While not exactly a fire sale, van operators could burn their fingers

Knowing when to let go is key to achieving the best resale rate

HAS the moment to sell on your used van gone past?

Could you get your finger tips singed?

With new van makers pushing sales to maximum, discounts are heading higher at an alarming rate and it puts increasing pressure on prices for used LCVs, says George Alexander, Chief Editor at Glass’s CV guide.

“ A widespread awareness of the extent to which incentives on new models have climbed is starting to impinge on sentiment for late year stock,” he said.

Overall, it is pleasing to see the marketplace for the majority of light commercial vehicles continuing in buoyant mood. Dealers are still keen to buy a varied mix of age and mileage yet still take every opportunity to complain that their margins are being squeezed.

“In general, demand for basic models is slipping whilst anything having a high specification, option pack or other desirable extras performs strongly.

“Unfortunately, supply of such vans with a car-like specification, higher horsepower, low mileage and a full service history is extremely limited with those that do materialise often selling to Top Guide.”

At earlier years, a greater volume of hard-used fleet vehicles are now returning from extended contracts in a sub-prime condition which sees them missing the mark.