Manheim’s latest three-year market analysis for vans reports that average wholesale used van sale values are now exceeding 2006 levels.

At £3,263 the average selling price for a van was 4% (£127) higher than Q3 2006 but 10.7% (£389) lower than Q3 2007, recognised by all within the industry as the record year.

The volume of vans sold by Manheim has varied from quarter to quarter with the most notable variance occurring in Q2 2009 when volumes were more than 25% higher than in the same period in 2008.

Whilst average values in Q3 2009 are still below the peaks achieved in Q3 and Q4 2007, two van segments are actually performing even better than 2007.

Car vans are up by 1.9% (£39) to £2,048 and, perhaps more notably, 4x4s up by 23.1% (£1,140) to £6,066, the highest value for 4x4 pick-ups since Manheim began reporting on market performance.

In contrast, average values of tippers and boxes & Lutons, at 17.9% (£771) and 16.1% (£764) below 2006 prices, are at their lowest levels for three years at £3,538 and £3,967 respectively.

However, volumes in these two segments are small (less than 5% of total sales) and values are heavily influenced by vehicle condition, so the results should be considered in this context.

Over the past three years average age has remained stable at 55 months, while average mileage has fallen slightly from 72,059 in Q3 in 2006 to 70,479 in Q3 2009.