eBay has announced the shortlist for its Van Conversion of the Year Awards 2025, showcasing some of the best converted van builds in the UK.
In the running for eBay's overall Van Conversion of the Year 2025 are:
● Tiny Haven Award - best use of a small space
● Clever Camper Award – best engineering ingenuity and uniqueness
● Most Creative Camper Award - most outstanding creativity
● Globetrotter Award – best van for long-term living and far-away travelling
● Built for Business Award - award for the best conversion for a business
● Special Recognition Award - best conversion that isn’t quite a van
The judging panel is led by TV presenter and architect, George Clarke, alongside UK Director of Commercial Operations for eBay parts and accessories, Abir Tewari; The Van Conversion Expert, founder of Whitebox Vans and Wildbox Adventure Vehicles, Mark Cropley; and van life content creator and ‘Most Creative’ category winner from 2024, Josie Rose.
The panel reviewed a broad selection of entries from across the UK, ultimately choosing six category winners – one of whom will go on to claim the £10,000 grand prize as this year’s overall Van Conversion of the Year.
George Clarke, TV Presenter and Architect, and head judge, said: “This year’s awards have showcased an eclectic range of conversions for me to assess, featuring everything from ingeniously adapted mobile-business vans to weekend adventure campers and fully equipped homes-on-wheels for full-time van lifers.
Selecting an overall winner won’t be easy, but the creativity and craftsmanship displayed by this year’s entrants is incredibly inspiring.”
Abir Tewari, UK Director of Commercial Operations for eBay parts and accessories, said: “At eBay, we love to champion those who build and create the vehicles of their dreams using eBay parts and accessories. Some of the entrants have really blown me away with what they can create, and it’s brilliant to see eBay being put to good use by so many that have embraced the DIY spirit.”
Tiny Haven Award: Isobel Mockett, Citroën Berlingo
Isobel’s tiny home on wheels is full of clever, personal touches that make it both practical and meaningful. Beneath the lift-up hinged oak floor lies hidden storage for tools, a spare tyre, food, and all sorts of bits and bobs. Inside, there’s more storage space, a cosy small double bed, USB ports, tiled surfaces, spice racks, and a pull-out stove.
The van has been thoughtfully kitted out for comfort and efficiency, with tinted windows, insulated foil lining in the roof, heat-resistant spray on the carpet, stretch carpet on the side panels and door sliders, and a new heater resistor pack in the cab, making for a cosy small camper that has toured all across Europe.
Isobel Mockett said: “I bought this wheelchair-adapted Citroën to make the most of the extra space that a lowered floor and ramp provided for my camper. I used this section as underfloor storage, which has been really handy on my travels.
"Since I hadn’t seen any smaller vans converted the way I wanted, my dad and I sketched out a design over a pint at the pub."
“Together we created a beautiful, budget friendly little van that’s driven me 3,500 miles across eight European countries and fuels all my weekend adventures in the UK. Converting it brought us closer, with countless days dancing in his workshop, figuring out how to fix faulty airbags, the exhaust and a bed that didn’t quite fit. We turned it into a camper that’s completely changed my life.”
Clever Camper Award: Charlie Ding and Rosie Wells, Mercedes Sprinter
Charlie, along with his partner Rosie and their dog, little Rosie, created a van conversion for their adventures across Europe. Featuring a bed that electrically raises into the roof to reveal a benched seating area, and a wardrobe that slides into the shower section when not in use, every single detail takes both form and function into consideration.
The couple used eBay parts to install the home comforts of heating and plumbing with copper tubes and pipework along with a double gas hob and 12V fridge. To make sure the van looked the part, trims, bumpers and a Thule roof rack bought on eBay were used.
Charlie Ding and Rosie Wells said: “We spent a year and a half converting a builder’s van into a fully off-grid campervan. We plan on living in it full-time while we travel around Europe with our dog, so we made design decisions to maximise the living area while storing all our gear and equipment.
“Taking on the project was a daunting task, especially as we didn’t have any experience working on vehicles, but after 1,500 hours of pure dedication and a lot of learning, we created our dream camper conversion.”
Most Creative Award: Jessica Kleczka, Vauxhall Movano
With a van bought on eBay in April, content creator Jessica’s conversion is a unique and creative take on what a mobile living space can be. Named ‘Frodo’,
Jessica’s Vauxhall Movano is inspired by woodland and mystical adventure and was created by Jessica with the help of her partner and her beloved dog, Heidi.
