What types of van are available?
Here are the main van types you can lease for business:
4x4 van
You can use a 4x4 like the Mitsubishi Outlander Commercial in icy or snowy conditions and it is an ideal in-between option for those who don’t want a big pickup truck.
Box vans
These are ideal for removal companies and parcel deliveries due to the large space available in the back. The Ford Transit is a popular box van.
Pickups
These work in a similar way to box vans, with an open-air bed in place of the cargo area. You can see this with the Volkswagen Amarok.
Panel van
By far one of the most popular vans in the UK, you can choose between a low, medium and high roof and a short, medium and long wheelbase. A good example of a panel van is the Citroen Dispatch.
City van
As the name suggests, these vans are ideal for use in urban areas due to their compact size. They’re normally used by auto factors or florists to do multi-drops. Try the Peugeot Partner if you need a city van.
Luton van
Like the Renault Master, the Luton has similarities with the box van, with a cab and chassis with a square box for cargo on the back.
What will you use your lease van for?
Payload
The reason for using the van is the most important thing to decide before anything else. From this point you can decide on the payload you’ll need for the van. If you are not sure about what sort of payload you’ll need, you can use the following guidelines for an approximate idea:
- Dry sand (full bag): 1,330kg per m3
- Potatoes (full bag): 50kg
- MDF sheet: 30kg to 40kg
- Cement (full bag): 25kg to 50kg
- Paint tin (5 litres): 7kg
Take into consideration how often you will be using the van and how much of its payload is likely to be needed on an ongoing basis. 
Access
Not only is the payload important, but also how it will be loaded on to the van. If you are regularly moving heavy loads you may require fork-lift access. For ongoing deliveries, during the day the driver may need to use the side of the van.
The type of step featured on the van will also depend on the design. You will find that panel vans have a lower floor with either sliding side doors or rear doors. Some vans are also available with extra steps as an added feature.
Passengers
If your delivery or collection drivers only work in individual teams, then you probably will not need more than two seats. However, if the van is going to be used for transporting groups of people at any one time, or if you use it outside of work with family and friends, then you will need to take this into consideration. Driver comfort is important, especially for people who spend long hours inside the cab on a daily basis. Whether it’s yourself or someone else using it, ensuring the seating is well positioned and comfortable can make all the difference to the driving experience.
Linings
If the van is being used for carrying industrial equipment, it should be fine to use the original metal shell interior. However, for more sensitive material, you may want to line the van to protect not only the interior but the goods being carried. These are usually available as added extras, with either plastic or rubber lining used in the van.
Journey type
The type of journeys and their lengths can help you determine whether to go diesel or petrol. If you frequently go on longer trips, you will need to lease a van that can stand up to the added stresses and strains this will place on the vehicle. Also, think about the areas you are driving into in terms of width and height – will the van be able to access the roads without any issue?
The last thing you need to consider is price. Read on to see how you can drive a van or fleet that suits your budget.
Finding a van to suit your budget
One of the best things about business van leasing is how affordable it can be for companies of all sizes. There’s a van to suit every need and almost every type of budget.
The cost of a van and the total price you will pay each month could be dictated by factors such as:
- Lease type
- Initial rental
- Annual mileage
- Vehicle type
- Contract length
- Hirer’s credit rating
- Maintenance packages
- Additional features
The biggest influences on the price you will pay are the initial rental, contract length and type, plus the vehicle you decide to lease.
Initial Rental
The more money you can commit at the start of the contract, the less you will have to pay over the remainder of the lease. You usually have a choice between three, six or nine months’ worth of rentals, but you are able to pay more if you can afford to.
Contract length
A van lease works in a similar way to a loan as you are required to make monthly payments for a fixed period of time; however, you will not own the van at the end of the agreement. The longer the contract, the lower the price is likely to be. Bear in mind this is not always the case, as the price of the van itself still plays a big role in the cost. Although, because of the many variables that affect the full cost, there are some shorter deals that end up being cheaper than a longer-lasting contract.
Vehicle type
Often, customers can secure extremely good prices depending on the type of van they choose to lease. When the manufacturers are ending production on particular models, this can lead to significant discounts to ensure they are sold.
Of course, the van spec and any additional features included in the lease will impact on the monthly payments. So if you lease a van with a bigger engine, or with built-in features like parking assist or sat nav, the price will naturally be higher.
If you already know which van you’re looking for, it’s simple to get a free, instant quote from us. Just get in touch with our helpful customer service team and we can start the easy process today.
Or if you’re not sure, start your van search and choose from top brands like Ford, Peugeot and Mercedes-Benz, available now at low prices with Leasing Options.
