If you’re considering buying a van, you will be doing so for your own specific reasons – perhaps you own a business and require a vehicle to transport goods quickly and easily, or perhaps you need more space to accommodate a larger family. Whatever your reasons for buying a van, the process can be very different to buying a car, and there a few things you should know before you start the process.

Before you start researching new van models, take the time to think about whether buying a new van is the right decision for you. Look at your financial situation and make sure you can afford the monthly payments to finance the vehicle. Cars are generally cheaper to run than vans, for example road tax is usually higher for vans than for car, so is it absolutely necessary that you purchase a van, or would a car be sufficient?

If you’d prefer to buy a new van, then leasing could be the best option for you as it will allow you to make smaller monthly payments based on the residual value of the vehicle. At the end of the lease term, you can simply either return the van to the leasing company, or choose to take another vehicle on a new leasing agreement. Alternatively, you could choose a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) agreement on the new van, which will give you the option to purchase the car outright at the end of the term.

In order to secure a good deal when buying a van, it’s important to do some research beforehand. Find out what type of van you want – micro van, pickup van, large van, based on how you will be using the vehicle. Look at cargo space, number of seats and safety records, as well as running costs.

Once you’ve decided on the type of van you want, visit some local van dealers to have a look at what offers they have running. Always haggle on prices to make sure you get the best deal.