Vans are one of the most reliable vehicles and are meant for driving long distance within a country. The average life of a van is reported to be around 11 years. Whether you prefer camping or run a small business, buying a good van offers ease of transportation among other benefits.
Buying a used van could be a cost-effective way of getting a reliable partner for your household or business. While the idea of buying a used van might sound easy and cheap, you must be careful to avoid getting duped by a dodgy dealer. Here are some tips that might help you get a nice deal:
1. Decide On The Type Of Van
The first step for buying your vehicle is to finalize your requirements. There are several different types of van such as panel vans, cargo vans, car-derived vans, mini-vans etc. You must consider the size of van as well; a large size van will give you more space but will require more expenses on fuel and insurance.
2. Do Some Research
The best place to start looking up for vehicles and comparing them is online. It does not only provide to compare prices of similar models, it also gives you options to consider among different models from several manufacturers.
3. Select The Seller
You can either opt to go to a dealer or can purchase the vehicle from the seller privately. You save some money in brokerage while buying privately but a dealer might provide some additional protection in contract if something goes wrong. If you are not sure of your requirement, the seller will try to sell you wrong vehicle which might cost you several dollars extra.
4. Inspect The Vehicle
Before taking the deal further, it makes sense to quickly check the vehicle yourself. You do not need to have an expertise on the engine and other minute details but check if the doors and windows open properly or air conditioning works.
5. Check The Service Book
Take a look on the service book to see how the van has been maintained till date. The service book lists all the repairing works that have been done on the van. The history of the vehicle will give you the idea about the maintenance costs that might be required in the future.
6. Go For Test Drive
After narrowing down your choices, it is important to take a test drive before sealing the deal. Test the brakes, steering, tyres, engine etc. and see if other basic features are operating or not. Check for the response of steering and gears while driving.
7. Third Party Inspection
Hiring an independent mechanic to inspect the van provides an unbiased assessment of the overall condition of the vehicle. It might sound like an unrequired expenditure but it definitely reduces the chance of getting duped.
8. Check The Documents
Always check for registration details of the van. You must be aware of the all the original owners of the van. The vehicle identification number of the van can be looked up in the police records to see if the van has been ever stolen or involved in a crime.
9. Know The Previous Owner
If you are buying the van from a private seller, it is important to ask what the van has been used for. Usually, commercial vehicles are more likely to be strained or overloaded and might incur additional maintenance costs.
10. Understand Your Rights
As a consumer, it is very important that you are aware of your rights in case things go wrong. If the seller does not disclose a major fault before the sale, you can get a partial or full refund.
We hope that the tips mentioned in this article help you in getting a reliable and efficient van. Thanks for reading!