No but it does depend on which features you want to use.
VanLife Connect uses a tiered identity system designed to balance safety and ease of use:
Community Noticeboard
- You can browse and post without verifying your identity.
- This keeps the entry barrier low for general community engagement.
Booking Services (as a Traveller)
- If you are booking services and not a Service Provider, you must upload a government-issued ID.
- Your ID may be securely processed through our payment or identity verification partners for trust and safety purposes, but it is not manually verified by VanLife Connect.
- You receive an “ID Provided” badge.
Travel Mates
- Because people meet in person, you must upload a government-issued ID to use Travel Mates.
- You only need to upload your ID once for both Travel Mates and service bookings.
Becoming a Service Provider
- If you want to offer paid services and receive payouts, you must set up a stripe account which includes a Stripe Connect Express verification.
- Stripe performs the identity verification required for providers to receive payouts and Vanlife Connect issues the “ID Verified” badge once verification is complete.
- You cannot accept bookings or receive payouts until Stripe verification is complete.
- Once your Stripe account is verified, there are no further ID requirements on the platform.
Optional: ID Verified Upgrade (for non-providers)
- If you are not a Service Provider, you may choose to complete a paid Stripe Identity check to receive the higher-level “ID Verified” badge.
- You can also set up a free Stripe account if you prefer, but this is optional.