Have used van values started to fall? The data are slightly ambiguous, but they are certainly not soaring ahead.

According to auctioneers BCA, the average used van sold for £5,498 in July. Although this was an increase of 1.8% on June, the rise was due to a change in the model mix, says BCA, not to an increase in like-for-like prices.

Indeed, BCA says that average fleet, lease and dealer part-exchange van values all fell during July, albeit by a small percentage, with only high-quality corporate stock supporting the overall average price.

BCA used van prices June 2012 – July 2014 (courtesy of BCA)

BCA’s General Manager – Commercial Vehicles, Duncan Ward, commented:

“As we said last month, we expect to see some pressure on average values over the summer months and July bore that out. The change in the model mix in favour of more expensive corporate stock actually resulted in the headline value rising, but that should not mask the fact that the used van market is notably quieter at this time of year.”

We’ll need to see August and September price data before deciding whether the market really has reached a turning point, but further big gains are beginning to seem less likely, in my view.