Tips for buying a van

Getting behind the wheel and test driving the van yourself is vital to really making sure your future vehicle is totally up to scratch. You need to make sure that you allow at least half an hour and drive on all kinds of road to test the van thoroughly.

Below is a guide to what to look out for, so you can ensure you pick the right van to spend a long and happy life with.

Type and specification

Looking around online will give you a much wider scope when searching for used vans.

Pricing

You should familiarise yourself with what similar models are selling for. If you are going to visit a dealer or a private owner, it’s good advice to print off a quote for a van of the same make and model and use that to highlight a cheaper deal elsewhere.

Inspect thoroughly

Test driving a used van is much more important than test driving a new van. Vans can vary massively depending on their condition. Factors to look out for:

• Mileage. How many miles has the van travelled in the past? You should ask to see a full service history minimising the risk of a tampered mileage clock.
• Steering. The steering should be responsive and you should feel no vibration or 'free play'.
• Brakes. Test the brakes thoroughly by performing an 'emergency stop' on a deserted patch of road. If the brakes grind, it usually means that the brake pads or shoes are worn. If the used van skids or swerves, the problem should be investigated.
• Fiddle with the controls.  Adjust the mirrors, play with the radio, click every button you can get your hands on to make sure everything works properly.
• Engine. Examine the oil and anti-freeze levels to see how well the van has been maintained. Its also a good idea to drive the van when it is cold - this should indicate if there are any problems with the ignition.
• Gearbox. Can you get the van into all gears smoothly without crunching? Release the clutch pedal to see if there are any signs of a worn bearing.
• Tyres. Check that they are at legal levels!

Paperwork

Make sure you study the used van's paperwork including the V5C Registration Certificate extensively before completing any purchase and look out for anything that seems unusual or out of place. The more paperwork you can find on the van, the better. You should also ask to see the van’s MOT certificates and evidence of its service history.

Think CHECK

Ensure that the paperwork including the V5C Registration Certificate is correct

Verify the sellers identity and correct address. Ensure that you only buy the Van from this registered address.

Check the vans history:

Before you see the van, ask for the registration number and run a vehicle check through on a dependable site to check the vans history. This check can highlight several aspects of the vans history including whether the van has been stolen, any outstanding finance, identity and mechanical condition. 

It is important to ensure that prior to buying a used Van that you check the following details.

• Does the Van have any outstanding finance?
• Is the Van stolen?
• Has the Van been declared an Insurance write off or total insurance loss?
• Has the Van been notified as scrapped to DVLA?
• Has the Van been subject to plate transfers?
• Has the Van undergone any colour changes?
• Is the Van listed as the correct make and model?
• How many of former keepers does the vehicle have?
• Is the VIN (Chassis Number) correct?
• What is the correct engine number and size?
• Is the vehicle exported?
• What is the Vans first date of registration?
• What is the correct year of manufacture?

Shop around online

Don't assume that because you're buying a used van, you won't be catered for online. In fact, there are a host of online directories with used vans for sale from both dealers and private owners.