Limesquare Vehicle Rental expands presence on vanrental.co.uk

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Limesquare Vehicle RentalBracknell-based daily rental firm Limesquare Vehicle Rental first joined vanrental.co.uk in May, when we listed the company’s Bracknell van and minibus hire branch.

I’m delighted to announce that the firm has now expanded its presence on vanrental.co.uk to include all seven of its branches, all of which offer van, minibus (and car) hire for personal and business customers:

Limsquare offers a full range of vans and minibuses for daily hire, including:

  • Small/car-derived vans — e.g. Vauxhall Combo
  • Short wheelbase panel vans — e.g. Volkswagen Transporter
  • Long wheelbase low roof van — e.g. Vauxhall Vivaro LWB
  • High roof medium wheelbase van — e.g. Volkswagen Crafter MWB
  • High roof long wheelbase van — e.g. Volkswagen Crafter LWB
  • Luton van w/ tail lift — e.g. Volkswagen Crafter Luton
  • ‘Maxiload’ high-capacity luton — ideal for removals
  • 3.5t dropside vans
  • 3.5t tipper vans
  • 3.5t double cab tippers

7, 9, and 17-seater minibuses are also available, along with a range of cars.

Please note that Limesquare is only able to rent to drivers aged over 25.

For more information or to obtain a quote, contact Limesquare directly:

If you’d like to promote your van or minibus rental business on vanrental.co.uk, check out our advertising options.

New van demand drives CV registrations to six-month record

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UK commercial vehicle registrations rose to an all-time six-month record of 186,404 during the first half of 2015, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Rising demand for new vans was the main reason for the surge in demand. Registrations of new vans rose by 16.4% to 35,742 in June. Over the last twelve months, registrations have reached 352,558, 20.2% higher than during the previous twelve-month period.

UK van and truck registrations: 2015 and % change on 2014

June % change Year-to-date % change Rolling year % change
Vans 35,742 16.4% 186,404 19.8% 352,558 20.2%
Trucks 4,568 41.5% 23,111 40.6% 48,144 -6.2%
Total 40,310 18.8% 209,515 21.8% 400,702 16.2%

Source: SMMT (www.smmt.co.uk)

Commenting on the figures, Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said that the strong demand was not a surprise:

“The record half-year total for commercial vehicle registrations is not unexpected given the significant gains being made in the van market. Registrations of vans have been increasing strongly for some time, underpinned by economic confidence among large and small businesses, as well as the growing trend for home deliveries.”

The long-running recovery in the van market can most easily be shown in graphical form:

SMMT CV registrations June 2015

UK van and truck registrations Jan 2010 – June 2015 (courtesy of SMMT)

The growth in new registrations was strongest in the 2.5-3.5t sector, which includes popular models such as the Ford Transit Custom and Transit, the Volkswagen Transporter, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and the Vauxhall Vivaro. Sales rose by 24% to 21,693 in June, an increase of 4,205 vans compared to June 2014.

Van hire from just £14 per day with Europcar this summer! [EXPIRED]

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Europcar van hire

Europcar summer van hire from £14 per day

Are you moving house this summer? Planning a big DIY project? Hitting the festival trail or planning a big outdoor trip?

Whatever you’re up to, you may need to hire a van.

The good news is that Europcar is currently offering van hire from just £14 per day.

 

 

** THIS OFFER HAS NOW EXPIRED **

 

This offer is valid until 31 July 2015 for pick-up dates until 30 September 2015.

Terms and conditions may apply, see Europcar website for details.

Used van market is flush with supply, prices weakening

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My Car Check Trade app screenshotHeading into the summer, a seasonal slowdown is likely in the used van retail market. As a result, dealers are in no rush to top up with stock except to replace sold vehicles or to grab more unusual models.

That’s the view of David Hill, LCV expert at My Car Check’s new Trade service, which provides used van valuations for trade buyers.

Mr Hill says that while supply to the market is currently ample, it’s very repetitive. Certain models are available in volume, but there’s little choice in other areas. Here’s a run-down of his view of current conditions in the used van market.

Small vans

As reported previously, the Ford Fiesta Van and Vauxhall Corsavan are the pick of the field. However, ample supply means that only tidy examples will fetch strong prices. Prices rapidly drop off for more average examples.

One step up in size, the Peugeot Partner, Citroën Berlingo and Volkswagen Caddy are all around “in volume” according to Mr Hill. As always, this means that only retail-ready vans will fetch top prices. Apparently there’s a particular glut of “blue 69PS” VW Caddies. These are presumably ex-British Gas. A decent spec means that prices are holding firm at the moment, says Mr Hill, but values are likely to weaken as the influx continues.

Medium vans

Stepping up to the Volkswagen Transport/Ford Transit sector, it’s a similar story. While demand for Transporters remains strong, prices are slipping for poorly-specified 84 and 102PS models. Used buyers want 140PS Highline or similar models if possible.

Similarly, old-style Ford Transits and newer Transit Customs sell best in Trend and Limited specification, for which trade buyers will travel.

