The vehicles chosen by large fleet operators can be a useful barometer of their reliability and overall cost of ownership – although no doubt bulk purchase discounts can play a part, too.

In this case, we’ve got two well known fleet van operators – the AA and Europcar – who’ve each publicised their latest van purchase choices.

AA Sticks With Trafic

Until recently, most AA vans were VW Transporters. However, over the last few years, the AA has been renewing their fleet with Renault Trafic panel vans – and based on their latest press release, they must be satisfied with them.

The breakdown service has just taken delivery of a further 150 Renault Trafic vans to add to the 400 they purchased in 2006. To top it off, they also have another 200 on order for later this year, making 750 Trafics in total!

Sarah Dopson, the AA’s Vehicle Supply Manager said that “excellent load space” and “excellent whole life costs” were key factors in the decision to stick with the French marque – quite an endorsement.

Europcar Goes With Maxus Luton

LDV’s Maxus panel van seems to be gaining a reasonably strong foothold in the market. Europcar have a long-running partnership with LDV and must be happy with the company’s vans as they have just taken delivery of 50 LDV Maxus Luton vans to add to their UK hire fleet.

The vehicles are 3.5 tonne models on a long wheel base chassis and all feature tail lifts – always in demand with renters. Europcar are apparently the first national rental company to take delivery of the new Luton variant of the Maxus – but are unlikely to be the last.

Michael McInerney, Europcar’s Fleet Operations Director, said that the company have received excellent customer feedback regarding the “performance and comfort” of the Maxus range, leading them to expand their range of Maxus vans.

When it comes to used vans, there’s probably no one that knows the market better than British Car Auctions (BCA). BCA auctions thousands of used vans every year – meaning that it has a very good idea of the level of demand for each type of van.

According to a recent Transport News article, Ford Transits are still one of the very biggest sellers in the used marketplace. Available in a vast array of sizes, shapes and payloads, the Transit offers a truly flexible van platform, combined with the reliability and value traditionally associated with the Ford marque.

Other popular choices in the van sector include Mercedes Sprinters and Vitos – favoured by couriers for their reliability and by all buyers for their quality and “rock solid residuals”.

At the small end of the market, I’ve written before about the outstanding success of the Peugeot Partner/Citroen Berlingo and good examples of these continue to sell well.

Other strong contenders are the Renault Trafic/Vauxhall Vivaro and Fiat Scudo, Peugeot Expert or Citroen Dispatch – all of which share useful load capacity with refined, car-like driving qualities. This combination has made them very popular with self-employed van operators who may also use their vans for private use.

The good news is that the van hire companies know all this too – and you will find that the vast majority of hire vans fall into BCA’s best-selling list.

Well no, it probably doesn’t.

However, put all the vans belonging to small businesses in the UK together, and they do, generating an average annual income of £21,000 for their owners.

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