Look closely before you buy that van.

• ☐Ask the seller for the VIN and a photo of the titleA seller who won’t share them is a warning sign.
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Read up on common problems for that year, model and engine
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Ask the seller not to start the engine before you arriveA cold start shows starting and smoke problems a warm engine can hide.
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Plan to view it in daylight, and in dry weather if you can
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Bring a flashlight, a magnet, gloves, a rag and something to lie on
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Bring someone with you, and tell someone where you’re going
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Decide your top price, and don’t carry a large amount of cash to a first viewing
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern

• ☐The title is in the seller’s name, and they have it with them
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Title status is clean, not salvage, rebuilt, flood or another brandAsk directly. A branded title affects insurance, value and resale.
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐No lien: no lender is listed on the title, or there’s a written plan to pay it off and release itAgree the payoff steps before any money changes hands.
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐The VIN on the title matches the dashboard plate and the door-pillar sticker
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Mileage on the title and service records lines up with the odometer
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Service records and receipts, including for the conversion parts
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Open safety recalls checked with the VINCheck recalls on NHTSA.gov ↗
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Registration is current, and you know any inspection or emissions test your state needs
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Ask whether it’s titled as a van or as a motorhome or RVThis can affect insurance, registration and where you can park.
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern

• ☐Rocker panels under the doors: no bubbling, holes or soft spots
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Wheel arches and the lip behind each wheel
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Bottoms of the cab doors, sliding door and rear doors, and their drain holes
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Roof seams, and the sealant around fans, vents, solar mounts and the roof rackLook for cracked, lifting or missing sealant. Leaks often start here.
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Added windows: even sealant and no rust at the cut edges
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Panel gaps, paint that doesn’t match, or fillerA magnet won’t stick well over thick body filler.
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Tires: even wear, enough tread, and their ageThe last four digits of the DOT code are the week and year the tire was made.
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Glass, mirrors and all the lights work and aren’t cracked
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern

• ☐Frame rails and crossmembers: surface rust only, no flaking, holes or fresh undercoat hiding rust
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐No fresh drips under the engine or transmissionBlack or brown is usually oil, green, orange or pink can be coolant, red can be transmission fluid.
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Exhaust: no holes, heavy rust or loose hangers
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Brake and fuel lines aren’t heavily rusted or crusty
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Shocks aren’t leaking, springs aren’t broken, and the back doesn’t sag
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Water and waste tanks and their pipes are solidly mounted, with no leaks
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern

• ☐Cold start: starts easily, warning lights go out, no heavy smoke
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Oil level and color look right; no milky residue under the oil cap
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Coolant level is right, with no oily film
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Belts and hoses: no cracks, bulges or leaks
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐No knocking, ticking or whining at idle
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Stored fault codes read with an OBD-II scanner, if you have oneMost US cars and light vans from 1996 on have the OBD-II port under the dashboard.
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Diesel: ask about the emissions parts (DPF, EGR, DEF) and any repairs to themSkip this if it runs on gas.
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern

• ☐Drive long enough for the engine to warm up fully, including highway speed
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Steering tracks straight, with no wander or clunks over bumps
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Brakes stop straight, with no grinding, squeal or pulsing pedal
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Gears change smoothly, no slipping, and reverse works
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Temperature gauge stays steady, and no warning lights come on
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Air conditioning and heat both work
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐After the drive, look underneath again for new drips and listen for new noises
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern

• ☐House battery type (lithium, AGM or flooded lead-acid) and age, with receipts if possible
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Batteries are strapped down, terminals are covered, and flooded lead-acid batteries are vented outside
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Fuse panel or breakers are labeled, with a fuse close to the battery on the main cables
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Wiring is tidy, clipped down and protected where it passes through metal
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Charging works: solar shows a charge, plus alternator and shore power if fitted
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Lights, fan, fridge, outlets and inverter all work with something plugged in
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Ask who did the electrical work, and whether there’s a wiring diagram
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern

Skip this group if the van has no propane.

• ☐Tank or cylinder dateIn the US, a portable DOT cylinder must be requalified within 12 years of the date stamped on it before it can be refilled.
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐The tank is secured, in a sealed locker vented to the outside or mounted outside
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Seller shows a leak test: soapy water on the joints with the gas on, and no bubblesNever use a flame to look for leaks.
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐A propane detector near the floor works and is within its replace-by date
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐A carbon monoxide alarm is fitted and within its replace-by date
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Stove, heater, water heater and fridge light and run properly on gas
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Ask who installed the gas system and whether it was ever inspected
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern

• ☐The pump builds pressure, then stays quiet with the taps closedA pump that keeps switching on by itself often means a leak.
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐No drips, damp wood or stains under the sink and along the pipes
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Fresh tank: size, clean inside, no smell, and you know how to fill and drain it
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Grey tank or container: size, no smell, and it drains fully
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Water heater and shower work, if fitted
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Ask whether the water system has ever frozen, and how it’s winterized
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern

• ☐No smell of mold, mildew or dampA strong air freshener can be covering one.
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐No water stains on the ceiling, walls, around windows and fans, or under the bed
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Walls and floor feel solid near the windows, doors and wheel arches
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Roof fan works and windows open; no signs of heavy condensation
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Ask what insulation was used and where
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Furniture is bolted to the van, and cabinets latch shut for driving
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐A seat with a seatbelt for everyone who’ll ride, and added seats fitted properly
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern

• ☐Why are you selling?
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐How long have you owned it, and how was it used?
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Who did the build, and when? Are there build photos?
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Has it had accidents, leaks or major repairs?
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐What’s broken, or will need work soon?
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐What’s included in the price, and what are you keeping?
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Is the price negotiable, and how would you like to be paid?
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Can I take it to a mechanic of my choice before I decide?
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern

• ☐Book a pre-purchase inspection with an independent mechanic you choose
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Have a qualified person check the gas and electrical work if you’re unsure
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Get a vehicle history report using the VIN
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Use a written bill of sale, and sign the title over the way your state requiresMake a bill of sale →
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Pay in a way you can both verify, such as a cashier’s check confirmed with the bank or a bank transfer
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern
• ☐Arrange insurance before you drive away, and check your registration deadline
  ✓ OK⚠ Concern