UK fleet interest in deploying second-hand vans grows

While some fleets are already adopted used vans, more than a third are planning to buy second-hand light commercial vehicles (LCVs) within the next three years, according to new research.  

The 2025 Arval Mobility Observatory Fleet and Mobility Barometer shows that 13% of fleets already own at least some second-hand vans, while 36% plan to buy these vehicles by 2028.

John Peters, head of Arval Mobility Observatory in the UK, said: “Taken together, these figures indicate that 49% of fleets are either operating used vans or intend to do so, which is a significant percentage.

“What is interesting here is to compare the van findings with the corresponding figures for cars. With 47% of fleets already having used cars and 22% planning to add more, the level of adoption is much higher.”

With the existing penetration for van operators lower, Peters believes that van fleets have as strong an interest in the used sector as their car counterparts, but they have generally found it more difficult to acquire vehicles on the used market following the pandemic, especially where they need multiple units.

“In the future, they hope that improved supply will enable them to buy more,” he added.

“It may also be the case that some plan to turn to the used sector for diesel vans to circumvent the growing electric van supply that will result from the zero emissions vehicle mandate towards as the decade progresses.”

There is little variance between fleets of different sizes when it comes to used van acquisition.

They range from small companies at 11% already operating some vans and 36% adding more within three years to medium companies at 12% and 37% respectively, and large companies at 17% and 36%.

“To an extent, these figures are surprising,” continued Peters. “We’d expect there to be both more existing use and more future enthusiasm for used vans among smaller and medium companies who can more comfortably buy low numbers of vehicles on the second-hand market. However, we are seeing a consistent level of interest across the board.”

The UK’s 49% total for fleets already operating or planning buy used vans is at the lower end of the international scale. For example, the results from Germany are 64%, France 63% and Italy 53%.

“When looking at comparable countries, it does appear that second-hand van use is becoming a much more accepted part of the market,” explained Peters.

“Given the high level of intent among UK operators to increase buying from this source in the future, this situation may change rapidly in the years to come.”

In the Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer research, small companies are classed as those with 1-99 employees, medium companies with 100-999 employees and large companies with 1,000 employees or more.