Author Archives: Van Rental

Vans being sold at BCA auction

Used van prices rise in March as average age falls

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The average price of a used van sold at auction by BCA rose to £5,879 in March. That’s 4.6% higher than one year ago and the second-highest average price on record.

Vans being sold at BCA auction

But used vans aren’t just getting more expensive. They’re getting newer, too. The average age of the used vans sold by BCA in March was 55.5 months, down from 58.2 months in March 2015.

All vans Avg Age (mnths) Avg Mileage Avg Value
Mar 2015 58.21 76,215 £5,616
Mar 2016 55.50 73,838 £5,879

Average mileage fell by a similar degree, from 76,215 at this point last year to 73,838 in March 2016. Used buyers will expect to pay more for newer vans, so I’d argue that this change means van pricing is relatively flat.

 

What does appear to be happening is that the average age of used vans entering the market through auctions if falling. This is presumably a reflection of the steady rise in new van registrations over the last few years.

Commenting on the latest figures from BCA, the firm’s LCV Operations Director, Duncan Ward, said:

“Even with the disrupting effect of the Easter break, demand for light vans remained strong in March with trade buyers competing strongly for the best-presented stock. Values remain exceptionally strong and well ahead of where they were a year ago, despite the poor condition of some vehicles reaching the used sector.”

The fleet and lease sector recorded average values of £6,726 in March, an increase of £101 (1.5%) compared to February and the highest monthly value recorded since 2014. Retained value against MRP (Manufacturer Recommended Price) improved to 34.44%. Year-on-year, values were up by £117 (1.7%), although performance against MRP was down slightly.

All in all, a healthy market, with no real signs of weakness at the moment.

Van hire discount codes 8 April 2016 (Hertz, Sixt, Questor, Europcar)

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Here are the latest van hire discount codes on vanrental.co.uk as of 8 April 2016.

We’ve got up to 20% off Hertz Van Rental in the Hertz Spring Sale (expired) and our exclusive 10% discount code for Sixt Van Rental.

PLUS we’ve got a 5% discount code for Questor Van Hire Excess Insurance. If you’ve already hired a van but not yet collected it, this could be a good way of reducing your insurance costs.

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Hertz logo largeSave up to 20% On Hertz Van Rental in April

** THIS OFFER HAS NOW EXPIRED **

Hertz is offering discounts on car and van rental of up to 20% in the Hertz Spring Sale.

This great new discount code will only be valid until 30 April 2016 but you can book ahead for pick ups until 30 June 2016.

Here are the details:

  • Booking period: 6 April 2016 – 30 April 2016
  • Pick-up period: 6 April 2016 – 30 June 2016
  • DISCOUNT CODE: 816250

 

Some terms and conditions do apply to this offer. For full terms and conditions, please see the Hertz website.

Save 5% on Questor Van Hire Excess insurance

** THIS OFFER HAS NOW EXPIRED **

Save 5% on Questor Van Hire Excess insurance with this discount code:

Use Discount Code: 
Valid: Until further notice

Click here to visit the Questor Insurance website

(If you need to know more about van hire insurance, check out our guide here)

 

Sixt logoSave 10% on Sixt Van Rental (EXCLUSIVE)

You can SAVE 10% on Sixt Van Rental with this offer, which is exclusive to vanrental.co.uk.

All you have to do to benefit from this discount is click through to the Sixt website using the pink button below:

Save 10% on Sixt van rental

** THIS OFFER HAS NOW EXPIRED **

Save up to 10% on Europcar logoEuropcar van hire!

Save up to 10% on Europcar van hire in March:

  • Valid until 23 March 2016 for pick-up dates until 27 April 2016
  • Europcar has a Price Match Guarantee!

Some limitations do apply to this offer, see the Europcar website for full terms and conditions:

 

 

Remember: You can also see details of all of these offers in the “Our Companies” section on the home page.

Ale & Beer Mercedes-Benz Sprinters

Drinks wholesaler raises glass to super-reliable Sprinters

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If you’re running a van fleet, there are few things more frustrating — and costly — than unreliable vans. This was the situation that Merseyside-based drink wholesaler Ale & Beer Supplies found itself in until it decided ti make the switch to Mercedes-Benz Sprinters.

