Former hire and lease vans do provide a lot of reassurance. Almost all are sold with a comprehensive history, which means you can get a decent understanding of how the van has been used before parting with your cash. I’d also recommend getting a mechanical inspection. Any legitimate private seller or dealer will have no problem with you having the van inspected by a professional, and for around £150 you can ensure (as far as possible) that the vehicle you’re buying is sound.

However, beware of dishonest traders who try and pass themselves off as private sellers to avoid their legal obligations. Always start the phone conversation with "I'm interested in the van for sale". If they reply with "which one?" then they're probably not what they claim to be. For used van buying guides, see: vans.honestjohn.co.uk/used-van-buying-guides/

You can also see all reported faults in our van reviews, by clicking the Good/Bad section: vans.honestjohn.co.uk/van-reviews/