FLEETS should be putting their vehicles through fleet-only auctions because trade buyers buy with more confidence from them, pushing conversion rates and prices up.

According to Andrew Walker, chief executive officer at the Fleet Auction Group, dealers looking for used stock will always buy well from fleet-only auctions because they know what to expect.

He said: 'Dealers understand that fleets are run by professional fleet managers, whose job it is to ensure that their vehicles achieve the best wholelife operating costs. Part of this value is obviously at resale. Fleet managers are therefore motivated to ensure that dealers are presented with vehicles that have been looked after, have been regularly serviced by franchised outlets and are brought to auction in clean or straight-to-retail condition.

'This obviously makes the vehicles very attractive to the trade, and means they generally realise better prices at auction for the fleet operator.'