The Ford Transit is still top of the thieves’ shopping list, followed by the Mercedes Sprinter and the Mitsubishi L200, according to HPI’s latest league table of the most commonly stolen light commercial vehicles (LCVs).

However, it is perhaps not surprising that the country’s best-selling LCVs feature in a list of the most stolen vans.

“It’s not just van owners that need to be concerned about which LCVs are most commonly stolen; used van buyers also need to consider the risks,” explained Daniel Burgess, managing director for HPI.

Outstanding finance also continues to be a major risk with around one in eight vans checked with HPI still on a finance agreement.

Again, van owners could find themselves losing both the van and the money they paid for it, if the legal owner reclaims the vehicle.

One in 17 vans are likely to have been involved in an accident and declared a total loss, otherwise known as a write-off, by an insurance company.

Some insurance write-offs can be legitimately repaired by professionals and returned to the road, but many are damaged so badly they should only be scrapped.

Sadly, it is not uncommon for the unscrupulous, looking to make a quick profit, to disguise a van that isn’t safe so that they can put it back on the road, and then sell it on to an unsuspecting buyer, says HPI.


HPI STOLEN VAN HIT RATES

Ford Ford Transit 25%
Mercedes Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 21%
Mitsubishi Mitsubishi L200 13%
Nissan Nissan Primastar 4%
Peugeot Peugeot Expert 4%