Today's light commercials are efficient, reliable, super-safe and good value for money. In contrast, your old jalopy could be a liability and a drain on your resources.
Another benefit of running a new light commercial vehicle is how you are seen by your clients  nothing shouts professionalism louder than a smart delivery vehicle.
In our annual look at the van world, we delve into the best ways to buy; look at the most important vehicles launched this year; and give the lowdown on the latest in refrigeration.
Take your time before signing on the dotted line. Read as many brochures as you can and make up a shortlist of best buys before test driving. And haggle hard.
Finally, enjoy your new van because nothing beats that special feeling when driving away from the showroom.
Just as the car market has been revolutionised by overseas purchasing and automotive-style supermarkets, so too has the van world and there are savings to be had.
That said, a conventional main dealership is still the easiest place to buy your next van or pick-up. Not only can dealers advise you on the best model for your needs, but they also offer the widest selection of dedicated options and custom accessories you are likely to need. And, thanks to the competitiveness of the current market, main dealers will happily talk discounts, too.
Main agents can provide manufacturer-subsidised finance and leasing packages although, again, high street competition means they can usually be matched by independent companies, so shop around for the best deal.
Buying from abroad can reap massive savings if you're prepared to put in the work. Shipping in a commercial vehicle yourself isn't quite as straightforward as buying a car due the extra red tape, called Single Type Approval.
You also need a Certificate of Conformity, which proves that the vehicle meets full European standards.
With a car, that's easy, but for light commercial vehicles you need to obtain this certificate in the UK from the manufacturer or concessionaire concerned, costing from £50.
If you can't get this document, watch out! A special test will be required and it's very expensive.
Further expense on vehicles over 3,500kg involves plating, but the good news is that if you order from an import specialist or broker, all the paperwork and delivery is taken care of, although it adds about £500 to the final bill.
It's not all plain sailing, though. If you decide to ship in your own vehicle then you'll need a special insurance to drive it overseas on the way home, plus you must register the vehicle in the UK and pay the taxes  promptly.
Another problem with importing that's recently sprung to light is currency fluctuations between sterling and the euro. This isn't helped by long delivery dates, running into months in many cases.
The answer is to buy currency in advance from specialist outlets (try Currencies Direct or Currencies4Less.com), open a foreign bank account (see your bank), or deal with an import broker who promises fixed pricing from the outset.
The last avenue to explore is car supermarkets. These are becoming increasingly involved with commercial vehicles and offer some attractive deals. For example, Ford Transits from under £9,500 and Mercedes Vitos for £11,600 are great savings on UK list prices, plus they are all pre-registered (so technically second-hand) and ready to go.
The snags are that these vehicles come with a limited choice of specifications and colours, and supermarket aftersales back-up is nothing like as comprehensive as from a main dealer. Also, a supersite won't want your old van as a part-exchange. But, for a straight purchase, check out the value they can offer.
Aside from new, why not consider a nearly new van such as dealer demonstrator vans? With very low mileages, they can be good value when compared with factory-fresh.
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Another benefit of running a new light commercial vehicle is how you are seen by your clients  nothing shouts professionalism louder than a smart delivery vehicle.
In our annual look at the van world, we delve into the best ways to buy; look at the most important vehicles launched this year; and give the lowdown on the latest in refrigeration.
Take your time before signing on the dotted line. Read as many brochures as you can and make up a shortlist of best buys before test driving. And haggle hard.
Finally, enjoy your new van because nothing beats that special feeling when driving away from the showroom.
Just as the car market has been revolutionised by overseas purchasing and automotive-style supermarkets, so too has the van world and there are savings to be had.
That said, a conventional main dealership is still the easiest place to buy your next van or pick-up. Not only can dealers advise you on the best model for your needs, but they also offer the widest selection of dedicated options and custom accessories you are likely to need. And, thanks to the competitiveness of the current market, main dealers will happily talk discounts, too.
Main agents can provide manufacturer-subsidised finance and leasing packages although, again, high street competition means they can usually be matched by independent companies, so shop around for the best deal.
Buying from abroad can reap massive savings if you're prepared to put in the work. Shipping in a commercial vehicle yourself isn't quite as straightforward as buying a car due the extra red tape, called Single Type Approval.
You also need a Certificate of Conformity, which proves that the vehicle meets full European standards.
With a car, that's easy, but for light commercial vehicles you need to obtain this certificate in the UK from the manufacturer or concessionaire concerned, costing from £50.
If you can't get this document, watch out! A special test will be required and it's very expensive.
Further expense on vehicles over 3,500kg involves plating, but the good news is that if you order from an import specialist or broker, all the paperwork and delivery is taken care of, although it adds about £500 to the final bill.
It's not all plain sailing, though. If you decide to ship in your own vehicle then you'll need a special insurance to drive it overseas on the way home, plus you must register the vehicle in the UK and pay the taxes  promptly.
Another problem with importing that's recently sprung to light is currency fluctuations between sterling and the euro. This isn't helped by long delivery dates, running into months in many cases.
The answer is to buy currency in advance from specialist outlets (try Currencies Direct or Currencies4Less.com), open a foreign bank account (see your bank), or deal with an import broker who promises fixed pricing from the outset.
The last avenue to explore is car supermarkets. These are becoming increasingly involved with commercial vehicles and offer some attractive deals. For example, Ford Transits from under £9,500 and Mercedes Vitos for £11,600 are great savings on UK list prices, plus they are all pre-registered (so technically second-hand) and ready to go.
The snags are that these vehicles come with a limited choice of specifications and colours, and supermarket aftersales back-up is nothing like as comprehensive as from a main dealer. Also, a supersite won't want your old van as a part-exchange. But, for a straight purchase, check out the value they can offer.
Aside from new, why not consider a nearly new van such as dealer demonstrator vans? With very low mileages, they can be good value when compared with factory-fresh.
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