One of the first practical problems you hit when moving into a van is: where does your post go? Banks, the DVLA, your GP, HMRC, Amazon deliveries — they all expect a physical address. Without one, you cannot register for council tax exemption, open a bank account, or get your MOT reminder.
The UK has several systems for receiving mail without a fixed address. None is perfect, but a combination of services covers most needs. This guide explains how they work, what they cost, and which to use for what.
The Three-Tier Approach
Full-time van lifers typically use three mail tiers:
Tier 1 — Legal/registered address: A family member or friend's address. Used for DVLA (logbook, driving licence), bank statements, insurance, HMRC. This address appears on your driving licence and van logbook (V5C).
Tier 2 — Parcels and packages: A Post Office Box (PO Box) or a parcel shop (ParcelForce, DHL service point, Amazon Locker). Used for online shopping, Amazon deliveries, and packages you do not want arriving at your friend's house every week.
Tier 3 — Travelling mail: Poste Restante. Used for urgent items while you are on the road — a new bank card, a replacement part, a letter you need to sign for. Collect at any Post Office counter.
Tier 1: The Care-of Address
Most van lifers use a family member's address as their permanent registered address. This is legal and common. The key rules:
- The person living there agrees to it (obviously). They should know that DVLA letters, bank statements, and insurance documents will arrive addressed to you at their address.
- You can use a "care of" (c/o) format: Your Name, c/o Their Name, Their Address, Postcode. The Post Office delivers c/o mail to the named occupant (their name), but addressed to you. The recipient can forward it or hold it for collection.
- Your van's V5C logbook must show a UK address where you can be contacted. There is no legal requirement for this to be where you live. DVLA guidance says "the address where the vehicle is kept" — for a vehicle you live in full-time, your friend's address is the practical solution.
What to update to your care-of address:
- DVLA (driving licence and V5C logbook)
- Bank and building society
- HMRC (for tax, NI, tax credits)
- Insurance (van insurance, health insurance)
- Electoral roll (register to vote at this address)
- GP (register at a surgery local to this address)
Postal redirect: If the person at your care-of address forwards your mail, set up a Royal Mail redirection when you leave (£36 for 3 months, £60 for 6 months, £90 for 12 months). The redirection sends everything from your old address (if you had one) or from their address to wherever you specify. Most van lifers skip this and just have their contact person send photos of important letters.
Tier 2: PO Box and Parcel Services
Royal Mail PO Box
A Royal Mail PO Box gives you a real postal address. Mail is held at your chosen Post Office branch.
Costs:
- PO Box (business): £36 for 3 months, £60 for 6 months, £121 for 12 months
- PO Box (personal/home): £12.50 for 3 months, £25 for 6 months, £50 for 12 months
The address format: You get an address like: Your Name, PO Box 123, Town, Postcode. Some organisations will not accept PO Box addresses (banks, DVLA, HMRC). For these, use your care-of address.
What PO Box is good for:
- Amazon and online shopping deliveries
- Magazine subscriptions
- General correspondence you do not want going to your friend's house
- Items that need a signature (you collect at the Post Office counter)
What PO Box is not good for:
- DVLA V5C (they require a "real" address)
- Bank cards (most banks will not post to a PO Box)
- Legal documents requiring proof of address
Parcel Shops and Amazon Lockers
For parcels specifically, these are cheaper and more convenient than a PO Box:
- Amazon Locker: Free for Amazon orders. Choose a locker location at checkout. You get a collection code. The item stays for 3 days. Available in most towns and cities. Note: van-sized items do not fit in standard lockers. Check the locker dimensions before ordering.
- ParcelForce Local / DHL Service Point: Collect parcels at a local shop (often a newsagent or Post Office). Sometimes free, sometimes £2-£3 per parcel. Check at checkout.
- Evri ParcelShop: Same model as DHL. The network is larger but service is less consistent.
- Collect+: Available at 10,000+ shops. Use it for returns as well as collection.
Strategy: When travelling, look ahead on your route for Amazon Lockers or ParcelShops near your planned campsite. Order 2-3 days ahead, arrive, collect. Works well with Amazon Prime (£8.99/month if you share with a family member).
Parcel Redirection (Your Address on the Road)
If you know where you will be in 3-5 days, you can redirect a single parcel to a local Post Office for collection. The Post Office's "Parcel Collect" service holds parcels for 18 days. Cost: free at some Post Offices, £1-£2 at others (varies by branch).
