Vans being auctioned at BCA Blackbushe
The average price of a used van fell by 1.4% to £6,431 in April, according to the latest figures from auction group BCA.
It’s the second consecutive month of declines, a trend BCA says is caused by a reduction in the number of late-plate ex-hire vans reaching the market. Despite this, prices are still ahead by £465, or 7.9%, on a year-on-year basis.
One factor supporting prices is probably the continuing reduction in average age and mileage — used vans are getting newer as fleet replacement cycles contract and return to normal:
| All vans | Avg Age (mnths) | Avg Mileage | Avg Value |
| Apr 2016 | 54.05 | 73,758 | £5,966 |
| Apr 2017 | 50.89 | 67,196 | £6,431 |
Source: BCA
According to BCA, ex-fleet and lease prices remained flat in April, while dealer part-exchange prices (older vans) fell.
Duncan Ward, BCA’s LCV Operations Director, says that overall demand remains healthy:
“The market dipped slightly in the post-Easter period but overall demand has held up well, particularly when considering external factors such as the snap election, which might have introduced some uncertainty.
“The model mix is starting to change as we are seeing rental volumes easing for the first time this year, while 4×4 double cab volumes continue to rise. The latter sector has seen some price pressure in recent weeks as a result of these increased volumes and the price guides have not always reflected this.”
My view is that the used van market has largely been flat-lining this year. That’s not surprising, given the keen financing offers available on new vans, and the beginnings of a slowdown in new van registration rates.