Buying a used business van

By Matthew Tumbridge, editor of Used Van Expert

Buying a used van is not the same as buying a used car for business.

It presents more risks.

And vans deteriorate more quickly (because of how they are used not built).

But buying used vans, especially if nearly new, can make sense for small companies with correspondingly small fleets.

Without the buying power of larger fleet managers, obtaining worthwhile discounts on new vans can be difficult. So buying used is the best way for small fleets to achieve similar capital expenditure and depreciation savings.

The importance of ensuring your business provides reliable, safe vans for staff cannot be understated.

Overlook aesthetics at your peril, too: vans are a part of the company image and brand. Would you trust a catering company with a rusty van to provide the food for your event? Does a builder with dents in half his van’‚Äôs panels give off an image of being careful and thorough?

The major problem with buying used vans is that you cannot be certain how they have been used. Have they carried heavy loads and strained the engine? How many times has the suspension been hit when a driver threw it up onto a kerb to make a delivery?