Living in a van is an exciting idea to a lot of people, it’s a dream for adventurers! More people have been giving van dwelling a try recently; actively choosing to live on the road.
But what if the whole thing was illegal?
Some countries forbid living on the road, and other countries allow it.
So, where is it legal to live in a van? Read on to find out all about it!
The Rise of Van Life
When has van life become this appealing? The lifestyle is questionable for a lot of people; not having an address or a house that you belong to can be a weird idea.
Despite the difficulties they face, van dwellers would choose the traveling life over and over again. Why, though?
Given the sense of freedom it gives, it’s not strange why many people wish that it could be their full-time lifestyle. Travelers see it as a means to discover the world on a low budget; it gives them the freedom to be able to roam around without paying home bills and mortgages.
Furthermore, the vans provide them with the right of passage. For them, as long as your van is your home, any country can be yours.
Van life has overtaken camping and backpacking as one of the most widespread activities to explore the world.
The reason is easy to work out; you can live on the road while being completely self-sufficient. That kind of freedom is hard to stumble on! However, there’s still the chance that living in a van is frowned upon by the authorities.
Different Countries, Different Rules
Countries have different opinions regarding living in a van. A lot of countries, for example, provide areas for van dwellers to get rid of their waste safely.
On the other hand, some countries permit living in a van but forbid parking overnight, which naturally causes difficulty. There are also some countries where it’s completely illegal to live in a van.
Regarding van dwelling in the U.S, you’ll face no problems sleeping in the vehicle in the states’ streets. There are a lot of areas where parking is free and available overnight. There are also more van dwellers there than you think, it’s becoming a dream for the youth.
A lot of European countries like France, Portugal, Spain, and Italy, permit living in a van and offer free areas for it.
Europeans love living on the road where there are communities for van dwellers there. The United Kingdom also allows living in a van, as long as you pay road taxes.
Some European countries, on the other hand, make it difficult to live in a van. These countries include Greece, Austria, and Slovenia. Camping is completely illegal in these countries.
You’ll likely get a fine if you stay overnight in a vehicle. However, some of these countries have campsites available for a charge.
Van Life Is Not as Easy as You Think
Living in a van is not that easy; you don’t just buy a van and start traveling around with it. There are a lot of restrictions that come with van dwelling. They also differ from one city to another.
Let’s take a look at the two main challenges that’ll face you as a van dweller!
Address Issues
To get a driver’s license in the U.S, you need to have a home address. You also need it to be able to register for a vote and to get any benefits the government offers.
This bit can be tricky for van dwellers because, technically, the law permits them to live in their van, but it restricts them from living like a regular citizen.
No U.S law states that you need to have a physical address. However, you can’t practice some of your rights without it.
So while you should be living like a regular American, paying taxes, and having the right to vote, you’ll face difficulties trying to do these things without upsetting the law.
The government allows these rights for the homeless. They find ways to accommodate them by allowing them to use the address of a relative or a shelter.
However, they don’t consider van dwellers homeless, and so the same rights don’t apply to them.
Parking Areas
Parking is a major problem for people living in vans because let’s face it, your parking area is you home for the night!
It’s impossible to go living on the road with no place to park your vehicle and go to sleep, but why is parking an issue?
Parking overnight is illegal in many cities; there are plenty of laws that forbid it even in public areas. Among these areas are parks, highways, neighborhoods, government parking lots, under bridges, and in front of business buildings.
It’s quite a challenge to find a public place where you can stay the night. However, there are still some places that allow parking, you just need to do some research!
Furthermore, the fact that most parking lots are privately owned can be distressing for van dwellers. You’ll probably have a hard time finding a public parking lot, especially if you’re living in a small city.
Some public owners allow van dwellers to park, like Cabela’s and Walmart, but that’s quite rare.
To Sum Up
The van life is appealing to a lot of people. It’s an exciting idea to have a different view every day. However, studying the laws that apply to you is essential if you want to live comfortably.
There are some countries where you’ll not face any issues, but in the U.S, there are several challenges to consider.
Whether you like the adventurous lifestyle or you just want to live on a low budget, van life is a thrill that you should enjoy. Play by the rules, respect the people, and you’re free to go!