Make sure your van is Looking good
Page 11
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By Kevin Swallow
VAN USERS are being urged to replace older vehicles because customers associate the state of the CV with the performance of the company.
A survey conducted by Populus, commissioned by Hertfordshirebased leasing company Vanarama, revealed that 51% of the 2,000 respondents said they would worry about how good a tradesman was if they couldn't afford to drive a decent work vehicle, while 39% said they would be concerned about their reliability.
Vanarama MD Andy Alderson said: "We believe our research highlights that to make the most of the current market opportunities, having the best tools for the job, including an up-to-date van, will pay dividends." New van registration figures
from the SMMT revealed that year-to-date figures up to September have risen by 9.6% to 205,004 units compared to the same period in 2012. However, the used van sector is still suffering from years of low supply, and older, higher-mileage vans are starting to force down price in line with perceived quality.
Anderson recognised businesses may be wary of replacing an older vehicle because of concerns about future income, but reiterated that leasing payments on a new van can be cheaper than buying an old van on hire purchase.
"The reduced running costs of a new van with a more economic engine and no previous wear and tear which means lower maintenance costs, can make better financial sense than running a cheaper used van," he said.