PRESS RELEASE

8TH JUNE 2016

Five things to add value to a van

Vehicle valuations experts Glass's have named the top five optional extras that add value when it comes to selling your van.

Andy Picton, senior commercial vehicle editor, said that some options can really enhance the value of a light commercial vehicle or make it easier to sell when the time comes.

He explained: "A van equipped properly with extras sourced from the manufacturer will often add value. Equally, there are plenty of options that are expensive when new but have little resale appeal or return when the van is offered on the open market.

"Our advice to van buyers is, unless it is a requirement for your business, avoid loading up your vehicle unnecessarily with extras that won't give you a return when you sell."

The top five options recommended by Glass's are:

1. Air conditioning/climate control - Driven by health and safety, this is now the first thing buyers look for in a used van, and before long, we believe will feature as standard specification on all LCVs.

2. Fully integrated Bluetooth - Another feature that is part of health and safety concerns. An essential extra for the van buyer and another feature that should be standardised. To be able to keep in touch with customers safely whilst on the move is imperative.

3. Alloy wheels and appearance packs - Although not suited to many large panel vans, those at the lighter end of the scale that double as lifestyle vehicles will benefit significantly from colour coded bumpers and wing mirrors as well as an upgrade on the standard wheels to a nice set of alloys. There is a fine line though - too much bling will put potential buyers off.

4. Paint colours - Metallic paint, if damage free, looks great on a van and enhances the overall appearance. The right colour will add value and the van will sell more quickly on the open market. Stick to a nice metallic dark blue or silver/grey to achieve the best return.

5. Load area protection/ply-lining - This is a cheap but essential extra for all vans that are not kitted out with internal racking. It will not necessarily add value to your van, but will protect the vehicle both inside the load area and also from those in-to-out dings that are so difficult to repair.

About Glass's

Glass's is the largest vehicle data provider in Europe, offering products and solutions that are invaluable at every stage of a vehicle's lifecycle. These include key valuation, technical and fleet management data, estimating, bodyshop and dealer management systems and web-based services. Founded in 1933 by William Glass, the first Glass's Guide to Car Values - widely referred to as the used car dealer's bible - was published in July of that year.

For further details:

• Sanjay Mistry, Paperchase PR, 07810 368 772, sanjay@paperchasepr.co.uk

• Simon Wells, Paperchase PR, 07768 912 430, simon@paperchasepr.co.uk

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