Used van buyers focused on vehicle need rather than desire, finds Aston Barclay

Buyers of used vans are now purchasing on need rather than desire, due to rising market pressures.

The latest Aston Barclay desirability index reveals that rather than the standard seasonal patterns, where different van types are in demand at different times of the year, August 2022 has seen buyers focus on essential LCV purchases instead.

Companies have shunned badge loyalty and bought used vans based on their individual budget and suitability for the job in hand – either to replace vehicles too old to run anymore or to expand the fleet.

Panel vans lead the desirability index in August – with the Volkswagen Crafter and the Peugeot Boxer in the top spots – but smaller panel vans, car derived vans and pick-ups all appear in this month’s index.

“What we have seen this month is that buyers have been focusing on purchases that fulfil their immediate needs, rather than the more considered buyer behaviour that we usually observe throughout the year,” said Geoff Flood, Aston Barclay’s LCV sales manager.

He added that the lack of liquidity in the current used market, alongside knowledge that the new LCV stock issues are beginning to improve, means that many usual market patterns are temporarily on hold while buyers wait for stock levels to rise in the coming months.

“As a result, we have seen buyers purchasing vehicles that fulfil specific and immediate needs and who are less sensitive to brand, mileage and vehicle spec, but more focused on a vehicle’s utility,” Flood emphasised.

Aston Barclay’s monthly index takes into consideration three key metrics: web views prior to sale, number of physical and online bids per sale, and the sale price achieved as a percentage of CAP average.