Ale & Beer Mercedes-Benz Sprinters

The firm says that its previous vans were the cheapest on offer. Managing Director Chris Lawler admits that this approach was not a success:

“That proved to be a false economy. They were terrible – something was always going wrong. Not only were we were paying a fortune to keep them on the road, but it was also a huge job to meet our delivery schedule, and live up to the dependable service promise we make to customers.”

The vans have now been replaced by three long-bodied Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, which Mr Lawler says are a revelation:

“The Sprinters are so much better, in every way,” enthused Mr Lawler. “The price difference was negligible and they’re proving far more cost-effective to operate, as well as promising the long-term reliability for which Mercedes-Benz is renowned.”

The vans are 20th Anniversary Special Edition Sprinter 313 CDIs. The 20th anniversary model was introduced to mark the van’s 20th birthday and just 1,200 units have been made available.

The anniversary models offer a generous specification that includes air conditioning, sat nav, driver’s Comfort seat with arm rest and some chrome trim. The total cost is just £750, versus a usual list price of more than £2,000 for these options.

The vans are used to deliver alcoholic and soft drinks to pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels across the North-West. Chris Lawler says that after six months of service, the firm’s decision to switch marques “has been vindicated” and that the new vans are popular with staff and have proved totally reliable.

UK van registrations March 2010 - March 2016

Van registrations up 3.3% in March as growth levels off

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Light commercial vehicle registrations rose by 1.2% during the first quarter of 2016, compared to the same period last year. In March, registrations rose by 3.3% to a total of 63,913 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

March’s growth was restricted to the the 2.5-3.5t segments, where registrations rose by 14.2% to 38,847. This growth offset a 9% decline in the 2.0-2.5t segment, and a 15.9% decline in vans under two tonnes. There was also a sharp 43.1% fall in pickup registrations, which fell to 1,336 units versus 2,349 units in March 2015.

It seems fair to say that the CV market is now levelling off after several years of strong growth, although as yet there’s no obvious sign of weakness:

UK van registrations March 2010 - March 2016

UK van registrations March 2010 – March 2016 (courtesy of SMMT)

 

Commenting on the figures, Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:

“Traditionally one of the busiest months of the year for the new British van market, March’s new 16 plate gave a welcome boost, closing the first quarter on a positive note after a more subdued start to the year. Following the sector’s record performance set in 2015, we expect to see steadier growth over the coming months.”

Who’s winning the race?

Among the big winners in March was Ford. The firm’s van range is gaining market share steadily and the Transit Custom and Transit are first and second respectively in the UK commercial vehicle sales league.

This helped Ford’s van sales hit a new record of 20,877 units in March. This means that the blue oval sold almost one in every three vans registered in the UK last month!

Renault is also performing well. The firm’s UK van sales rose by 20.8% to 6,618 vehicles during the first quarter, giving Renault a 6.6% share of the UK van market.

Overall, a strong performance which suggests the market is mostly holding onto last year’s gains and could continue to perform well.

Hertz logo

[EXPIRED] SAVE up to 20% on Hertz Van Rental In April!

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Hertz logo largeDo you need to hire a van between 6 April and 30 June 2016?

** THIS OFFER HAS NOW EXPIRED **

Good news. If you book by 30 April 2016 you could save up to 20% on Hertz Van Rental in the Hertz Spring Sale.

Here are the details:

  • Booking period: 6th April to 30th April 2016
  • Pick-up period: 6th April to 30th June 2016
  • DISCOUNT CODE: 816250
  • Minimum rental 3 days, maximum rental 14 days

 

Terms and conditions do apply:

  • Offer is valid for 3 days minimum rental
  • Offer is valid for 14 days maximum rental
  • Offer cannot be combined with any other offer, discount or promotion
  • Discounts apply to all mandatory rental costs excluding taxes, fees, surcharges, one way drop off fees and optional extras such as child seats, additional drivers and fuel which are charged at normal rates
  • Standard blackout periods apply
  • Offer is valid at participating locations worldwide and on a variety of car groups, but may vary by location and country and subject to availability
  • All rentals are subject to Hertz standard terms and conditions
  • Hertz reserves the right to change or remove this promotion at any time
  • Our make and model are guaranteed only on our Collections in participating countries
  • Our loyalty points are part of the Gold Plus Rewards program in participating countries
2016 Fiat Fiorino

New FIAT Fiorino makes the switch to Euro 6 ahead of September deadline

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The FIAT Fiorino is the smallest van in the Italian marque’s range, but that hasn’t stopped sales of 370,000 units and counting.

