British Car Auctions (BCA) has launched a video appraisal service, helping van buyers to make a shortlist of vehicles to bid on before they get to the auction.

Buyers will get a 360 degree view of the vehicle's interior, exterior, roof and loadbay condition.

Duncan Ward,  head of commercial vehicle sales at BCA, said: "Time is precious for small businesses - especially for owners and managers who are trying to deal with their fleet needs, along with running the business, doing the accounts and probably selling too.

"They are, therefore, unlikely to have a lot of time for walking around a packed hall of vehicles for sale at one of our auctions when looking for their next business vehicles. 

"However, making the right choice is not something that should be done rashly. 

"Business owners need reassurance that the vehicle they take away from the auction centre is a quality asset that will remain a reliable investment for years to come.

"With the BCA Video Appraisal service, buyers can check out potential vehicles online so that they can make a shortlist of vans that will suit their needs before they head to the auction. 

"Combined with the BCA Assured mechanical report - carried out by the AA - we believe we're offering valuable assistance to time-poor enterprises that need to invest wisely in vehicles for their business."

The video runs in HD format on PC, tablet and mobile devices and takes two minutes to view with a fast scroll option if required. 

It also offers multiple still images with a zoom feature, to give buyers more flexibility.