Van valuation – the ultimate guide
If you’re thinking about selling your van, you’ve come to the right place! This ‘ultimate guide’ to van values will help you find your van’s market price.
Sometimes, working out van worth can be tricky, especially as many are high mileage with damage to match. Just like when people get valuations for selling cars, van owners often value their vans far higher than the average buyer would.
Private and trade prices can vary drastically, too. What would someone be willing to pay for your trusty van? And what’s your van’s real value?
At Motorway, you can get a free van valuation and sell your van with a great offer from a nationwide network of 5,000+ verified dealers. So you’re bound to get a fair and accurate price and see your van quickly sell. But there are other ways, too.
And having a good idea of your van’s trade value can save you time and money. Not only is it helpful to put an accurate insurance figure down when it comes to renewal, but if you come to sell to a dealer or even place a private advert, you’ll know a reasonable price to aim for.
Understanding what can affect the price of your van will also give you the chance to sort things that need fixing or avoid the pitfalls of depreciation altogether.
Vans can be worth different amounts depending on the buyer and seller, so prices can vary from place to place across the country. Remember, your van is only worth what someone is willing to pay!Van valuation explained:
- What determines van value?
- Van value factors
- The market value of a van
- Who buys and sells vans?
- Why do van valuations vary between buyers?
- Which factors determine the market value of your van?
- Van value and depreciation
- How to maintain your vans value
- Van value check – where to get a van valuation?
- Online van value calculators
- Scrap value of vans
What determines van value?
As with all used vehicles, two main factors determine their worth – supply and demand.
If you have a rare spec or addition to a standard kit that someone has been searching for months, it will ultimately be worth that bit more to them than all the other vans on sale.
The used van market is enormous. Vans are far more limited than used cars, which can be differentiated by engine choice and specs. Often, there’s only one engine choice and a couple of trim levels.
While this simplifies the new van buying process, it can often level the playing field regarding used models. Higher-spec vans can be incredibly similar in price to more basic ones.
There are also the more obvious factors to consider…
The factors taken into account for van valuation:
🎂 Age
🛣️ Mileage
🧽 Condition
🧑 Previous owners
🌈 Colour
🚚 Specification
🛻 Brand
📂 Documents and service history
⛽ Emissions
🗺️ Location
🍂 Time of year
🛒 Method of selling
When it comes to used car valuation, age and mileage are the biggest key factors in determining price, and vans are no different.
The older your van, the less money it will be worth. There’s no getting around that. Even if your van isn’t that old, it will be worth less if it has done thousands more miles than what is average for its age.
Manufacturers with a well-known reputation for reliability will also help your van’s price. For example, a Mercedes Vito will always hold its money better than a Citroen Relay.
You’ll also pay higher prices for things like ply van lining. While it’s a given that most vans will have this, not all do. Many vans can come from the factory with ply lining, but it’s easy enough to do yourself.
If your van has particularly high emissions, expect it to sell for less. Since many diesel vehicles are being charged for entering towns and cities these days, buyers should look for vans that emit the least pollution, especially if they’re going to be driven in the London ULEZ.
While you can legally sell a van without the V5C document, it’s not recommended. Not having a V5C is likely to lower the price you can get for your van, and it also raises questions when you come to sell both privately and to the trade.
The market value of a van
How you might buy and sell a van is forever changing, which is why specialist companies such as Glass’s HPI and CAP exist. They offer used market prices for almost any vehicle to dealers and other automotive companies for a fee.
However, the average seller needs to know how to make the most money from the deal on offer when it comes to changing vans.
Who buys and sells vans?
When the time comes to sell your van, there are more than a few options:
🧑 Sell to a private buyer.
🧑💼 Sell to a van dealer or part exchange.
💻 Sell using an online van buyer.
🧲 Sell your van for scrap.
As a rule of thumb, you’ll get the most money by selling directly to a private individual. You can list your van on sites like Auto Trader, Gumtree, or eBay.
You can also go down the old-school route and place an advert in a local shop or on a community noticeboard. It’s worth checking out local Facebook buying and selling groups or other online community pages.
Selling privately can mean pocketing anywhere from 5-30% more than what a dealership or trader will offer.
But that extra cash can often come at the cost of increased hassle. If you take your van to a dealer, a part exchange is usually pain-free, quick, and easy. Private sales can take weeks.
Another option, and a great one if your van is older, is scrappage schemes. Many manufacturers offer van scrappage schemes and even provide dedicated help to motorists and businesses in the London ULEZ zone.emes and there’s even dedicated help for motorists and businesses in the London ULEZ zone.
Why do van valuations vary between buyers?
As we mentioned earlier you’ll get more money for your old van by selling privately, this is because you’re selling to the person that’s actually going to be using the van with no middleman in between.
Your particular van may have something they’ve been looking for, that obscure option that nobody else ticked, or it could just be in superb condition compared to all the others they’ve been to see.
A private van buyer is also unlikely to have done any in-depth market value research. They’ve probably seen a few similar vans and have a rough ballpark figure of what they’d like to spend.
Why do van valuations vary between buyers?
As mentioned earlier, selling privately will get you more money for your old van. This is because you’re selling to the person using the van with no one in between. So you’re more likely to get an accurate price.
Your particular van may have something they’ve been looking for, that obscure option that nobody else ticked, or it could just be in superb condition compared to all the others they’ve been to see.
A private van buyer is unlikely to have done in-depth market value research. They’ve probably seen a few similar vans and have a rough ballpark figure of what they’d like to spend.