2016 Fiat Fiorino

After eight years without any significant updates, the Fiorino is getting a facelift and a new range of petrol and diesel engines, ahead of this autumn’s Euro 6 deadline. The changes all sound sensible and shouldn’t detract from the appeal of this uber-practical small van.  The Fiorino’s load capacity of up to 2.8 m3 and payload capacity of up to 660kg will remain unchanged.

Here is a summary of what’s new.

Style update

The new van has a revised front bumper which speaks the “sophisticated design language of the FIAT Professional range”. The high-mounted headlights of the outgoing model have been retained and there is clear continuity in the style and appearance of the Fiorino.

The exterior facelift is completed with a new choice of 15-inch wheel trims or diamond-finish alloy wheels.

2016 Fiat Fiorino interior

New engines

The big change is the switch to Euro 6. This becomes mandatory for all new LCVs in September 2016, so expect a raft of model change announcements from van manufactuerers between now and then.

The updated Fiorino will be available with a choice of three engines. Diesel buyers can choose between  turbo diesel 1.3 MultiJet II engines with 80 and 95hp, while petrol buyers can opt for a 1.4-litre normally-aspirated petrol unit.

The EcoJet version of the new Fiorino will employ fuel-saving technologies such as a Start & Stop system, a ”smart” alternator and a variable displacement oil pump. Paired with a Comfort-Matic robotised transmission, Fiat says that this will deliver combined cycle fuel consumption of 74.3 mpg with emissions of 100 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

That’s a fuel saving of up to 14 percent compared to the manual transmission without EcoJet.

Safety & Traction

The new Fiorino will offer all the safety systems that were included in the previous model:  ABS with EBD, ESC complete with ASR, HBA, Hill Holder, parking sensors and front and side airbags.

An Adventure version will be available for buyers wanting limited off-road ability. This will be fitted with the Traction+ electronic differential lock system, which alters power delivery to the front wheels to maintain grip in slippery conditions. This model will also be fitted with M&S tyres, raised suspension, a skid plate under the front bumper and oversized rubbing strips.

On sale?

Order books for the new Fiorino will open in mid-April in the UK. Prices will be confirmed nearer the time.

Supertrucks 7.5t double A-frame glass carrier

Vans you can’t hire: GG Glass and Glazing goes large with Supertrucks’ double A-frame concept

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Here at vanrental.co.uk, we mostly deal with standard vans of the kind you see (and can hire) all over the UK. But there are some specialist models that are only made to order in small numbers and are pretty much impossible to hire.

One example is this 7.5t double A-frame glass carrier, which is one of two that have been designed and built by glass carrier specialist Supertrucks for GG Glass and Glazing of Liverpool.

Supertrucks 7.5t double A-frame glass carrier

Supertrucks designed and built two of these innovative double A-frame 7.5t glass carriers for regular customer GG Glass and Glazing.

Based on a 7.5-tonne Isuzu chassis, the vehicles feature an innovative double A-frame design concept. This offers four facings and means sheets of glass measuring more than 3.2 metres in height and 4.5 metres in length can be crane-loaded from the rear.

The new trucks are ideal for the large sheets of glass fitted to retail and other commercial premises by GG Glass and Glazing. This new design is significantly cheaper than enclosed vehicles, without sacrificing any practicality.

Supertrucks has used aluminium extrusions which are powder-coated in white for an enhanced appearance and increased durability, as well as the corrosion-resistant stainless steel fixings which are the firm’s trademark.