Tier 3: Poste Restante
Poste Restante is a service where the Post Office holds mail addressed to you at a specific branch for collection. It is designed for travellers without a fixed address.
How it works: Address your mail to: Your Name, Poste Restante, Town Name, Postcode of the specific Post Office branch. You collect it at the counter with ID (passport or driving licence). Mail is held for 2 weeks (standard) or up to 4 weeks (arrange with the branch).
Cost: Free at most Post Office branches. Some branches charge a small fee (50p-£1 per item). Always carry cash.
When to use Poste Restante:
- Having a new debit card sent while you are on the road
- Receiving a replacement part for your van (sent by a friend)
- Getting a signed contract or document
- Receiving a parcel that an Amazon Locker cannot accommodate
Limitations:
- Not all Post Office branches offer Poste Restante. Large branches and main city Post Offices do. Small village branches often do not.
- Royal Mail only. Parcelforce and courier deliveries cannot use Poste Restante.
- The Post Office will not redirect Poste Restante mail. If you miss the collection window, it is returned to sender.
- ID requirements: some branches insist on a passport. Others accept a driving licence. Carry both.
Finding a Poste Restante branch: The best approach is to call the branch directly. There is no central list. The Post Office branch finder on royalmail.com shows contact numbers. Ask "Do you offer Poste Restante?" before sending anything.
Digital Alternatives
Several services handle mail scanning for full-time travellers:
- UK Postbox (£10-£20/month): Gives you a London address. Mail is scanned, you decide what to forward or shred. Handles bank correspondence. Acceptable for most legal purposes except DVLA (they want a physical residential address, not a mail forwarding service).
- iPostParcel (£8-£15/month): Similar model. Storage in Glasgow or London. Scan and forward.
- Your actual friend's address with a scanner app: If your contact person can scan and email letters (most will), you do not need a scanning service. Just have them open the letter, scan it, and WhatsApp you the PDF.
UK Postbox is popular among full-time van lifers because it gives you a real street address (not a PO Box), which satisfies bank and DVLA requirements for most purposes. Read the small print — some institutions specifically exclude mail forwarding addresses. Use a friend's address for DVLA and the scanning service for everything else.
Registering for Essential Services Without an Address
GP Registration
You can register with a GP as a "temporary resident" if you are in an area for more than 24 hours but less than 3 months. NHS temporary registration covers the full range of NHS services. You use the friend/relative's address as your registered address and the local GP for treatment.
If you need ongoing treatment (prescriptions, monitoring), register permanently at your care-of address and use NHS repeat prescriptions — request them online, pick them up at any pharmacy using your NHS number.
Bank Account
To open a bank account, you need proof of address. Most banks accept:
- A friend's address with a letter confirming you live there
- A previous utility bill (if you just moved into the van)
- A DVLA driving licence showing your care-of address
For existing accounts, update your address with the bank to your care-of address. Monzo, Starling, and Revolut allow address changes within their apps and are generally the most van-life-friendly banks. Starling specifically acknowledges nomadic customers in their terms.
DVLA
The DVVA is the hardest organisation to satisfy without a fixed address. They require a physical address for the V5C logbook and driving licence. The official position: use the address where the vehicle is normally kept. For a van homem, the care-of address of a family member is the accepted solution. Do not use a PO Box for DVLA correspondence — they reject PO Box addresses.
Practical tip: Keep your V5C with your van documents (not in the post). If you need to change address, do it online at gov.uk. The new V5C is sent to your address within 5 working days — ask your contact person to forward it.
Council Tax Exemption
If you live in your van full-time and do not own or rent a property, you can claim council tax exemption. You need to tell the council that you are a "person living in a vehicle" and have no other residence. The council will issue a letter confirming your exemption or a nil liability notice. Keep this — you will need it for proof of address in some situations.
The Bottom Line
The simplest setup for a UK van lifer:
- One family member or trusted friend whose address you use for DVLA, bank, insurance, and HMRC. Offer to cover their postage costs (£5-£10/month).
- A Royal Mail PO Box (personal, £50/year) for general correspondence and small parcels. Update Amazon and online shops to this address.
- Amazon Lockers and ParcelShops for the things you order while travelling.
- Poste Restante for urgent items sent while you are on the road.
- A digital bank (Monzo, Starling, Revolut) that lets you do everything from your phone.
Expect to spend about £5-£15/month on mail handling. The PO Box and a few Amazon Lockers cover most needs. The care-of address is free (or costs a bottle of wine when you visit).
