Used van prices at BCA set a new record in August, rising over £6,000 for the first time to £6,089. That’s 2.6% (£158) more than in July, and 10.5% (£582) more than in August 2015.

Of course, vehicle mix and average age will have affected this high price. Vans sold last month were on average two months younger and had 5,000 fewer miles on the clock than in August 2015:

Data courtesy of BCA

BCA’s Head of Commercial Vehicles, Duncan Ward, commented:

“The LCV market in August was particularly strong at BCA considering the holiday season was still in full swing. Conversion rates improved and demand was significantly stronger than we had seen in July.”

August’s rise was the result of a sharp rise in values for vans sold as part-exchange vehicles. The average price of a part-ex van rose by £282 to more than £4,000 in August.

In contrast the average value of ex-fleet and lease vans rose by just £1 in August. These 3-4 year old vehicles form a large part of the used van market and are perhaps the most liquid and consistent indicator of market conditions.

Condition remained as important as ever in terms of securing a decent price, but Duncan Ward also commented that with wholesale volumes rising, “there is no room for complacency” — despite recent price rises.

I’d take this to mean that Mr Ward believes prices are unlikely to rise further and could fall — but we’ll know more when September’s sales figures go through.