With home ownership slipping further out of reach and rents soaring, young Britons are increasingly eyeing life on the road as a route to freedom from both their parents’ homes and landlords’ demands. New research by Cazoo reveals the scale of the shift. A striking 32 % of adults still living with their parents would consider moving into a van to escape family life. Among Gen Z overall, 41 % have either tried it or would consider doing so.
Nearly four in 10 (37 %) of those at home have given up on buying within five years, while 12 % believe they will never own a home, 42 % want to escape rising rents, the same number crave travel, 35 % seek greater independence, and 19 % see it as a way to save for a deposit. Meanwhile 7 % of all Brits have already lived in a van, and a third know someone who has. Even older generations back the idea, with 52 % of Gen X and 40 % of Baby Boomers calling it a “good solution” to the housing crisis.
The trend is particularly visible in Bristol, where converted vans have become a familiar sight as young people seek alternatives to the traditional housing ladder.
For many, the move is about taking back control. Van life influencer Ashima Anand (@ashimaanand) swapped rented accommodation for a van after her housemates moved out while she started a Masters degree.
She said: “I originally bought my van for work, spending the summer travelling around the UK and sleeping in it overnight. Along the way, I fell in love with the simplicity of the lifestyle and began converting it into my home on wheels. I was paying £450 a month in a rented house, and car insurance, fuel and road tax combined was £180 per month.
“So when my housemates moved on and I started my Masters, instead of paying rent to another landlord, it just made sense to move into a van.
“Every month, I spend roughly £300 on fuel, insurance costs £85 and road tax costs £30 per month. I save over £2,000 per year and this money goes straight to funding my travels and adventures.
“The freedom my van gives me is unmatched. Whether I wake up by the beach, in the mountains or at the gym car park, I can go wherever I want without packing a bag. Whilst there are still costs to consider with fuel, insurance and maintenance, with rents the way they are, living in a van means my money is actually my own and I can use it to build my own little home.
“It’s not always easy and it’s definitely not for everyone but if you value your freedom and want to take back control of your finances, I would absolutely recommend it.”
Ashima’s experience echoes the research findings. Half of respondents (51 %) said avoiding utility bills was the biggest saving, while 44 % highlighted ditching rent or mortgage payments. Searches for suitable vans on Cazoo have jumped 24 % in the past year, prompting the firm to create a guide for first-time van-dwellers covering vehicle choice, overnight parking, security and maintenance.
Social media is fuelling the boom, with 84 % of Gen Z-ers having seen van-life content online, and 12 % admitting they would consider the lifestyle partly for content creation. However, many have reservations. Among those who have tried it, 42 % cited hygiene and finding showers or toilets as the biggest barrier, 40 % struggled with legal parking issues, and 37 % complained about lack of space.
Charlie Harvey, motoring expert at Cazoo, said the appeal is clear: “The van-life movement has grown in popularity in recent times on social media because it offers young people a tempting escape from the harsh reality of the housing crisis and an opportunity to save for the future.
The freedom to live ‘off-grid’ on your own terms is romantic, but it’s definitely worth getting the right van to lay down the perfect foundations for your new home.”
For some, van life is a genuine lifestyle choice (38 %). Others adopt it out of financial necessity (20 %) or as a temporary fix during tough times (18 %). While often seen as transitional rather than permanent, it reflects a generation redefining independence amid Britain’s acute housing shortage.
As rents climb and ownership dreams fade, more young Brits are concluding that four wheels may offer more freedom than four walls.