With so many options out there, choosing the best way to sell your van can be stressful. From private sales and online van buyers to part exchange and auctions, we explore the pros and cons of each to help you find the best way to sell your van, and for the best price.
Selling a van has become complicated in recent years, with more options than ever before to get the best return for your vehicle – but what is the best option for you?
Traditionally, there were two simple methods, either trade it in for a shiny new motor at a dealership or choose to list it in the classifieds for sale privately.
Today, you have four conventional ways to sell a van, and each has different pros and cons.
The most important thing is making sure you sell it right, which means getting the best price for it. This starts with preparing your van and showing it off in its best light, to doing the deal and sending it on its way.
Selling your van privately is generally the most time-consuming way of selling your van, but also the one that will potentially earn you the most money. You have the bother of having to get it properly prepared for sale, advertising it and potentially dealing with time wasters before having to deal with the paperwork when, and if, the van eventually sells.
While it’s not for all, for those who want to get the most for their van (in most cases), it can be a cost-effective way of selling your van. Just ensure you’re careful and wise when people come around to look at it, and never let a person test drive it without proof of insurance or let them drive it without you in the van.
When finalising the sale, make sure you accept full payment for the vehicle before handing over the keys and check that the method of payment is genuine. If it’s a cash buyer, double check all the notes are genuine and count the entire amount with them.
| PROS | CONS |
| Sell from your own home | Possible haggling |
| Sell when you are ready | Time-consuming |
Before selling your van privately, you’ll need to decide the best way to advertise your van. You will want to reach as many prospective buyers as possible, so choose a variety of advertising methods. Try placing adverts in:
Whatever you decide, by law you must advertise your van accurately. For best coverage, include the following details:
You should also include any details of recent repairs and the number of previous owners, as it can boost the sale and value of your van. Finally, clarify the forms of payment you are willing to accept.
Take a lot of high-resolution photos of your van for the advert. The more pictures, the more likely you are to sell. Get shots of the front, back, sides and interior, and the boot and engine if you consider them sale points.
Some potential buyers may ask for a test drive. Make sure they are legally allowed to do so.
Check your potential buyer has a valid driving license and insurance coverage to drive your van. The buyer may have Driving Other Vans (DOC) cover, but this type of insurance often provides third-party-only insurance protection. In other words, should the worst happen, any damage to your van would not be covered.
Ask your insurer about the best ways to ensure your van for test drives. Some insurance companies now offer temporary policies that cover test drives.
Always accompany the potential buyer and always be the one in control of the van keys. Take the prospective buyer’s name, address and contact number before you let them test drive your vehicle.
Be cautious of fraudulent buyers and scams:
Also, remember it is also illegal to sell a van in an unroadworthy condition to an unaware buyer. If the vehicle is not fit to be driven, by law you must make this clear in the advert and sell it ‘for repairs or spare parts’.
Always start with an amount that is higher than the figure you are willing to accept, but keep your lowest acceptable price in mind too. Feel free to decline a sale, especially if you are not offered a price within your range.
Never show that you need to make a quick sale, even if it is the case. Point out the van’s best selling points, such as its make and model, its mileage, or its condition.
If possible, let the buyer provide you with a figure first and negotiate from there. They may bid higher than the price you had in mind.
Consider offering to take a non-refundable deposit if a private buyer can’t pay immediately. £100 is the average deposit amount.
This is probably the quickest and simplest way to sell your van. You simply enter in your van’s details online and then the site gives you a price for your van.
There are many van buying services out there, but comparison sites take the hassle out of the process by matching you with van buying websites and van dealers instantly. Compare prices from multiple van buyers in one place to ensure you get the best deal – without spending all that time on research.
| PROS | CONS |
| Fastest way to sell | Low valuations |
| Multiple locations | Haggling |
| Quick payment | Unsatisfactory sale price |
Use a free valuation tool to find out how much your van is worth.
Compare prices from online van buyers to find the best deal.
Once you’ve found a buyer, you can sell your van instantly for cash. Most buyers even offer home collection with same-day payment.
Sell your van with outstanding finance – many online van buyers will offer to buy vans with outstanding finance and pay the outstanding finance costs on your behalf (with settlement fees taken off the final sale amount).
100% free service with no obligations to sell.
Compare prices, fees, customer reviews and level of service to find your right buyer.
Sell your van instantly – most buyers pay by bank transfer with same-day payment, and offer home collection too.
Most online van buying sites provide a free valuation service, but charge an administration fee after a sale. Some companies may even charge a cancellation fee if you decide not to sell.
The valuation of your van is usually subject to a physical inspection, which could affect the initial online quote. Make sure you provide accurate, detailed information from the start and be sure to check the relevant company website for more details.
Auctioning your van can be an enjoyable process, especially watching the bids roll in. However, if your van doesn’t sell, you will still have to pay the auction’s entry fee. Furthermore, many auction buyers work in the motor trade, so their knowledge may mean your vehicle might not fetch your preferred price.
Increasingly, there are more private buyers attending auctions who might be prepared to pay more than a trade professional. Vans that tend to attract attention from private buyers and those in the motor industry are usually popular makes or models, with low mileage and great service history. Vehicles that are difficult for buyers to source can also make a good profit.
If you decide to sell your van at auction, you will need to:
If you sell your van, the winning bidder will purchase it immediately and you will need to hand over all keys and documents there and then. Also, the auction company will take a commission from the final sale price. The percentage of commission varies, so check the charged rate beforehand.
There are many auction companies to choose from, as well as local independent ones, so do research into the companies to find the right one for you. For example, some auction houses will inspect and prepare your vehicle to maximise its sale.
Online, or digital, auction sites make selling your van easy. Simply advertise your vehicle on the website, add a full description and photographs and then watch the online auction go live.
Most companies charge any of an initial insertion fee, a percentage fee based on your van’s final selling price, or both fees together. Check the costs involved beforehand.
Remember, you must always describe your van accurately. Unroadworthy vans must be declared so by law.
| PROS | CONS |
| Set your price | Time-consuming |
| Sell when you are ready | No guarantees |
| Sell from your desk | Fees |
This is probably the most common way of selling your van, by swapping your old van in place for a new vehicle through a part exchange dealer. The advantages are that it is quick to do, involves little hassle (other than the negotiation) and you instantly get the money off your next van, or it can help towards a deposit on a new van too.
Selling your van outright to a van dealer is often considered the easiest option, yet the price you receive could be less than if you sold your vehicle privately, as the van’s value (after depreciation) will be taken into consideration. That said, the convenience of a part exchange can be a persuading factor, especially if your van has any issues, dents or scratches that could be problematic for private buyers.
| PROS | CONS |
| Multiple dealers | Low valuations with some dealers |
| Money off your next van | Haggling |
| Sale and purchase in one transaction | Limited to buying specific dealers’ stock |