Vans are extremely practical for a range of businesses of just about any size. They can be used to haul cargo, materials, passengers – or a mixture of all three. They maintain their value relatively well, and they look sharp when decked out in the company logo. From a company’s perspective, owning a van is usually well worth it. 

However, buying that van can be a headache. So for those who are trying to settle on the right model, have a look at the following considerations:

Considerations before you buy a van…

Before you actually set out to buy that van, you have to take a few factors into account. The most obvious (and most important) consideration follows:

What are you going to use the van for?

Now, we already admitted that this is an obvious one, but that by no means indicates that most people go about it correctly. Considering the purpose behind your purchase is actually quite complicated, and it involves a great deal of thought. Spend some time researching and don’t hesitate to take a few models out for a test drive. 

To start with, size matters, regardless of whether you will be using your van to transport materials or people. Just bear in mind that the outlay on this vehicle is substantial enough regardless of how big of a van you need. Consider the most affordable models to be representative of the base price. This is where you start, but it is by no means where the selection process ends. 

Let’s say you receive a highly affordable deal on a lower-tier van. You end up investing a great deal of company capital in that base price; however, as it turns out, the van is still not big enough to meet all of your space needs. You have, in so many words, wasted a great deal of money. If, on the other hand, you invested a bit more in a larger model that could meet your requirements every time, the return on investment is substantial. 

It’s all too common to underestimate exactly how much space you will need when it comes to purchasing a van. Ideally, you will want to have spare capacity, as this makes loading and unloading a great deal easier. Err well on the side of spacious. You and your employees will be more than glad that you did. 

Considerations when you are in the process of buying a van…

When it comes time to buy a van, the very first thing that you need to be absolutely certain of is how much you can afford to spend. Don’t confuse this with how much you would like to spend – these are two very different price ranges. Above all, know what you can afford and make sure that you are actually willing to spend that much should it come down to this. 

Up to this point, you’ve spent time considering exactly what you need to use the van for. You’ve researched existing models through companies such as Global Van Solutions, and maybe even taken a few for a test drive. Furthermore, you are certain that you know exactly how big of a van your company needs. All that’s left is to lock in on a specific model at a specific price. Admittedly, this is the scary part – but when it’s all over you’ll be relieved. 

When it comes time to make the purchase, make sure that at least one person involved in the selection process has relevant experience in purchasing these types of vehicles. More than likely, one of your employees (such as the van driver) is going to know a great deal about what sets the winning models apart. To that end, send out an envoy, or at least two persons – one who knows the company budget by heart, and the other that recognises an excellent model when presented with one. 

Then, when the van expert agrees with the budget expert, all that’s left is to sign on the dotted line.

Established in April 2002, Global Van Solutions is a Bristol-based company that provides a variety of brand new and used vans direct to the consumers.