Large vans

Supply of large panel vans remains tight. As a result, they tend to sell quickly, although prices still come under pressure for vans “that require body work or mechanical attention”. If the price is too high, trade buyers will still walk away, says Mr Hill.

With chassis cab models, badge is much less important than condition:

Tippers have to be clean with no tarmac or concrete in the rear. Double cabs have to have the rear seats. Drop sides are not even mileage sensitive as long as they are tidy, and it is the same for Luton variants. This is all because demand outstrips supply.

I’ve been watching used van prices at auction weaken for some months, as buyers have become more discerning. This provides further evidence from the next level up the chain that the market is softening slightly as supply shortages start to be eroded by strong new registrations.

45% of drivers knowingly overload vans, says Volkswagen

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Volkswagen overloading infographic

Volkswagen has produced a graphical guide to help drivers avoid overloading issues (click to enlarge)

A new survey by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has found that 45% of drivers knowingly overload their vans and that 53% of drivers don’t even know their vans load-carrying capacity.

As a result, VW estimates that nearly 50%, or 1.2m, of the vans on British roads are overloaded.

According to the survey, nearly half of UK businesses don’t monitor the weights of their company vehicles. When driving a hire van the difficulties can be greater.

Even similar models can have signficantly different weight ratings, depending on how they’ve been specified by the hire company. Payloads for a Volkswagen Transporter, for example, can range from 682kg to 1,340kg, according to the firm!

Knowing how much your load weights isn’t always easy, either. While standardised items such as bags of cement are labelled with their weight, the contents of your home aren’t. If you’re moving house with a hired van, it’s potentially quite easy to overload the van, especially if you have lots of heavier items, such as boxes of books.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) are quite good a spotting overloaded vans, too. The DVSA stopped over 10,800 vans last year, of which 89% were overloaded. If you get caught, you could face points on your licence, a fine or even a court summons, depending on how overloaded your van is.

What’s more, if you are involved in a collision when your van is overloaded, your insurance will be invalidated. Driving when overloaded increases braking distances and can unbalance the handling of your van, making it more likely to roll over and harder to steer.

How to avoid overloading

Before you hire a van, I’d suggest a look at the vanrental.co.uk van weight jargon buster.

Once you’ve punched through the confusing jargon relating to this subject, then a bit of common sense is required. Assuming you are not able to know the weight of everything in your van, here are some tips:

  • The simplest way to avoid overloading is to make sure the van you are hiring is plenty big enough. Loading from floor to ceiling and nose to tail increases the likelihood you will be overweight.
  • If your hire van is sagging down at the back, it’s probably overloaded.
  • If you know you are carrying something that’s especially heavy, such as a large machine, then hire a van with this in mind and don’t try to fill the remaining space in the van with other goods. A van can be fully loaded without being full.
  • Remember that for most loads, the correct way to load is to start at the bulkhead at the front of the load compartment and work backwards. Always put the heaviest items at the bottom and secure anything that’s able to move. Our guide to loading a van may help.

Finally, remember that many council recycling facilities also have weighbridges. To find your nearest public weighbridge, try ringing your local council.

LPG van driver saves £500 every 10,000 miles. Would it work for you?

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Tree Surgeon Graham Free chops his fuel bills with LPGBuckinghamshire tree surgoen Graham Free is an LPG convert.

Although he only does around 10,000 miles per year, Graham says that running his van on LPG saves about £500 each year.

The scope for bigger savings for higher mileage drivers is clear — and Graham says that LPG is more widely available than many motorists believe:

When I first started using autogas seven years ago, there were only three local stations to choose from. I now have a choice of five within a 20 mile radius so who knows what this could rise to in the future.”

As someone whose business revolves around the environment, the eco credentials of LPG are also very welcome.

LPG produces 33 per cent less CO2 emissions than petrol and 45 per cent less than diesel, as well as up to 82 per cent less Nitrogen Oxide pollutants than petrol and 99 per cent less than diesel, according to Autogas Limited, the main supplier of LPG at UK fuel stations.

High-flying transport firm relies on Mercedes-Benz vans

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JJX Logisitics' new Mercedes-Benz VitoIn an occasional series about the impressive loyalty Mercedes-Benz vans inspire in their operators, I bring you JJX Logistics of Wolverhampton.

This high-end light transport company serves the aerospace and aviation industry with a fleet of 24 Mercedes vans and a handful of Merc trucks. JJX was an early customer for the Euro 6 Sprinter when it went on sale last year, and the most recent addition to its fleet is a new Vito, a model that’s only just reached the UK.

A real head-turner in its metallic blue paintwork with colour-coded bumpers, five-spoke alloy wheels and roof rails, the latest addition to the JJX Logistics is also fully specced up.

The van’s equipment includes the optional Driving Assistance package with Collision Prevention Assist, Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keeping Assist systems, as well as host of other extra features such as Tempmatic Air Conditioning, an LED Intelligent Light System, a Comfort driver’s seat and Chrome interior trim.