When selling to a dealer or a car-buying service, there’s an intermediary involved, so they’ll need to purchase the van at a price where they can profit from their time and investment.
They’re often looking for vehicles in as good condition as possible so they can sell them quickly without spending too much on them.
They’ll also deal with large volumes of vans, so they’ll know the common faults and the going market rates. As they don’t own the vehicle, it’s easier for them to negotiate the price down or just walk away if the deal isn’t right.
At the bottom of the chain are scrap dealers. They often specialise in nearly worthless vans. Some even offer a free collection service, but they will cover this cost by offering a lower price for your van.
Which factors determine the market value of your van?
Market value can be a combination of the 12 factors we’ve listed above, but age and deprecation are the most significant elements when lowering your van’s price.
As mentioned, increased miles will also impact, but less so with commercial vehicles. As long as the maintenance and servicing have been kept up, buyers will overlook mileage that’s just above average.
Location can also matter. If you’re in the countryside where fewer people live or are far from major towns or cities, your van will take longer to sell. You’re also likely to get less money for it if potential buyers have to travel a long way to view it.
However, locations with more potential buyers also mean there will be more sellers. You’ll soon find that everyone starts trying to undercut each other just to sell their van.
When it comes to scrap, the bigger and heavier your van is, the more you’ll get for it. This is because scrap vehicles are based solely on weight.
Van value and depreciation
You’ll often hear the word ‘depreciation’ regarding cars and vans, but what is it?
Depreciation is the difference between the price you pay for something and the price you sell it for.
All new vehicles, especially vans, drop in value when you drive them away from the dealership. That’s because they’re now classed as used.
Depreciation is most severe during the first year or two of ownership. By year three, most vehicles lose up to 50% of their original value.
If you purchase a new van, you should try to keep it for at least the first three years; even then, you’re still likely to lose a lot when it comes time to sell.
Some models fare better than others. Make sure you research to find out what brand of van holds its value best. You’ll probably find they’re the same price to buy new, but one will sell for hundreds, maybe a thousand pounds more when it comes to selling.
You can find depreciation calculators online. It’s also worth reviewing our complete car depreciation guide, as the fundamentals are the same for vans.
How to maintain your van’s value
Buyers want to purchase a van that looks in good condition and has been well cared for; the same goes for cars.
Yes, little knocks and scuffs can be forgiven more regarding commercial vehicles. They aren’t typically their owners’ pride and joy, but fixing scrapes or damage doesn’t hurt if it will net you more money come sale time.
Missing trim pieces, broken clips, and minor scratches can all be fixed without costing a fortune.
It’s also worth thoroughly cleaning your van before you sell it. Paying for a valet-style wash inside and out will get it looking its best without you having to put in the elbow grease.
Oh, and ensure you keep up to date with maintenance. A full-service history is important for selling to private buyers and trade dealers.
Van value check – where do you get a van valuation?
There are two ways to get a valuation for your van: either visit a local van dealer or use an online van valuation tool at home.
If you visit a dealership, someone will walk around your van and give it a proper appraisal, noting any damage or issues that will affect the price. You will get a more accurate valuation, but the price could be driven down harder.
Taking your van to a dealer may get you a better deal if you’re purchasing a new van, but make sure that offer is on top of any other negotiation. So it’s best to show interest in a new van, negotiate, and then say you want to part-exchange.
But what about online van valuations?
Online van calculators
Opening a new webpage is far easier than traipsing around dealerships all day. What may take hours can be condensed into minutes.
Now, the valuations you receive will be a rough ballpark figure. That’s because the vehicle can’t be checked over, nor has any of the paperwork been seen. So, use it as a middle ground, and don’t expect a dealership to offer it instantly.
Reputable van valuation services include:
- Parkers – Offer a free valuation based on your number plate or by selecting which make and model you own, along with a standard estimated mileage of 10,000 a year. Once you have a valuation, you can adjust it depending on the mileage.
- HPI valuations—As the market leader, HPI can value any vehicle. Enter your registration number, and they’ll come back with four prices: retail, private, trade-in, and forecourt. Again, you’ll need to sign up to see the results, but you can also pay for a full HPI check once you’ve got your valuation.
- Regit—Regit offers two prices, one for a private sale and the other for part-exchange. Registering for an account lets you track your tax, MOT, insurance, and warranty information.
- Motorway’s van valuation – We give you a free, instant valuation and find you the best price from our network of verified specialist dealers and online car buyers. It’s the quick and easy way to sell your van!
Scrap value of vans
Maybe your van is incredibly old or past its best with a fault that simply isn’t worth fixing? Has it been written off, and isn’t economical to repair?
If your van’s value is £300 or less, it could be easier to scrap it than trying to find a buyer.
You could even sell the useable parts or advertise the whole thing as ‘spares or repair’. You’ll get more than you would from a scrap yard, but it can be incredibly time-consuming.
If no scrappage schemes are running that apply to you or take your fancy, the best option is to use our scrap buyer comparison service. We can quickly get multiple quotes and easily compare the best scrap and recycling prices.
The scrap value of your vehicle could be so low that the only option is to contact local scrap dealers. Depending on the size of your van, you’ll get roughly £60-100.
Ready to sell your car?
Want to read more about owning, valuing and selling your car? Check out more of our guides here, covering everything from depreciation and maintaining your car’s value. Understand your car’s worth in the wider market.