Van values increase in September

In September the average wholesale value of a van was £4,126, an increase of 3.2% (£127) compared with August.

According to Manheim Remarketing, this increase suggests a return to the traditional seasonal uplift at this time of year as average age is down by just one month to 51 months while average mileage is down 1,074 to 70,559.

The strength of the market is demonstrated further by the fact that average values are 20.3% (£697) higher that the same period last year.

Five of the key vehicle segments that reflect this market strength with a rise in values were: car vans up by 3.5% (£80) to £2,358; small panel vans up 4.0% (£172) to £4,430; large panel vans less than three tonnes up 5.1% (£191) to £3,970; 4x4s up 5.3% (£370) to £7,293.

James Davis, general manager, commercial vehicles, Manheim Remarketing said: “Despite a record wholesale market performance in 2009 used van values are still 20% up on the same time last year and 23% more vans were sold last month compared with the same period in 2009.

"Trade sentiment remains positive, with many well specified, clean vans attracting higher bids than expected but duplicate stock is still an area of vendor focus as we come out of the seasonal slowdown.

"Opinions are divided amongst our vendors as to whether de-fleet volumes will now fall away or whether they will remain constant.”