Van operators have been advised on the best options to select to ensure their vehicles are most attractive on the second-hand market.

Panel vans of every size and shape should be ply-lined and, where possible, a side-loading door should be specified.

An otherwise clean van valued at £5,000 could lose up to £1,500 if its side panels are extensively blemished from inside-out damage because it has not been lined.

By lining and specifying side-loading doors sellers should expect to see up to £300 added in value over similar standard vans, said BCA.

Potential value in the used market can increase by around £250 for two side-loading doors.

Duncan Ward BCA’s UK business development manager – commercial vehicles, said: “If you are a professional buyer for retail, you know that certain vehicles will stand out in adverts and on the forecourt, and you want those on your shopping list.

"In a similar fashion, the end-user buying at auction will seek out the best vehicle they can buy with the budget they’ve got – and if a van with twin side loading doors, a bulkhead and air-con is on offer that will be the one they bid for, if all the other vans available are basic models.”

Mr Ward added: “When valuing options, it is important to remember that price is always relative to the current market conditions, the demand from buyers and the presentation of the vehicle itself.

"For example, in the current market, if you offered a van with every option imaginable, but it was in poor cosmetic condition, any possible premium would be wiped out by the buyers’ concerns about the time it would take to repair the vehicle – when values are falling, time equals money!”

“Air-conditioning is highly valued when combined with a bulkhead, otherwise all that cool air dissipates into the load area and simply burns money.

"Air-con will add more value to a well-presented ‘retail’ van than it will on an otherwise more basic model and is worth between £100 and £200 depending on the vehicle.

"On a late year low mileage van, this difference could easily widen to as much as £400 to £500.

"Volume van operators should certainly bear this in mind if they are ordering large numbers of basic models – it could mean their vehicles are out of step with the buyer’s needs when they come to be sold in three or more years time.”