More than a third of vehicle operators plan to buy used vans within the next three years, according to new research.
The 2025 Arval Mobility Observatory Fleet and Mobility Barometer shows that 13% of fleets already own at least some second-hand vans, while 36% plan to buy these vehicles by 2028.
John Peters, Head of Arval Mobility Observatory in the UK, said: “Taken together, these figures indicate that 49% of fleets are either operating used vans or intend to do so, which is a significant percentage.
“What is interesting here is to compare the van findings with the corresponding figures for cars. With 47% of fleets already having used cars and 22% planning to add more, the level of adoption is much higher.
“The question here is why the existing penetration for van operators is lower and why they intend to acquire so many more in the future. Our feeling is that van fleets have as strong an interest in the used sector as their car counterparts but have generally found it more difficult to acquire vehicles on the used market following the pandemic, especially where they need multiple units. In the future, they hope that improved supply will enable them to buy more.
“It may also be the case that some plan to turn to the used sector for diesel vans to circumvent the growing electric van supply that will result from the Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate towards as the decade progresses.”
There is little variance between fleets of different sizes when it comes to used van acquisition, the Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer results show. They range from small companies at 11% already operating some vans and 36% adding more within three years to medium companies at 12%/37% respectively and large companies at 17%/36%.
John said: “To an extent, these figures are surprising. We’d expect there to be both more existing use and more future enthusiasm for used vans among smaller and medium companies who can more comfortably buy low numbers of vehicles on the second-hand market. However, we are seeing a consistent level of interest across the board.”
Interestingly, the UK’s 49% total for fleets already operating or planning buy used vans is at the lower end of the international scale. For example, the results from Germany are 64%, France 63% and Italy 53%.
John said: “When looking at comparable countries, it does appear that second-hand van use is becoming a much more accepted part of the market. Given the high level of intent among UK operators to increase buying from this source in the future, this situation may change rapidly in the years to come.”
