Category Archives: Van News

News and articles about UK vans – especially information relevant to the van hire market. Coverage of new van model launches from all the major manufacturers – Ford, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Fiat and Citroen.

BCA van auction

Used van prices climb but quality gap increases

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BCA van auction

Average used van values hit a record high of £6,764 in October, according to remarketing group BCA.

Ex-fleet and lease vans plus older dealer part-exchange models fetched record prices, according to the auction specialist. But BCA warned that demand for used vans is dependent on specification and quality. The pricing gap between the best and worst examples grew during the month, with the firm citing “hard-worked, damaged or base specification” vans as being least desirable.

Looked at over the last year, October’s average price represented a 6% (£386) increase on one year ago. Part of this can be attributed to the ongoing decline in average age and mileage.

As I’ve commented in previous months, higher volumes of younger ex-rental stock have helped to change the age and mileage profile of vans passing through the auction halls.

Interestingly, the trend towards younger, lower mileage vans isn’t just evident at the top of the market. BCA says that the average age and mileage of part-exchange vans (typically the oldest and cheapest at auction) has also fallen versus last year. This is one reason why part-ex values have risen by 9.1% over the last year.

However, what this also means is that more and more van owners and operators are trading up to newer models. With manufacturers offering attractive deals with low-cost financing and leasing options, it’s easy to see why. But I’d imagine that this process must be finite. At some point, I’d expect that everyone who wants and can afford a new van, will already have one.

My money is on a drop in the new and used markets over the next year. Although I’ve said that before and been proved wrong, so who knows?

RH Logistics Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

150,000 miles per year in a van: “buy cheap, you buy twice”

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RH Logistics Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Where vans are concerned, if “you buy cheap, you buy twice”.

That’s the view of RH Logistics Managing Director Richard Hindle, who operates 12 Mercedes-Benz Sprinters alongside six French-built vehicles, delivering high-value hospital equipment throughout the UK and Europe.

The company’s Sprinters are a mix of panel vans and streamlined Lutons featured Eco Box bodies supplied by Manchester’s Alloy Bodies. These are built on long wheelbase Sprinter 316CDI chassis cabs and are — according to Mr Hindle — returning 32mpg on long distance work that sees the vans clock up 150,000 miles per year.

That’s a lot of miles by any standards. Such a testing usage cycle has enabled Mr Hindle to sort the wheat from the chaff in the van market. He says that after giving into the temptation of buying vans with a lower upfront price, he came to regret the decision:

Where vans are concerned, ‘You buy cheap, you buy twice’. We’ve tried various other makes of van and found that we get two-and-a-half, maybe three years’ use out of them, then they die. Whereas after the same period a Sprinter is still fresh and good to go again.”

He’s also happy with the brand image provided by Mercedes vans, saying that even after three years (and perhaps 450,000 miles), “they still look new”.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Mercedes launches “Scrappage and Swappage” for vans

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Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

The recent introduction of the London Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) has brought home the problems faced by operators of older vans.

It can now cost up to £21.50 per day to take a non-Euro 4 (pre-2005) van into the capital. And in 2019, things are likely to get tougher. A number of other UK cities are expected to introduce ULEZs, and the threshold for the ULEZ charge is expected to be lifted to Euro 5.

One way to avoid being hit by these charges is to use rental vans. But this won’t be suitable for everyone, especially operators of older vans doing low mileages but that are in use everyday.

And although we’d all like to be driving around in a brand-new, low-emission van, this just isn’t affordable for everyone, either. This reality has been acknowledged by Mercedes-Benz Vans UK, which has just launched a Scrappage and Swappage programme aimed at helping van owners to gradually move towards Euro 6, without having to switch into a new van immediately.

Commenting on the scheme, Steve Bridge, Managing Director, said:

I’m not surprised that most of the headline-grabbing scrappage schemes available to motorists have been received with a degree of scepticism by the media and the general public; it isn’t always financially viable for someone to come out of an aged vehicle straight in to a new van.

“This is why we have explored all our options in terms of genuinely supporting customers to be in cleaner, newer models as this doesn’t always mean a new van; we’ve been offering EU6 on some models since 2015. To offer a Scrappage and Swappage programme supports our commitment to having the safest and cleanest vans on the road and underpins our pledge to keep Britain’s businesses moving.”

What’s the deal?

The Scrappage element of the programme is aimed at owners of Euro 1 through Euro 4 vans. In return for scrapping their vehicle, customers will get a deposit contribution of between £1,000 and £5,600 towards buying an new or Approved Used Euro 6 van.