JJX founder John Donovan had already placed his order when he trialled one of Rygor’s demonstrators:

“I liked everything about it,” he recalled. “The restyled front end looks really smart and it’s even more car-like and comfortable to drive than the previous model, while in terms of usable cargo space the Extra-long version is brilliant. I’m now looking forward to reaping some valuable fuel bill savings as a result of the New Vito’s improved economy.”

The New Vito is powered by an advanced 2.1-litre engine which transmits its 163 hp output via a six-speed manual transmission. The first low-emission Euro 6 engine in the mid-sized van class drives the back wheels –uniquely in this segment, New Vito customers can choose from variants with front- or rear-wheel drive configurations.The van also came with a standard-fit package of fuel-saving enhancements including alternator management, improved underbody aerodynamics and the ECO start/stop function.

Save 10% on Hertz Van Rental with this scorching discount code! [EXPIRED]

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Hertz van supersiteSummer has truly arrived, and with it comes a scorching new 10% discount code from Hertz Van Rental.

vanrental.co.uk visitors can save 10% on Hertz Van Rental with this exclusive discount code. Here are the details:

** THIS OFFER HAS NOW EXPIRED **

  • SAVE 10% Off Hertz Van Rental + collect Nectar points
  • Valid from: 29th June 2015
  • Expires: 5th July 2015
  • DISCOUNT CODE: 778645
  • Terms and conditions: Pick up period 29th June to 19th July 2015

To hire a van from Hertz, click the button below and enter the discount code when prompted:

 

 

Terms and conditions may apply, see Hertz website for details.

Volkswagen confirms pricing for new Transporter

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Volkswagen Transporter T6

The new Volkswagen Transporter T6

Volkswagen has announced pricing for the latest version of its most popular van, the Transporter T6.

List prices for the sixth-generation van will start from £17,745 +VAT, with Kombi models priced from £19,840 +VAT.

Order books open on 6 July, with the first UK deliveries expected in September.

More choices than ever

VW says that the new Transporter range will contain the broadest range of engines, trims and transmissions ever offered. This includes a choice of Euro 5 and Euro 6 engines, while buyers of 140PS and 180PS models can also choose between a six-speed manual transmission and VW’s seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox.

As I expected, BlueMotion fuel-saving technology, which was previously an option, is now standard across the range. This includes low rolling resistance tyres, regenerative braking and Start/Stop systems.

As with the new Caddy, the Transporter T6 will be available in three trim levels, Startline, Trendline and Highline. Here’s what you’ll get and what it will cost.

Startline

The entry-level Startline range is priced from £17,745 +VAT. The standard specification includes BlueMotion Technology, DAB+ digital radio, 5-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB connection.

Trendline

Next up is Trendline, which starts from £19,755 +VAT and adds new wheel trims, a full-height steel bulkhead (panel van), body-coloured bumpers and rear parking sensors to the Startline’s standard spec. Other standard features include a multi-function display and a new cloth upholstery design.

A Comfort pack consisting of foldable grab handles on A-pillars, additional storage compartments, dimmable cabin lights and additional noise suppression is also fitted as standard.

Highline

Moving on up, the Highline range starts from £21,315. This is aimed at owner-drivers and perhaps the campervan market, and the standard spec includes feel-good features such as a new leather multifunction steering wheel, heated windscreen, automatic driving light control, daytime running lights and 16-inch Clayton alloy wheels (17” Richmond alloys on T32 and/or 180PS engine).

Highline models also come with front fog lights with cornering function and a Thatcham Category 1-approved alarm as standard.

Lengths, heights and weights

As with previous models, the new Transporter will be available in a range of sizes. Three roof height options, four gross vehicle weights (2,600kg – 3,200kg) and short and long wheelbase versions will be available.

UK CV exports surge higher in May but home demand slows

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UK commercial vehicle production rose by 32.8% to 6,808 units in May, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The figures represent a big step up from last May’s production of 5,127 units vehicles, but the overall rate of growth was lower in May than in April, when UK CV production rose by 36.8%. There was no mistaking the cause of this reduction, either — the rate of demand growth from domestic buyers fell from 21.5% in April to just 5% in May.

It’s worth keeping this in perspective, though. So far this year, UK CV production is almost 25% higher than it was during the first five months of last year. That’s not bad news, especially as export demand is surging higher and rose by a whopping 69.4% last month, which is good news for the UK economy:

CV manufacturing May-14 May-15 % Change YTD-14 YTD-15 % Change
Total 5,127 6,808 32.8% 31,112 38,872 24.9%
Home 2,937 3,098 5.5% 15,544 19,702 26.7%
Export 2,190 3,710 69.4% 15,568 19,170 23.1%
% export 42.7% 54.5% 51.2% 49.3%

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

Commenting on the figures, Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said:

“May’s strong figures consolidate the UK commercial vehicle manufacturing sector’s return to form, following a more subdued period over the past couple of years when changes to type approval legislation disrupted fleet renewal patterns. Continued demand for high quality British engineering, growing business confidence and regulatory stability have helped to fuel steady growth for both the domestic and export markets.”

We’ll have to wait a few more months to see whether this months slowdown in growth is simply a glitch or the start of a new trend. Logically, the rate of growth might well be slowing down — trees don’t grow to the sky, after all.