Using vintage furniture and reclaimed wooden pallets, Jessica’s forest-inspired van was designed for long periods of travel with low running costs. Featuring a compost toilet, indoor and outdoor kitchens, and an electrical system that can keep her off grid for a week, Jessica’s van is functional as well as creative.
Jessica said: “I believe that Frodo is a testament to what can be achieved with limited resources, little experience, and a lot of creativity. The van is practical, adaptable and a real joy of a place to call home. After buying the van on eBay, along with a water tank, cooker and cabinets, it took us three and a half months of seven-hour days to get him ready – he’s perfect for full-time living and off- grid adventure.”
Globetrotter Award: Zarinah Meade and Jake Jordan, Mercedes Sprinter
Zarinah and Jake’s van blends practicality with bold style. On the outside, they fitted boat steps to access the roof deck and solar panels, added chunky all-terrain tyres for that rugged, ‘ready for anything’ look, and mounted traction boards on the side – all acquired on eBay.
The interior has a neutral, earthy theme with stone tiles in the bathroom that brighten the space and make it feel larger. Practical touches include a wet room tray, a single seat base, armrests, a sink, and a radio, all carefully selected to maximise comfort and usability. It’s a van that’s clearly been designed to handle adventures while still feeling like a welcoming, functional home on wheels.
Zarinah and Jake said: “We have spent the last two years of our lives working seven days a week to make our dreams come true. At 25, we gave up our good jobs, our flat and general lives to travel the world in our van. Our van is practical for us in so many ways, from catching the most unreal sunsets on our roof deck, to cooking dinners in our extending kitchen with new van friends, to our hidden nooks that make the van truly unique to us. We wouldn’t change a thing.”
Built for Business Award: Alex Kamintzis, Mercedes Sprinter
Alex Kamintzis’s converted Mercedes Sprinter is an innovative and practical business conversion as a mobile hair salon named ‘Evolution Studio”. Featuring two hairdressing chairs, mirrors and everything a hairdresser would need, Alex travels all around Hertfordshire and beyond cutting hair.
Built as a self-sufficient off-grid van, the van can run from its own water and electricity through its leisure batteries and a water tank before returning for a top-up, making it a true mobile business for Alex. Once inside, customers wouldn’t even guess that they were sat inside a van, with full modern décor and huge mirrors giving the full illusion.
Alex said: “When we launched Evolution Mobile Salons, we believed it to be the UK’s first mobile hair salon — a genuinely pioneering concept. From the van, I’ve had the pleasure of cutting the hair of a remarkably diverse range of clients, from A-listers to children and OAPs. The mobile salon travels everywhere - from farm shops and business parks to leisure centres - its functional design enables me to operate it with the same professionalism and comfort as a traditional salon.”
“I’m now training my son, Jude, to take over the business once he finishes his GCSEs. The van has been built to last for many years to come, hopefully providing two generations with great flexibility and creativity to make a living.Many of the key components — including the batteries, barber’s chairs, generator and water tank — were sourced on eBay. It was a significant project, but one that has proved to be immensely rewarding.”
Special Recognition Award: Niall Seymour, Scania Fire Engine
Niall Seymour is a previous category winner from 2024 with his converted school
bus and has once again been awarded the special recognition award for his
other creation, a burger van created from an old Scania fire engine. The kitchen is
fully built from scratch, taking the word conversion to new lengths, with most of
the parts sourced on eBay including fridges, freezers, lighting, batteries, gas
connections, plumbing and flooring.
Operating under the name ‘Fire Truck Food’ Niall’s business has gone from strength to strength serving delightfully tasty burgers at events across the country, partly because of the uniqueness and surprise factor of his conversion.
Niall said: “I was inspired by a friend who has a converted school bus which is a burger van. I thought, what’s more eye-catching than a school bus? A fire engine!
“We bought a fire engine online and spent more than a year gutting the interior, building a new body to house the kitchen and kitting it out - it is the only fire engine food truck I’ve ever seen with a fully built kitchen. We have been operating since May 2025 and have built up a strong reputation already – it is the best thing I have ever built!
The winner of the eBay Van Conversion of the Year 2025 award and the £10,000 cash prize will be announced in December.
