New record for used van prices.

December 2009 displaced November’s place in the record books to deliver a new high for average LCV values as buyers continued to compete strongly for stock right through to the year end, according to BCA.

Another £100 plus was added to average van prices over the month, and the £4,000 watershed was breached for the first time on record.  Values increased by 2.7%, from £3,902 to £4,008, to establish a new high point for LCVs.  Over the full year, average values increased by 37% from just under £3,000 – a sign of both how strong the demand was in 2009, and how far prices had collapsed over the previous year.

Despite the average price increase, performance against CAP fell for the third straight month, settling at 95.21% and representing another three points off last months average. Overall CAP performance has fallen by nearly 10 points since September.

Duncan Ward, BCA’s General Manager Commercial Vehicles, commented:  “End users remained very active in the marketplace, and delivery firms expanding capacity in advance of Christmas no doubt buoyed the average price during December.

“The outlook will remain good for the first quarter while supply and demand are so well balanced, but condition remains critical and any vehicle that is carrying excessive damage – cosmetic or otherwise – is likely to struggle for attention.  Good, clean vehicles should meet market price expectations and more.”