Should I Buy an Ex Rental Van?
This is a big question and can come with lots of common misconceptions, and as a rental company I think we are the best people to clear up those misconceptions for you. In this blog we will take a look at what an ex rental van is, what the positives and negatives are for buying one. We also will take a look at an ex rental van vs a normal second hand van and the key differences between them. We will then answer the question: should you buy one or not, how to buy one and if you are not yet ready to buy one, how to rent or lease one.
Handy Rentals have been offering high quality cargo vans for sale and rent for over 30 years, so we certainly know our stuff when it comes to these common commercial vehicles. Learn from our experience and make the right choice for your next vehicle purchase.
What is an ex rental van?
An ex rental van is exactly what it says on the tin, it’s a van that was previously used for a rental fleet, these vehicles would have been rented by customers used for various things. Ex rental vans at Handy Rentals normally live a 2 to 3 year life on the fleet before they find new homes. Most of their work involves picking up bits of furniture, courier runs and the odd small house move, depending on the size of the van. Not all ex rental vans are the same, of course some companies will run slightly older vehicles and some will run slightly newer ones. This will generally be reflected in the price point of the ex rental van, but not always so you will have to be careful. Whenever buying ANY vehicle Handy always recommends you get an independent party to do a mechanical and condition check on the vehicle, this will cost you but will save you from buying a lemon and having more issues in the long run – In the automotive industry a lemon refers to a vehicle that is riddled with issues and problems.
A good thing about an ex rental van is you can always buy it from a company you know and trust.. Like Handy Rentals, we will get on to the best way to buy an ex rental van a little bit further down this blog. Ex rental vans often cop a bad reputation for being not so great, but in our opinion (especially with our fleet) this couldn’t be further from the truth, for rental companies their vehicles are their main asset. Because of this they will do everything in their power to ensure their asset is well looked after and maintained, this way it is more likely to hold its value.
What are the positives of buying an ex rental van?
Like all things they come with their upsides and their downsides, buying an ex rental van is no different. We of course encourage you to do your own research on this but we will outline the positives of buying an ex rental van.
- Well maintained and looked after:
As we said in an earlier paragraph the vehicles on a rental companies fleet are their main assets and good companies will do everything they can to look after them.
- You can rent it first to see if it’s fit for purpose:
Of course you can always take vehicles for a test drive, but how often will you get the opportunity to rent it, carry a load and check if it’s fit for YOUR purpose?
- Upgrades, Aftermarket Parts etc:
One thing people don’t consider is all the extra bits you’d need to add to your vehicle, for example if you buy a fresh Japanese import you run the risk of your radio not being in English and not having a wide enough frequency range, at least with a Handy vehicle these have already been changed and upgraded. This also goes for rear mat and floor modifications, as well as things like reversing cameras.
- A more competitive price:
Rental companies aren’t delusional, we understand ex rental stock can be valued at less than the price of a fresh import of a similar spec, but this can work in your favour. Often because the vehicle has made money on the rental fleet, companies are more likely to let it go for slightly less. - Servicing and History:
Good rental companies like us will check vehicles for fluid levels, oil levels and tyre pressure and tread before every hire to ensure they are safe. Good companies also keep an extensive service history of each vehicle. Good companies will also service these vehicles fully at their correct intervals.
It is always best to weigh up all your options before making a decision but these are the main positives when buying an ex rental van.
What are the negatives of buying an ex rental van?
Now for the negatives and of course there are negatives that you must consider before buying an ex rental van. In this case the positives very much outweigh the negatives of buying an ex rental van.
- Availability to pick-up:
In a few cases the vehicle might not be ready for you to pick up on the day you want to, especially if it has just been pulled from the fleet, we like to make sure we give out our vehicles fully detailed and looking the best they can.
- No trade ins:
Often with a dealership you can trade in your current vehicle to get some money taken off your new one, with rental companies they wont do this as they will be looking to upgrade their fleet to a newer vehicle. But with a rental company you don’t pay the dealership premium.
While writing this I sat here for 15 mins to try to think of more negatives, but I simply could not think of anything. Generally buying an ex rental van can be a great option for a lot of people.
Ex Rental Van VS Second Hand Van
Of course both types mentioned above in the title are second hand vehicles, but I feel they have many distinct differences. A second hand van can either be bought from a dealership or from a private seller, buying from a private seller probably means you will get a more cost effective price. However you are not covered by any sort of dealership protections if something were to go wrong in the first 6 months of having the vehicle. Buying from a dealership means that you do have those protections in place and you are covered if something does go badly wrong, at the cost of having to spend more money on the vehicle.
Now this is where I feel an ex rental van is the perfect option, the reason for this is at Handy Rentals we are a registered motor vehicle trader, which means that to private sellers we offer similar protections to dealerships, with the added benefit of being able to rent/give you a vehicle if your one is off the road within the first few months of purchase, of course only for a reason that is either our fault or a failure of the vehicle, not your own doing. With an ex rental you also don’t need to compromise on the price, sure it may not be as cost effective as a private seller, but it isn’t as expensive as a dealership.
Should you buy an ex rental van and why?
Yes, you should absolutely buy an ex rental van mostly for the aforementioned reasons above. The fact that you can get just as good a quality vehicle for less money than you would from a dealership with the same protections is a no brainer if you ask me. As long as you don’t mind the possibility of a small wait until your vehicle is ready then this is absolutely perfect.
Pair this with the fact that you know this vehicle has been well looked after and serviced properly during its lifetime. Why wouldn’t you buy one?
Where can you buy an ex rental van?
This one is very simple, you can buy an ex rental van from us here at Handy Rentals! We are constantly upgrading our fleet so we have a revolving door of stock for you to choose from. So please do reach out to us about possible vehicles to purchase.
Aside from that you can approach any rental company via email, phone or physically go in and ask if they might have any ex rental stock for sale or any stock coming up for sale. You won’t always find these things publicly listed. Ultimately start with us here at Handy Rentals and I am sure you will find something suitable for you.
Not ready to buy? You can also rent or lease one from Handy Rentals!
That’s right, if buying isn’t on your cards right now but you do need some extra vehicle capacity you can easily rent one from us. We offer competitive pricing as well as options for renting for longer or shorter periods of time. You take the vehicle for as long as you need it for and if you like it enough you can buy a similar one from the ex rental fleet.
Ultimately buying an ex rental van can be a great decision for anyone looking to bring a high quality vehicle onto their fleet or for personal use but without paying the high premium of a dealership.