Average wholesale used van prices increased in January by 4.1% (£150) to £3,844 compared to the previous month – the sixth consecutive monthly rise, Manheim Auctions reports.

Compared with January 2009, average wholesale used van prices are actually up by 46.0% (£1,210) with average age up by two months to 55 months and average mileage 5,144 miles higher at 74,024.

Alex Wright, sales director, commercial vehicles, Manheim Auctions said: “Despite the economic environment, the used van marketplace has stayed robust and the outlook for 2010 remains very positive.

“While business confidence is slowly beginning to return, new commercial vehicle registrations are unlikely to recover before the plate change in September and it will be smaller vans that are expected to recover first.

“This will result in the continued shortage of supply which should keep used values high for the next six months.”