The Swappage programme is a little different. This targets small fleets and retail customers with up to 24 Euro 4 or Euro 5 vans. These customers can ‘swap’ their older vans for a new Euro 6 Mercedes van with the help of a deposit contribution of between £2,000 and £5,100.

This seems a sensible offer to me. By allowing you to buy used, it’s a bit more flexible and affordable than most other manufacturers’ scrappage schemes. It may also help to stimulate a little more demand for new vans, in a market which appears to be slowing.

Any restrictions? Don’t hesitate too long. Vehicles purchased under both of these offers must be registered by 31 December 2017. A maximum of 24 units applies per customer, and customers must part-exchange a pre-Euro 6 vehicle of which they are the registered keeper.

Zipcar petrol-powered VW Transporter in London

UK van and pickup speed limits

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Zipcar petrol-powered VW Transporter in London

Did you know that the speed limits for a standard rental van like this one are lower than for a car?

Most drivers know the speed limits for cars, but how many occasional van drivers realise that van speed limits are lower than for cars?

With speeding fines on the up, it doesn’t pay to get caught out — ignorance is no excuse in the eye of the law.

You can find speed limits for all types of vehicle at https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits, but we’ve provided the main limits* needed for vans and pickups below.

The UK van speed limits for the majority of vans are:

  • Single carriageways: 50mph
  • Dual carriageways: 60mph
  • Motorways: 70mph

These speed limits apply to almost all vans.

Certainly all standard ‘Transit’ type vans are covered by these limits. So are most smaller models, such as the Volkswagen Caddy/Ford Transit Connect/Citroen Berlingo.

Are there any exceptions?

Under UK law, two types of vehicle are exempt from these limits:

  • Car-derived vans
  • Dual-purpose vehicles

Speed limits for these vehicles are the same as for cars:

  • Single carriageways: 60mph
  • Dual carriageways: 70mph
  • Motorways: 70mph

But how do you know if you’ve got this type of vehicle?

Car-derived vans: Very few vans qualify as car-derived vans anymore. According to gov.uk, a car-derived van must:

  • Weigh no more than two tonnes (2,000kg) when fully loaded.
  • Be based on a car design or built on a platform that was developed to be used for cars.

As a general rule, the only vehicles which qualify as car-derived vans are models such as the Ford Fiesta Van, Vauxhall Corsa Van, etc.

There are some other van models built on car platforms, but in many cases their maximum laden weight is more than 2,000kg, so they don’t qualify.

Dual-purpose vehicles: These fall into two main categories — pickups and crew vans (also known as kombi vans or double-cab vans).

The definition that applies to all dual-purpose vehicles is:

  • They must weigh no more than 2,040kg when unladen.
  • They should be designed to carry both passengers and goods
  • They must have either four-wheel drive or at least one row of seats behind the driver, complete with side and rear windows.
  • This is technical: the vehicle must have the correct ratio of passenger space to load area. For details on this, see the official government website.

As a general rule, most pickups and crew cabs vans qualify as dual-purpose, so they can be driven at car speed limits.

But there are a lot of grey areas here. For example, some vehicles weight more than 2,040kg when unladen. If in doubt, check your vehicle’s specification and measurements carefully. Seek advice from the DVLA if you’re unsure.

Article last updated: 2 November 2017

*Disclaimer: All information was correct to the best of our knowledge at the date shown above. But speed limits and vehicle classifications may change. Please do your own research if unsure.

Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup

Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup is now on sale in the UK

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Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup

The new Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup is now available to buy in the UK.

The Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup is now on sale at UK dealers. Prices start from £27,310 +VAT and first deliveries are now expected in January 2018.

Customers who took advantage of Mercedes’ reservation offer earlier this year will be able to get a jump on new buyers, as their vehicles are expected in November/December.

In either case, first impressions are that X-Class buyers will be treated to a high-spec pickup that’s great to drive and is far more than just a rebadged Nissan Navara.

The X-Class is available in a refreshingly small number of combinations. Only three trim levels are available, and all models will feature a crew cab. Here’s a summary of what to expect:

  • Engine: Renault-sourced 2.3l common rail diesel engine. Available with a single turbocharger and 163hp, or with a two-stage turbo setup and 190hp.
  • Payload & towing: A one-tonne payload for the load bed, plus a hefty 3.5-tonne towing capacity.
  • Trim levels: In ascending order of luxury, buyers can choose PURE, PROGRESSIVE or POWER variants. Pure is billed as being for “classic robust use” and features unpainted bumpers and steel wheels. At the other end of the spectrum, Power is “a high-end variant for urban lifestyles” and comes with leather, 18-inch alloys, chrome trim, electric seats and keyless ignition.
  • V6 / AMG model: Of course, this is a Mercedes, so a performance version isn’t optional. A V6-engined X-Class delivering 258hp is expected at some point in 2018. Expect an AMG performance version to follow a little later…
Mercedes-Benz X-Class interior

Inside the Mercedes-Benz X-Class

As you’d expect from a German car maker, there’s a fairly sizeable option list. The X-Class is available with seven option packages, tailored to different trim levels.

