Buying a Used Van - Why is that so difficult right now?

Why is it so difficult to buy a van right now? In this video, I explain what's happening to the second-hand van sales market at the moment. Why there are so few vans for sale and why the prices are so high.

There are a few reasons why it's difficult to find a second-hand van right now.
1. The global material shortages of Semiconductors Rubber and Metal resulted in a huge drop in new van registrations for September last year.
Sept 2020 - 52k new vans registered
Sept 2021 - 31.5k new vans registered
A drop of 39.5% so that's nearly half as many new vans available to buy.
This forces fleet owners to hold onto old vans and run them longer thus
reducing the number of used vans on the second-hand market.

2. Due to the pandemic and lockdown, the demand for home delivery has
increased massively and this has led to increased demand for retail-ready
used vans by couriers and logistic companies.

3. The recent rise in Clean Air Zones in cities across the UK. has forced the fleet managers to buy Euro 6 engine vans, even scrambling to pick up the best of what's left on the used van market.

How has this affected used van sales?
1. Trade buyers are now paying 79% (£4,516) more for a comparable used van than they were in June 2019.
2. The price of second-hand vans to the end-user is as much as 60-100% more than 2 years ago.
3. Previously average used fleet vehicles would be 60months old with 70k miles on the clock, now will be 3-4yrs old and over 100k miles and will make up as much as 70% of the used van market.

We hope to have a van soon so we can get started on this new project and hope that you find the videos to be interesting and useful to you.

Best Wishes and Happy Travels
Greg & Lou

[jamieb]

Quick, someone give this man a van. Look forward to seeing you convert another.

[dirtworshiper]

Great vid. I also talked to a guy last year and he told me that Jeff bezzos of Amazon bought 25, 000 Mercedes Sprinters and the same number of fords. That left his builder waiting for over a year to get his vans delivered.

[jihakang]

OMG finally! I'm so happy someone explained me clearly why it is so difficult to get these days!!! Thank you Greg!
I'm planing to buy a van next year or 2024, I hope so. I will always follow you up with this news and please share us more! All of your videos are increadibly informative! What a great work! Cheers!

[cmeonthemove]

I also can't help thinking the surge in prices of used vans was because of a surge in self builders as a result of the UK holiday parks ripping people off when we couldn't travel abroad during the pandemic. That pricing policy for holiday parks has not been changed since.

[tonym]

What a great service Greg provides to honest folks! Greg, as keep looking, I'd be interested in more videos like this. It's the most important part of the project (by far) pricewise, so sharing what you learn will be much appreciated as people make decisions. For example, I've been considering French vans like the Peugeot Boxer and Renault Master and would be interested in knowing how those compare with the Fiat Ducato

[corneliusencyclopedia]

Hi Greg, I bought my van this time last year. The same spec, age and (more) miles is now 8k more from the same dealer! Unbelievable!

Best of luck because it seems like the only way to get a fair price is to know someone in the trades/dealer networks.

[jimf]

It's not just vans. I've an Auto-sleeper MH on a Peugeot Boxer and I've been offered £8000 more than I paid for it in 2019. Also got an electric car which is worth more than I paid for it 2 years ago - the world's gone mad. Good luck with your project.

[vanlifewithsookhiandpaul]

Great to see you Greg back in the studio - Simply the best van build ‘guru’ out there 😀 x

[WanderingWheelie]

It’s absolutely ridiculous the prices of vans now. Great informative video Greg cheers

[martincraven]

So excited you are doing another van Greg. The prices are ridiculous. So glad that with you help we have now finished our no gas allowed Crafter. Keep up the good work mate. You are a superstar...

[peterbrockman]

Another great informative video Greg. I can say the same situation that you have in the UK re vehicle sales is also an issue here in Australia. In particular the sale of second-hand dual-cab utilities has gone nuts. I'm glad I took delivery of my own van brand new in February 2020 and escaped the supply issues you speak of. Good luck with the new van and thanks for your reply to my message the other day.

[Namdor]

I had no choice Greg, I'm in AUS had to order a brand new Transit LWB and it will take 12 months + to get couldn't pay a stupid high price for a van with high mileage....Thing is a new one built out by myself I can't lose money, still be worth more than the overall cost in 5 years or more...So rationally it's not a "car" that loses value...A good camper build out, never a loss...So a loan at worse works out the best option if you crunch the numbers....Anyway I have a magnetic grey LWB 10 speed on it's way...5 years warranty..

