Millions of us need a form of transportation for work but, for many, a car just won’t cut it. Depending on the nature of your business, a van is the only solution.
However, buying a van is different from a car and the marketplace can be a minefield. It’s not the sort of purchase you can afford to get wrong, so it’s important to take every precaution in order to get it right.
Driving a van can be awesome, but it’s crucial to remember the purpose of yours. There is a definitive reason as to why you need one. Before even looking at the possibility of buying, you should make a list of all the features you desire from yours. The last thing you want to do is drive away with a vehicle that isn’t tailored to your business requirements.
Once that list has been compiled, it’s time to research your options. There’s nothing wrong with a little personal study first but, as with any major purchase, there’s a strong chance that you’ll want advice from the experts.
However, it is key to remember that cars and vans are two very different vehicles. With this in mind, a van specialist like vanwisegroup.com will provide far more useful information than a lot of car dealerships that happen to sell a few vans on the side. The professionals are there to help. Don’t be afraid to take it.
The other option is to buy privately. This can be a great way to strike a slightly cheaper deal but you should be wary. Whilst the vehicle cannot be sold if it isn’t road safe (unless stated as ‘for scrap’) there could be minor problems that aren’t disclosed. As the van is essential for work, it might be better to go with a dealership just for peace of mind.
Either way, you want to make sure your new purchase is suitable. In addition to checking it fits the criteria that you’ve set out, it is always wise to take any vehicle for a test drive. This is especially true for used motors.
Additionally, you want to know that the previous owner has looked after the vehicle. Checking the vehicle’s history is a must.
You should be able to tell whether it has been kept well just by looking at it. Vans are arguably a little more susceptible to the odd scratch or dent inside but you won’t want to buy anything that carries any significant damage.
Another thing to look out for is rust. Likewise, if you do go ahead with the purchase then this is one precaution you must take throughout your ownership of the vehicle. Failure to do so will result in awful consequences.
The main thing to remember when buying a work van, particularly if it’s your first, is that reliability is everything. There’s nothing worse than losing out on work because of a faulty vehicle so making sure it is up to scratch should always take priority over the price, although you obviously still want value for money.
If the van runs well and satisfies your requirements then you won’t go far wrong.