6 reasons why buying a used van makes real sense

Britain is getting back to work, and as coronavirus lockdown restrictions are lifted across the country and businesses open up again there are a lot of sole traders and small and medium-sized companies thinking about how to evolve their business – whether it’s diversifying into more social-distancing-friendly home delivery, or looking to rapidly grow their capacity to reach even more clients and customers.

That invariably means adding more vehicles to the fleet, upgrading an existing van, or – for some firms – maybe even buying their first van. While purchasing a new van may feel like the logical first choice, there are plenty of reasons why opting for a used vehicle could be a faster, cheaper and just-as-reliable solution – especially if it’s an Approved Used van from a brand such as Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

Find out how Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and its Van Centre Network are working responsibly to support their customers and staff at volkswagen-vans.co.uk

1. A wide range of models, available right now

Commercial vehicles come in lots of shapes and sizes – and finding the right one to match your business’s unique needs is critical.

If you buy a used van through a manufacturer-backed dealer scheme – such as Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ Approved Used programme – there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find the vehicle you want locally. Crucially, though, Volkswagen’s Approved Used van locator also gives you access to all the vans that are available across the breadth of the brand’s UK Van Centre network.

During a quick search in early July, we found there were over 1600 panel vans available (including the compact Caddy, the versatile Transporter and the capacious Crafter), as well as plenty of passenger carriers and Amarok pick-ups – all ready to buy.

Volkswagen’s Approved Used van locator comes with lots of time-saving features. You can get a Van Centre expert to give you a remote virtual walkaround of the vehicle, you can get a used van finance quote on many vehicles, and you can also reserve your preferred vehicle online – all from the comfort of your office or home.

Purchasing a used van also means that you can start using your vehicle quickly – with only the time needed for delivery and final quality checks at the Van Centre.

Search Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ Approved Used van locator to find the perfect vehicle for you.

2. A used van is cheaper way to get started

Vans – just like cars – depreciate in value over time and tend to lose most value in the first 12 months of their life. That means used vans can be significantly cheaper to purchase, but don’t necessarily come with the penalty of high mileage.

Doing a quick search of Volkswagen’s Approved Used van locator within 10 miles of our What Car? office, we found a year-old Transporter T28 Startline SWB model with only 9700 miles on the clock for just £16,196 (exc. VAT). That’s a saving of at least £6000 over an equivalent new-build vehicle.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles offers a range of great flexible finance deals – including leasing and hire purchase – that let you spread your payments out to suit your budget and business needs, while you can also part-exchange an old vehicle regardless of age or mileage as part of an Approved Used van purchase.

And, until 30 September 2020, Volkswagen is offering two services^[1] for £179 when you finance a used vehicle with 6.9% APR representative^[2] (see terms and conditions below). Ask your local Van Centre for more details.

3. Comprehensive checks that guarantee quality

Approved used vans from manufacturer-backed dealers come with a comprehensive suite of checks that ensure every vehicle has a clean bill of health aligned with the brand’s reputation for quality and reliability. The result: full confidence that your used van will work from the word go – and will stay working reliably, with no hidden surprises.

In Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ case, every Approved Used van undergoes all the key paperwork checks – including registration, VIN, service history and mileage, as well as vehicle history through HPI or Experian for outstanding finance, plate transfer or theft – with a certificate to provide confirmation.

Each vehicle will then go through 112 mechanical, electrical and visual checks – done by expert technicians – to ensure its full health. Any faults are fixed using Volkswagen Genuine Parts, so you can be sure that the replacement is perfectly designed to keep the van running as smoothly, efficiently and trouble-free as when it left the factory, with all the benefit and peace of mind of being covered under warranty.

Plus, before you get into any Volkswagen Approved Used van, it will have a full road test and valet at the Van Centre – so you can get it to work with confidence straight away.

4. Ongoing support for added peace of mind

Nothing in life is ever guaranteed to be 100% trouble-free. So, if your used van does break down, you want to be sure that you’ve got the right levels of support to get your vehicle repaired and back on the road again – and working for you – as quickly as possible.

Every Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Approved Used van under three years old comes with a minimum 12-month warranty and a year of Volkswagen’s comprehensive 24/7 breakdown and recovery service, which covers assistance at home and work with vehicle recovery and onward travel for the whole of the UK and most of Europe – as well as including courtesy van hire to keep you moving while your vehicle is being repaired. Vehicles aged three to six years come with a minimum of six months of warranty and roadside assistance cover.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles also gives you complimentary free five-day insurance. So, you can start enjoying your vehicle from the start, while searching for the best insurance deal – whether it’s Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ own competitive three-year fixed insurance policy (designed specifically with lots of van-friendly features and benefits in mind), or with an independent provider.

5. You’re not just buying the van…

Buying a Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Approved Used van means you become part of the family. It’s all part of Volkswagen’s ‘Working With You’ promise that is designed to take the stress out of van ownership, and let you focus on the thing that matters – running your business.

That means access to all the helpful assistance, advice and support you would expect from a Volkswagen Van Centre – including high-quality servicing at flexible times to suit your work schedule, mobile service clinics that bring expert technicians to your vans at a time and location convenient to you, and all the advice, assistance and accessories that help you customise your vehicle to your needs.

6. You can always change your mind

If your Approved Used Volkswagen van doesn’t quite fit your needs, you can simply exchange it for another vehicle of the same or higher value within 30 days or 1000 miles (this is applicable for vans under three years old, subject to the application of a few terms and conditions, with you covering the difference in price).

That’s especially useful if you’re a first-time van user and don’t quite know which vehicle will be right for you. So, whether you’re looking to add the first van to your fleet, or looking to quickly scale up your fleet to meet the unique demands of the new business normal, there are plenty of reasons why buying used could be just as good as buying new.

To find out more about buying an Approved Used van from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, click here.

Terms and conditions
1. Covers next two consecutive services limited to 1x Minor and 1x Major service

2. Available on Hire Purchase, Solutions Personal Contract Plan and Lease Purchase. 18s+. Subject to status & availability. T&Cs apply. Ordered by 30/09/20 from participating Van Centres. Excludes Crafter on PCP. Minimum amount to be financed £5000. Minimum term of 12 months for Lease Purchase and 18 months on Solutions Personal Contract Plan. Indemnities may be required. Not available in conjunction with any other offer and may be withdrawn at any time. Accurate at 07/2020. Freepost Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle Financial Services.