Updated on 01/06/2021
Investing in a new van for your business can be one of the biggest decisions a small business can make. If you're looking to kick start your business with your first commercial van, or considering upgrading, then this guide can help you!
Maybe keeping your van on the road is costing you a lot of money, not only in repairs and maintenance but in downtime - after all, if you can't get to the job, you can't earn. Or maybe as your business grows, your requirements are changing and your trusty workhorse just doesn't cut it anymore. No matter what the reasoning behind it, if you are considering leasing a new van you need to make sure that it meets your needs as best as possible.
First things first...
To start, you should consider what you actually need for your business. As much as it would be amazing to pick up a Mercedes X-Class, in reality, this might not be the best option for the job.
To determine the best leasing options for your business, think about:
- What sort of load does the van need to carry?
- Does the van need to carry passengers?
- What kind of range does the van need to do?
- Are you going to entering any low emission zones?
Once you have figured these core questions out, you should have a much better picture of the kind of vehicle you will need.
As an example, if your business transported foodstuffs in and around London, then having a converted refrigerated medium electric van would be perfect!
A few more things to consider
Access
If you work in tight spaces and need to be able to get in and out of parking spaces with as little hassle as possible, you may need certain options on your vans such as parking aids or folding mirrors. If you load and unload at the roadside, consider having loading doors on each side of the van fitted to make sure that you will never have to stand in the road. If you don't want to fork out the extra cost of twin side loading doors, consider a van that features them as standard, such as the Citroen Dispatch Enterprise or the Peugeot Expert Professional.
Efficiency
A driver who carries plasterboard and tools locally around the city centre will obviously have different requirements to a driver who carries crates of drinks up and down the country. For those who cover a higher mileage, it may well be worth considering a more efficient engine to save on fuel costs. For example, the Vauxhall Vivaro Sportive comes with two engine choices, either the standard option (43.5 MPG) or the BiTurbo ecoFLEX (47.9MPG)*. Although the latter tend to cost slightly more to lease, for those covering more ground the fuel savings may outweigh these costs.
Another alternative that is growing in popularity swiftly, is the switch to all-electric vehicles! These futuristic vehicles have come a long way since their first inception and can now offer similar capabilities as their petrol and diesel counterparts while also granting advantages the dinosaur juice drinkers can't achieve, such as zero tax, avoidance of Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charges, and much cheaper overall cost to maintain.
Cargo
It's important to remember that the van you choose will be the van you drive for the next few years. Typically, the most popular leasing term is thirty-six months so you need to be sure that your van will remain suitable throughout this time. If your business is expanding, consider the possibility that in a year you will need to carry bigger equipment or more weight and plan accordingly. Leasing a van that won't do the job properly because it's cheaper will do you no favours in the long run.
Last but not least
Test drive! Test drive! Test drive! You are going to be investing money and time into finding your perfect van lease, so whatever you do, make sure you like the van. There's nothing worse than having a vehicle turn up that is completely different to what you are expecting and then being stuck with it.
Lastly, you must obtain insurance for any vehicle you purchase or lease. Because commercial vehicles have a different set of risk factors than a typical car or SUV, the cost of insurance for them can be greater. When getting a new van for your company, make sure you select a vehicle that you can afford the insurance on.
Conclusion
These pointers only dent the surface of the considerations you need to make - that's why our expert team of commercial vehicle specialists will happily talk over your options with you if you are unsure, or simply need a bit of guidance.
If you'd like to have a friendly chat about the best vehicles for you, simply call 01424 863 456
*MPG figures based on the Vauxhall Vivaro L1 Diesel 2700 1.6CDTi 115ps Sportive H1 van and Vauxhall Vivaro L1 Diesel 2700 1.6CDTi BiTurbo 120ps ecoFLEX Sportive H1 van.
