Average online van prices have reached record levels again from January to March, rising by £1,585 to £9,605 according to Autorola’s quarter one online used values report.

This represents a huge leap from Autorola’s previous record level of £8,020 experienced in quarter four 2013. The strong demand for lower mileage LCVs in excellent condition, that have generally been in short supply has helped boost prices. 

The growing interest by consumers in buying a well specified 12-24 month old van and then having it converted into a camper van or motor caravan has also helped increase prices, and this hobby fuelled demand is likely to continue throughout the summer. Typically vans sold on the online Autorola platform are on average 2-3 years old with 31,927 miles on the clock.

Meanwhile prices of used cars sold online in quarter one 2014 have remained constant according to Autorola’s latest report. Prices rose by £22 to £8355 in quarter one when compared with Q4 2013 (£8323), reinforcing that online used performance remains consistent while average market prices have both risen and fallen since the start of the year.

Typically the used cars sold on Autorola’s online platform are on average 2-3 years of age with 22,262 miles on the clock.

“While we have had an excellent mix of top quality LCV stock on our Autofind portal in quarter one, particularly from Volkswagen, the continued increase in used prices keeps defying all industry predictions," explained Jon Mitchell, Autorola UK’s sales director. 

"SMEs and consumers have a huge appetite to buy used LCVs, especially in good condition, and demand shows no signs of abating.

“Used car prices online remain very consistent, even though we have increased our available stock on our portal by up to 1,500 since January and sold many more cars.

“The used car market has already shown signs of being very buoyant in April, post the record March new car sales figures. We haven’t experienced the trend of softening values online that have been reported in the physical market."