The UK used van market has demonstrated robust health in the first quarter of 2025, with new data from Manheim Auction Service showing a 21% year-on-year increase in sold volumes.
The average sold price increased by £554 between February and March, with 22% of stock selling above guide price, indicating strong demand among trade buyers.
For tradespeople and SME owners, the market is creating distinct opportunities across different segments. Only 15.4% of available stock falls into the “prime” category (under 3 years old and 60,000 miles), which is performing 6.8% above guide value prices due to limited availability. Meanwhile, the majority of stock (84.6%) averaged 113,718 miles with a more accessible average price point of £5,625, providing cost-effective options for businesses looking to manage expenditure.
Matthew Davock, director of commercial vehicles at Manheim UK, said: “These trends are largely driven by fleet and rental operators who have reduced the average age of fleet assets.
“While competition for prime stock continues to heat up, the lower-cost vehicles offer a viable option for tradespeople looking to reduce their expenditure during tough economic conditions. Overall, this reflects a robust quarter for the used van marketplace, with the industry now in a much better place in terms of price, demand and overall supply.”
The electric van sector is showing notable growth, with Manheim reporting a 62.6% increase in electric van arrivals across its UK sites in Q1.
“These vehicles are significantly younger than conventional stock, carrying an average mileage of 29,000 miles at around 42 months old. However, buyer confidence remains an issue, with these vehicles achieving only 88% of guide values and just four in 10 selling first time.
Davock added: “The used electric van sector, much like its consumer vehicle counterpart, still faces significant roadblocks to improving confidence. With much higher stock levels being defleeted across the industry, and over 2500 used electric vans being advised on retail publications today, more must be done to incentivise adoption and promote the consumer benefits of electric van ownership.”
