Used vans in Barnsley: what to check and what to ask before you buy

A van is a working tool. If it lets you down, you lose a day's work as well as the repair bill.

Quick answer: Before you buy a used van, check the MOT history and any open safety recalls online, then the service history and mileage. Make sure the plated weights give you the payload you need, look hard at the load area, the side and rear doors and any tow bar, and ask whether the price is plus VAT or no VAT.

We sell used vans, cars and pickups from The Old Garage on Genn Lane in Worsbrough, and our own technicians prepare every vehicle at our Stairfoot service centre. These are the checks we would want any van buyer in South Yorkshire to make, whoever they buy from.

Looking now? See the used vans on our forecourt or call sales on 01226 574410.

What should you check before you see the van?

Most of the history is online. All you need is the registration.

• MOT history. The GOV.UK MOT history checker shows past passes and fails and the mileage at each test. Look for gaps, odd mileage and advisories that keep coming back.

• Safety recalls. The GOV.UK vehicle recall checker shows safety recalls that have not been checked or fixed.

• DVLA details. Match the make, model and colour with the DVLA vehicle information checker.

• Service history. Ask for the book, invoices or digital record. On a van, how it was looked after matters more than the number on the clock.

Citizens Advice also recommends a private history check for theft, write-offs and money still owed.

How much can it carry, and can you drive it?

Size is not the same as capacity. The guide to driving a van on GOV.UK explains that every van has a design gross weight, shown on the VIN plate. Take away what the van weighs ready to drive and the rest is your payload (vehicle weights explained).

• Your licence. The same guidance says a standard car licence covers a van up to 3,500kg, or a zero emission electric or hydrogen van up to 4,250kg. Some large vans are plated above that, so check the plate.

• Towing. Check the gross train weight on the plate. Drivers' hours and tachograph rules can apply once van and trailer together go above 3.5 tonnes, with some exemptions. Our guide to buying a used vehicle for towing has more.

What do the load area and doors tell you?

The back of a van shows how it has been worked. Look in daylight.

• Load area. Lift any ply lining and check the floor, arches and tie-down points for dents and rust.

• Bulkhead. Check it is there and secure. The same guidance points out that some vans have none, and an unsecured load can end up in the cab in a collision.

• Side and rear doors. Worn runners, sagging hinges and torn seals point to hard use.

• Tow bar. Ask what it towed and how often. Heavy towing wears the clutch and suspension.

• Clutch and short town runs. Pull away on a hill and feel for slip or judder. A diesel van used only for short town runs may have missed the longer drives its particulate filter needs. Our guide to avoiding DPF problems on a diesel van explains why.

Working in a city? Put the registration into the GOV.UK clean air zone checker, which covers Sheffield and Bradford among others, or TfL's ULEZ checker for London. Our guide to the Sheffield clean air zone covers the local picture.

What should you ask about a Transit, Vivaro or Movano?

The checks above apply to all three, with a few extra questions.

• Ford Transit and Transit Custom 2.0 EcoBlue. Ask about the wet belt. Ford cut the interval on the 2.0 EcoBlue to 6 years or 100,000 miles, from 10 years or 150,000 miles, for Transit and Transit Custom from 2016. Ask to see the invoice. Our wet belt replacement guide explains the job.

• Vauxhall Vivaro. Check the history against that engine's schedule and look closely at the sliding side door.

• Vauxhall Movano. Check the plated weight against your licence and your load, and look at the rear doors and load floor.

For a wider comparison, read our guide to the best used vans in Barnsley.

Plus VAT or no VAT: what is the difference?

This is general information, not tax advice.

• Plus VAT means VAT is added on top of the advertised price, at the standard rate of 20% shown on the GOV.UK VAT rates page. If your business is VAT registered and the van is for business use, you may be able to reclaim it under HMRC's normal rules.

• No VAT usually means there is nothing to add and nothing shown for you to reclaim. The seller may not be VAT registered, or the van may be sold under the VAT margin scheme, where GOV.UK says the invoice must not show VAT separately.

Crew vans and combis with rear windows or seats can count as cars for VAT. HMRC's motoring expenses guidance explains the rules, including the exception for a payload of one tonne or more. If reclaiming matters to you, check with your accountant first.

Not sure whether a price includes VAT? Ask the seller to confirm it in writing before you agree anything.

What do you get when you buy a van from us?

Every car and van we sell comes with:

• 6 months' warranty, with the details on our car care page

• an MOT before you collect it

• a service

• 2 keys and fitted mats

• 12 months' AA cover

• dedicated aftercare

Every van is prepared by our own technicians at our RAC Approved service centre at Stairfoot. Read how we prepare every vehicle for sale. Give us the registration of any van on our forecourt and we will talk you through its MOT history and checks.

The same team looks after servicing and repairs on vans as well as cars. If something goes wrong, you ring us and our own service centre looks after it. Customer Care is on 01226 574321.

A good used van has a history you can read, weights that suit your work and a seller who answers every question before you pay.

Van FAQ

Is a high-mileage van worth buying?

It can be. How it was looked after matters more than the miles, so read the MOT and service history.

How do I check a van's MOT history and recalls?

Put the registration into the MOT history and vehicle recall checkers linked above.

Can I drive a 3.5 tonne van on a car licence?

Yes, up to 3,500kg (4,250kg for a zero emission electric or hydrogen van). Check the plated weight on the van itself.

What does plus VAT mean on a used van?

VAT is added on top of the price shown. A VAT-registered business may be able to reclaim it. Check with your accountant.

What should I ask about a Transit wet belt?

Ask whether it has been replaced and see the invoice. On the 2.0 EcoBlue Transit and Transit Custom from 2016, Ford's interval is 6 years or 100,000 miles.

In short

Read the history first, match the plated weights to your load and licence, look hard at the back and the doors, ask about the wet belt on a 2.0 EcoBlue Transit, and know if the price is plus VAT or no VAT.

For more, read where to buy a used car in Barnsley and our used vehicle test drive checklist.

Ready to look? Browse our used vans or call sales on 01226 574410.

anycolourcar.com · The Old Garage, Genn Lane, Worsbrough, Barnsley S70 6TF · Sales 01226 574410