DoT Survey of Van Usage

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The results of a survey conducted by the Department Of Transport show that 59% of vans on the road in Britain are owned by businesses, 28% by private individuals and 12% by leasing or hire companies.

Looking at the estimated total mileage driven by vans, business-owned vehicles account for 66%, hire/lease vehicles for 18% and privately-owned light goods vehicle for 16%.

  • The 'carriage of equipment, tools and/or materials to provide a service' accounts for 51% of the average weekly mileage and 50% of the vehicles.
  • The 'delivery/collection of goods' accounts for a further 28% of the mileage but only 21% of the vehicle stock.
  • 'Private and domestic non-business' use is 9% per cent of the mileage but 18% of the stock
  • 'Providing transport' represents 3% of both the mileage and the number of LGVs.
  • The remainder did not specify a primary use.

'Panel vans', 'car-derived vans' and 'flat bed/pick-up/drop-side' vehicles are primarily used for 'the carriage of equipment, tools and/or materials' (56%, 49% and 44% respectively).

'Box/Luton' and 'insulated/refrigerated' vans have the primary use of 'the delivery/collection of goods' (47% and 92% respectively).

The survey also found that 53% of the vehicles were bought second hand, and 46% were bought new. However there were significant differences in the ownership of new and used vehicles – 86% of private vehicles were bought second hand, whereas 94% of hire/lease vehicles were bought new. For business-owned vehicles, the new:used split was fairly even (51% were bought new).

The survey of over 6,500 businesses was carried out in November and December last year.