The used van market is preparing for a difficult second half of the year as new vehicles join big fleets and large numbers of older-style vans come on to the market.

Vehicle intelligence firm EurotaxGlass’s believes the industry will start to feel the bite, a scenario so far avoided this year with price dips limited to around 8% over the past quarter.

But large numbers of vehicles battling it out at auctions will inevitably send prices tumbling.

The number of car-derived vans appearing at auctions remains low, and the best, low-mileage examples of later Peugeot 206s, Ford Fiestas and Vauxhall Corsavans are selling at close to guide prices.

But with ever-more competitive deals being offered on new vehicles, the fortunes of late-plate stock are likely to be jeopardised.

New-shape Vauxhall Astravans are appearing in steady numbers. But the best-performing light van is the Volkswagen Caddy, as the number and mix of used stock available is in line with the market sentiment.

There is still plenty of support for clean panel vans, although some late-year models that previously saw prices underpinned by long lead times on new vehicles now look less secure, as delivery pressures have eased.

Smaller Ford Transits, one-tonne Fiat Ducatos and Peugeot Boxers are similarly affected with more late-year examples coming to market.

At auction, the best-prepared stock is selling well, as in these difficult times buyers are drawn towards premium vans with low mileage that sell quickly.

The Volkswagen T5 is the strongest-performing medium panel van, especially the 2.5 TDI, although the 85PS SWB model occasionally struggles.

The last of the old-shape Citroën Dispatch and Peugeot Experts remain in demand, as are Mercedes-Benz Sprinters and Volkswagen Crafters.

Clean examples of medium and high roof 3.5-tonne vans do well across the marques, as long as they are of a decent trim level and with top power outputs from their diesel engines.

“There is no better time for vendors to recognise the importance of vehicle preparation if they wish to achieve good results,” said George Alexander, EurotaxGlass’s commercial vehicle editor.