Roy Williams, the GG Glass and Glazing director with responsibility for transport, says that he is very happy with the new trucks’ cost saving open design:

“We could have gone for a variety of configurations but when Supertrucks came up with the double A-frame design we quickly realised it would be ideal. These vehicles are workhorses and used solely to carry glass, so the fact that the back is open does not present any issues – it is also significantly less expensive than an enclosed vehicle.”

GG Glass and Glazing has previously bought 3.5t panel van-based glass carriers from Supertrucks, but these are the firm’s first heavier vehicles.

Fiat Talento

New Fiat Talento will update Fiat Professional van range

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Fiat has released the first details of the Talento, a new van model which replace the outgoing Fiat Scudo and provide the Italian firm with a medium van model.

Fiat Talento

As we’ve previously reported, the Talento is a rebadged Renault Trafic — a model that’s also sold as the Vauxhall Vivaro and Nissan NV300. The Trafic is a good van that’s available in a wide range of configurations.

Although Fiat hasn’t yet released any pricing and specification details, the firm has said that the Talento will be available in van, people-carrier, crew cab and flat bed versions. The vehicle will reportedly use the same powertrains as the Trafic, meaning a range of single and twin-turbo diesel models with outputs of up to 145hp and six-speed manual gearboxes.

Named after an ancient Italian coin, the Talento promises to update Fiat’s van range and will sit comfortably between the smaller Doblò Cargo and the larger Ducato.

Orders for the Fiat Talento will open in mid-May, with pricing and specifications to be announced closer to the vehicle’s UK launch.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Extreme concept

Sprinter Extreme concept could crush opposition — and it’s real

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It’s a tough sell convincing Americans that European vehicles can make the grade when it comes to the rough stuff. If anyone can manage it, however, it’s likely to be Mercedes-Benz.

The firm recently unleashed the Sprinter Extreme concept on an unsuspecting Chicago Auto Show crowd.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Extreme concept

While the paint job adds to the wow factor, the most amazing thing about this 20′, 4-tonne beast is that the vast majority of it can already be ordered at any Mercedes dealer.

The Sprinter Sprinter Extreme wheel4×4 is a well-established production model and by ordering a chassis cab variant with a number of additional options the Sprinter Extreme can pretty much become a reality. There’s also an existing 6×6 Sprinter conversion for hardcore off-road use.

US customers may not by as familiar with Merc’s off-road heritage as we are in Europe, of course. I suspect that’s the reason for this flamboyant display at this year’s Chicago Auto Show. If you’re interested in the nitty gritty technical detail, here are some of the highlights (bearing in mind that this is intended for the US market):

  • Payload: 6,400 lbs (approx. 2,900kg)
  • Towing capacity: 4 tons
  • Powertrain: 2.0-litre BlueTEC diesel combined with 7-speed 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission
  • Scattolini ScattoMaax tipper bed
  • Beadlock wheels and off-road tyres with long-travel suspension

US customers can buy the Sprinter from Freightliner dealers and are able to specify many of the options seen on the Sprinter Extreme through Freightliner’s MasterUpfitter program.

SMMT: CV output rolling year Feb 2008-Feb 2016

CV export growth offsets flagging UK demand in February

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UK commercial vehicle production rose by a modest 1.5% in February, according to the latest figures from the SMMT.

This bland total hides a big divide in the figures, however. Production to meet export orders rose by 19.9% to 4,452 units, while home demand fell by 13.2% to 4,019 units.

This means that export demand accounted for 52.6% — a majority — of production. A year ago the split was in favour of home demand, with just 44.5% of CVs produced in the UK going for export:

SMMT CV manufacturing Feb 16

Data courtesy of SMMT (www.smmt.co.uk)

The growth in export demand is good news for the UK’s economy and suggests to me that the economies of major eurozone countries are continuing to recover.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:

“February’s positive CV output, while more subdued than in January, continued to reflect buoyant demand for British-built vans, trucks, buses and coaches. Once again, the ongoing recovery in European markets was the driving factor, with output for export growing for the seventh consecutive month, and up by more than a third for the year to date.”

With total production up by 10.5% so far this year, the outlook for the UK’s CV industry appears fairly strong. As the graph below shows, manufacturers have made steady progress since the low point of last February:

SMMT: CV output rolling year Feb 2008-Feb 2016