How to Select the Best Van for Your Business

With such a bewildering array of top quality vans and commercial vehicles available today how can a busy small business select the van that is best for them?

In recent years we've seen something of a revolution in the commercial vehicle sector with a multitude of new vans now available, each with impressive specifications. When selecting new vehicles for business making the wrong choice can be costly so where does anyone start when trying to choose the right van?

Start with What You Need
While you may not be a 'petrolhead' and you may not know what 'brake horse power' is you do know your business and what it needs, both now and in the future. That is exactly where to start. Write a list of all the attributes that your new van must have. These will include answers to questions like:

- How many people will it need to carry?
- What cargo will it need to transport?
- How big in size must the cargo space be?
- Where will it need to go?
- Who will be driving the van?

Answering these questions, along with a few of your own, you will have begun to define exactly what your new van must be capable of.

Price
One of the questions that you may have asked yourself is "How much can my business afford?" When considering expenditure on new vehicles for your business it is important to consider a few additional factors including:

Are you aiming to buy outright or will you take a loan for your new vehicle(s)?
Is van leasing or contract hire a cheaper, more suitable option?

Many small businesses, and private individuals, are finding that leasing or contract hire is a far more suitable option for a multitude of reasons. The big one is, of course, cost. If you change your vehicle every 1 to 4 years you are likely to find that leasing is actually cheaper. The fixed monthly payments make budgeting far simpler and the inclusion of maintenance and repairs in the lease contract alleviates many headaches. Another good reason to lease rather than buy is tax. If your business is registered for VAT then you can reclaim some of the tax you pay on your van lease contract.

Economy and Fuel
Now that you have determined what your business needs, what you can afford and the manner in which you want to secure your new vehicle its worth giving some consideration to the ongoing running costs and fuel economy. You may already have some figures derived from what you are currently paying for fuel. If you don't its worth spending a little estimating the monthly mileage for the vehicle, add a little extra for safety. You can then roughly calculate how much the fuel is likely to cost each month.

Ask a Professional
So you now have a good idea of your requirements, how much you will be able to spend and the anticipated monthly mileage. Rather than wade through lots of van specifications why not take advantage of the expertise of those who want your business.

Approach at least three garages or leasing companies with your details and ask them to provide a list of suggested vehicles and deals that meet your requirements. You should find similar responses from them all. Look for the vehicle recommendations that are common to each of the garages.

Take a Test Drive
By now you will have managed to get some good ideas for vans that will meet your requirements and fit your budget and you haven't yet looked at any detailed specifications. It's now time to take a few test drives.

Having derived some suggestions from various garages these can be used as the basis for quotations and arranging test drives. Make sure that you take along someone who will actually be doing the driving as their feedback on the van, its handling, comfort and suitability will all influence your final decision.

Haggle
Hopefully you will now have a shortlist of vehicles, each of which would be ideally suited to your needs, your budget and your driver. The next thing to do is get the best deal you possibly can. When taking new vehicles on lease or contract hire it is always important to be certain that the contracts actually cover everything that you want. And when comparing costs between suppliers it is important to ensure that the contracts are actually identical as even small differences can result in significant differences in cost.

Don't be afraid to haggle. Garages and contract hire firms acquire their vehicles in bulk and, by so doing, are provided with sometimes enormous discounts from their suppliers. To secure your custom they are often able to pass on some of this discount to you so don't be afraid to ask for it.

Following this basic approach and focusing on the needs of your business you should be able to find the absolute best van for your requirements. Remember to start with what your business needs and finish with some haggling and you are bound to get a good deal.

Van Leasing
For great van leasing deals on all current models.