Vehicle auctioneer Shoreham Vehicle Auctions Managing Director Alex Wright expects the used van market to do well this summer.

The company, which is based in Lancing, West Sussex, has seen strong sales of three to five year old vans in recent months; a trend Wright attributes to the fact that most SMEs and self-employed tradesmen can afford to buy vans of this age without requiring finance.

Wright says that any vehicle with “rarity value and intermittent supply” is doing well, something he expects will continue through the summer. One example is Nissan Cabstar tippers, which have recently been selling for as much as £5,000, well above their CAP average price of £3,550.

Nearly-new vehicles in the £8,000 – £15,000 price bracket are also proving harder to sell, as most buyers are unable to buy these without finance. Dealers are also choosing to cherry pick individual models to meet qualified demand, rather than building up stock levels.

As always, Shoreham advises that a sensible reserve is an essential ingredient for a first time sale, as is condition.