One of the UK’s leading commercial vehicle websites has revealed a 9% fall in the average price of vans for sale on its site over the past three months.

Vansunited.co.uk, which is used by more than 90,000 small businesses per month and has more than 10,000 vehicles on its site, said the pressure of the credit crunch and an increasingly competitive used vehicle market is forcing retailers to squeeze some van prices to the lowest rates in years.

More than 20% of vans for sale on its site fall below the £4,000 bracket with 35% of new and used vans cost coming in below £10,000.

The result comes alongside an increased number of financial incentives being offered by retailers to encourage sales to the UK’s 1.63 million van owning businesses.

Over the past six months vansunited.co.uk has seen a 45% increase in the number of finance packages offered on its site to more than 300, as brokers and manufacturers broaden their offerings to incentivise businesses to buy.

Top tips for van buyers

* SHOP AROUND FOR FINANCE – a number of manufacturers are offering 0% finance on all new commercial vehicles plus finance houses offer subsidised rates on used vans.

* CONSIDER BUYING A USED VEHICLE – industry statistics show used LCV values are falling so it’s a good time to pick up a bargain. 

* DO YOUR RESEARCH – eight out of 10 businesses are now searching for a van online.

This means you’ll enter the forecourt well prepared. Don’t just consider price but factors including service cost and intervals which can save you money.

* RESEARCH THE RUNNING COSTS – For example the mpg and CO2 emissions – modern car-derived vans are designed to take more load than their predecessors and are more economical than larger vans for urban businesses.