice is designed to get you on the road sooner.

The benefits, including no monthly account fees, a low rate for cars or caravans up to five years old, and a choice of weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments, really add up.

You can even redraw extra loan repayments you have made if you need some emergency funds. For example, if your campervan needs a new set of wheels or you want some extras for life on the road.

People’s Choice has a friendly team who can help you work out what is affordable for you.

It also has a calculator you can use to look at what your repayments might be so you can get a better idea of what you can afford.

Remember, how much you can borrow depends on a number of factors, including how much you earn, what your expenses are, and any assets you may have.

Do you want a Volkswagen Kombi Transporter or a Toyota Hiace? Perhaps a Ford Transit may be better for you?

Check out five campervans you can buy to get set up for the #vanlife.

Once you’ve decided on a campervan model, you’ll need to think about how much work you are willing to do to fit it out.

Vans for sale vary from having the bare essentials to being converted and finished to the highest quality, and are priced accordingly.

Once you’ve researched prices, talk to People’s Choice about the best option for you, or take the next step and apply for a loan. Filling out the application can take around 20 minutes, depending on a range of factors.

Ready to buy? Make sure you do a vehicle inspection before any money changes hands to help protect you from buying a lemon that’s bumped along too many rough roads.

In South Australia, contact the Royal Automobile Association; in the Northern Territory, the Automobile Association and, in Victoria, the Royal Automobile Club of Australia.

In other states and territories, contact your motoring association or a specialist mechanic.

It won’t be long before you’re sharing photos of your dream ride on Instagram. This platform is also a great place to look for ideas on how to customise your campervan.

Basic, non-negotiables include a bed, some kind of kitchen or food preparation and storage area and if you don’t have cupboards, plenty of solid, plastic bins that won’t move around when you are driving to stash everything from clothes to scuba or surf gear.

If you see yourself doing a lot of cooking, it might be a good idea to include a full kitchen with a water tank, counter, sink, fridge and stove. However, if you want a more budget-friendly solution, you can always use a portable gas camp stove for cooking outdoors and a bucket to wash up.

Stopping in a camping ground where there are showers and toilets may also be a better idea than trying to fit a bathroom in your campervan.

Excited about starting your adventure? Find out how long it takes to get a personal loan.

Remember also to make sure you have the right insurance cover for your campervan.

Campervan kit-out tips