For example, X-Class Power buyers can opt for a Style Package with privacy glass, larger alloy wheels and running boards.

At the other end of the scale, buyers of Pure models may want to opt for the Plus Package, which adds parking sensors and a load rail securing system.

Buyers of all models who actually plan to use their vehicles off road may want to consider the optional diff lock, which is available for £495 +VAT. An extra 20mm of ground clearance can be added for £220 +VAT.

In my view, it’s clear that Mercedes is aiming squarely for lifestyle and owner/driver buyers. I don’t see corporate fleets buying many of these.

But early reviews indicate that it’s one of the best models on the market to drive and has a quality interior. Anyone who ends up behind the wheel seems likely to be fairly happy with their choice.

1979 Ford Escort van RS2000 conversion

180bhp Ford Escort RS2000 van goes under the hammer

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1979 Ford Escort van RS2000 conversion

This 1979 Ford Escort Mk2 van with RS2000 conversion will be sold at auction on 2 December 2017.

Before hot hatches came into fashion in the 1980s, there was the Ford Escort RS2000.

The fast Escort had a rallying pedigree and fearsome road performance, with 180bhp under the bonnet. That may not seem all that impressive today, but back then it was pretty amazing.

Although modern vans are available with this kind of power as standard, 1970s vans were rather more pedestrian than today’s models. Until now.

Classic Car Auctions is offering for sale a 1979 Ford Escort van that’s been rebuilt to RS2000 spec, using parts from a genuine RS2000 donor car.

The project started in 2007 and took three years. Invoices totalling over £40,000 will be included with the sale. Highlights of this hot van’s spec include:

  • A modified 2.1 litre Ford Pinto engine
  • Short-shift gearbox and motorcycle carburettors
  • An original RS2000 six-pod dashboard, steering wheel and black RS seats
  • Exterior details including Minilite alloy wheels
  • Ford Modena Green paint job
Escort RS2000 van interior

The van features genuine RS2000 interior parts, such as dashboard and seats.

Since its completion, the van has been kept in storage and is reportedly in good condition. This could be an amazing collectable van for Ford enthusiasts, or a great marketing tool for a van hire company or courier business.

If you’re interested, you can find full details of the auction listing on the CCA website, here.

The auction guide price is £12,000 – £15,000 (+ buyer’s premium of 12%). The van will be sold on 2 December at Warwickshire Exhibition Centre.

Only Fools and Horses Del Boy van

Del Boy’s Reliant Regal three wheeler goes up for auction

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Only Fools and Horses Del Boy van

As iconic vans go, Del Boy Trotter’s Reliant Regal must be close to the top of the pile. Instantly recognisable as one of the stars of Only Fools and Horses, this notorious three wheeler is being offers for sale at auction later this month by Silverstone Auctions.

This 1968 model has been heavily reworked and benefits from a reconditioned engine, a synchromesh gearbox, remote start, a DVD player and even a smoke machine to simulate the van’s noxious emissions.

Only Fools and Horses van interior

Notwithstanding these technical improvements, the van remains exactly as it appeared on screen and comes complete with tiger ‘skin’ plush interior, nodding tiger, “Tax in Post” window notice, nodding tiger, roof rack with suitcase, set of furry dice, personalised rubber foot mats and a set of blow-up plastic dolls.

“Del Boy’s Reliant Regal is one of the most distinctive cars of BBC comedy history! Only Fools and Horses has a fan base spanning several generations and is something of a British treasure, so to have the van from the series for auction is a real treat which will no doubt draw the crowds,” explains Nick Whale, managing director, Silverstone Auctions.

With 71,778 miles recorded, the van is supplied with its original owners handbook, an MOT until 9th June 2018 and letters in the history file from the BBC which confirm its authenticity.

It could be a brilliant marketing tool for the right business. Although maybe not van hire…

The Trotters’ van will be offered for sale with no reserve at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at the Birmingham NEC on 11th and 12thNovember.

