THE market for used LCVs is keeping pace with the record-breaking new van market, with demand for good-quality vans outstripping stock.

According to Duncan Ward, BCA’s UK business development manager – commercial vehicles: ‘Buyers want clean, retail-quality vans and, as these have been in short supply, demand has pushed prices on throughout the autumn months. With a dearth of low-mileage stock, buyers have turned to higher-mileage examples but here condition is critical.’

Ward claimed there was no indication that the market was getting quieter as the year-end approached and he expected demand from the delivery sector for box vans and Lutons right up to Christmas.

He said: ‘While we are all familiar with the term late-year, low-mileage, it is the late-year, high-mileage van that is starting to appear in the used market in greater numbers. With new registration volumes rising, it is clear some owners are happy to buy new, work them hard and sell them young.

‘Consequently, this new sector of vehicles around one year to 18 months old that have probably been worked 24/7 on a shift pattern has appeared. At such a rate, it is not unusual to see vehicles cram three to five years’ average mileage into just a few months.

‘With a lack of low-mileage, late-registered product, buyers have no choice but to buy higher-mileage examples. The clean and straight examples find homes easily, but condition is critical. End-users are starting to switch to these high-mileage, nearly-new vans because they can represent great value.’