[philcorp]

Admiration big time to you Greg for always giving 100%.
Always curious thou. What do u do for a living. Or rather what have u done in the past makes u so knowledgable. U may not want to share this info.
There will be many vanners out there thinking the same. . Thanku. Thanku. Very much for all your videos in the past. I dont know how you stay so focused. 😎 phil. Long time vanner. 45 yrs

[fjspicer]

@Greg Virgo Hi Greg glad to see you back doing another conversion. I have been a subscriber to your channel right from the beginning of your very first build. I don't know why but YT have never notified me of this video the only way I found out you were planning a new budget build was when I came across your other video of you and the Mrs picking up the MWB Ducato. I checked and I was still Subscribed and all notifications on.
I am currently looking for a van like yours to convert myself so will be following your build with interest

[logothaironsides]

One van we wanted to see, we arranged an inspection for it through the AA, the inspection blokie turned up at the van seller's house and the seller wouldn't drive it to a carpark for him to check it, he expected him to do it alongside the traffic, so no inspection could be done .We told the seller, who then gave us 'his mechanic's number' so we rang him and asked what his opinion of the van was (though if we bought, we were going to withhold the inspection cost as we had to still pay it). The mechanic told us it wasn't worth the asking price LOL, he gave us a lot of good advice about what we should be looking for when buying, so we walked away having lost the inspection cost but having gained a bit more buyers savvy which we then used to buy a cheaper van.

[vanscran]

I came across that scam where they ask you to pay up front, then they will deliver later. When I investigated, it turned out that they didn't have a base or premises. You have to be really careful at the moment, with private sales, make sure it matches the address, easy to do on line. Great vid old boy anyway. 😁👍

[NorthernersonTour]

Hi Greg, Mark here. I work in the fleet industry, just recently we’ve have notifications from leading LCV Manufacturers that they have closed the order books for new orders for the foreseeable as they’ve already probably got more orders banked than what they can manufacture. That means in the next few months there will be some very disappointed people who have ordered new vans and manufactures can’t fulfil the orders!

[paulmills]

Out of 20 vehicles I had on my market place saved lists. 8 of them were scammers, knockers, theiving scum bags.
Some tips from me
1. Always ask for a video of inner and outside
This is good for genuine sellers, who if they want to sell they will have available, no videos, they don't have the van! .
2. Don't entertain those selling for a mate, a mate who's left the country, Ill or what ever. Walk!
3.always meet the seller at the registered address. Never meet half way, in asda or anywhere remote. You will be robbed.
4. Don't be a victim. Don't entertain cash only deals. Put it this way, it's a cash deal, and I will meet you half way to save you time. Or I will be emptying the van at a lock up. You attend with the 5k on you, the lock up is a remote garage, no cctv. They may have set a trap and are ready to nick the 5k off you with force if you object.
This has happened, car sales mainly.
5. Take a friend with you, better still 2 friends to watch your back, a mechanic. Only if you are intending to take that day. If you are viewing a legit van and seller, view the van, if you like, then consider AA and ask seller to provide HPI clear.
6. If its got fiance, the seller does not own it. If you buy and they don't clear the finance then you are liable for payments.
Don't buy, unless you are willing to negotiate direct with the finance company. Eg, 10k sale, 5k owed to finance company. You agree to pay the 5k to fiance and 5k to seller. Its complicated I'd walk. Life is too short for bother
7. If a seller just wants cash in this day and age, it's should ring alarm bells.
8. Also Greg I've a lovely 2019, 4 berth you can have, drive away price. 52k 7k on the clock. Serviced, 12 month mot, habitation checked. Cycle rack and black dometic awning. Lovely. Cash only, I will meet you under the viaduct😆
Final tip, not everyone is a scum bag. Some are and tips will help you not be a victim. I've 35yts as a cop. I don't know everything, but seen alot, alot I can't forget!

[mikemb]

Manchester clean air zone is on hold at the moment its just cost 85000 for major to cover all the new clean air signs up where fighting it
Thanks greg for all your sharing over the years i built a 2013 citroen relay L2H3 in 2020 converted into a camper just like your merc design with moorland board and truma heater etc LOVE IT
now after purchacing another 2013 H2L3 citroen relay with 110 000 miles on clock last year 2021 i got it for a good price but had body work damage and needed mechanical work
but found out that bodywork on vans is really expensive because of the big area but i sorted the mechanical stuff my self
i just saying be very careful when you buy a van with bodywork damage its very expensive if you have to pay somebody else to do it
citroen relay and fiat ducato are all the same van from i dont no the year
have a great day
Mike

[sonsofthetribe]

I bought my 2006 transit 4 years ago for £2100 and turned it into a camper. I was told by my transit mechanic that the van alone without the taking in to account the conversion is now worth the same money! Crazy times.