SMMT CV manufacturing Sept '17

UK CV manufacturing output falls 26% in September

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UK commercial vehicle manufacturing output fell by 26% in September, as home demand continued to fall and support from export buyers fell away.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), CV output for domestic buyers fell by 32% in September, compared to the same period last year. Manufacturing for export output fell by 21%, removing support that has helped overall output remain fairly stable up until now.

In total,  7,208 vans, trucks, buses and coaches were built in the UK last month:

SMMT CV manufacturing Sept '17

CV manufacturing output September 2017

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

“Domestic demand for commercial vehicles has taken a hit in recent months and this is being mirrored in UK production figures. While fluctuating fleet orders are a natural feature of the market, the decline in business confidence, caused by economic and political uncertainty, has resulted in further disruption to manufacturing output. It is, therefore, critical government safeguards the conditions needed for this vital sector to thrive.”

Are Brexit fears starting to affect buying patterns? Who knows. In my view, perhaps a greater concern is the slump in export demand, which suggests that the increase seen as southern European economies started to recover may not be as durable as hoped for.

Export demand is an increasingly important factors, as CVs built for export now account for 62% of all CV manufacturing output.

Although the overall picture for the year-to-date is more benign, with total CV output down 11%, the trend is still worrying. We await this autumn’s figures with interest.

BCA LCV auction September 2017

Used van deliver record prices in September

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BCA LCV auction September 2017

Used vans being sold at a BCA auction in September 2017.

Used van prices reached record levels in September, according to figures from auction group BCA.

The average price of a used van sold at auction last month was £6,651. That’s a 5.1% increase from August and an 8.3% increase the same period last year:

All vans Avg Age (mnths) Avg Mileage Avg Value
Sept 2016 54.15 71,509 £6,140
Sept 2017 51.92 64,901 £6,651

Source: BCA

Of course, some of these price increases are cancelled out by this year’s lower average age and mileage. As shown in the table above, vans sold in September had an average of around 6,500 miles fewer on the clock and were nearly 3 months newer. BCA says that this is a reflection of higher volumes of ex-rental vans and corporate stock being sold.

Duncan Ward, BCA’s LCV Operation Director, says that the demand for used vans is broad based and growing:

The LCV market has seen continued value and volume growth throughout much of 2017. There has been steady demand for vehicles to service online shopping delivery, the construction and civil engineering industries and the small business and entrepreneurial start-up sector. BCA continues to experience plenty of demand for tippers and dropsides, Lutons and larger panel vans, the latter often going back to work to service the online shopping sector.

One way of reading this is to suggest that the real domestic economy is in good shape at the moment. But there is another possible interpretation. Registrations of new vans fell by 4.2% in September, according to recent figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Are small business van buyers trading down — from new to ex-fleet, and from ex-fleet to (older) part-exchange models?

It’s too soon to say if new van sales are in a downtrend. But one point of interest relating to used van sales is that cheaper vans are seeing increasingly strong demand. Prices for dealer part-exchange models — which are usually 6-7 years old — rose sharply for the second consecutive month.

These cheaper, older models fetched an average price of £4,359 in September, up from £4,226 in August and £4,012 in July. To put that in context, the average price of an ex-fleet or lease van was £7,491 last month. So opting for older part-exchanged models is certainly a way to free up cash for companies.

I’ll be keeping an eye on these figures over the next few months, looking for correlations between new van registrations and the different classes of used sales. Although the surge in P/X vans may simply reflect couriers buying cheap extra vans for festive deliveries, it could be the start of a more worrying trend.

2018 new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Mercedes-Benz says new Sprinter will deliver “leap forward”

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2018 new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

The first picture of the new 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van

Mercedes-Benz has released the first details of the next-generation Sprinter van, which is due to be launched “during the first half of 2018”.

The design sketch above is all we’ve got to go on so far, but it’s clear that externally, at least, the new model will be an evolution not a revolution. That’s no bad thing, given how popular and effective the current van is.

It seems the main changes will be under the skin, in terms of configuration choices and safety and telematics systems.

Merc says the new vans will offer “full-spectrum mobility solutions for different sectors”. One change will be a comprehensive range of “driving assistance systems and connectivity services in combination with new telematics”.

This will bring a “leap forward in efficiency for vehicle and fleet management”. I’d expect a new level of specification, combining the driving assistance systems previously found on luxury cars with advanced commercial telematics.

Not all drivers will like this, but I suspect transport managers and van operators will be very keen; the new systems should cut costs and improve safety and accountability.

Mercedes says the that new van will be launched in Europe during the first half of 2018, with other markets to follow. Further details should be available come over the next few months.