Buying ex Post Office van

hilow

Hi
I am looking to purchase a second hand small van. I have been told that ex post office ones are a good buy. Can anyone give me a guide as to how much I would have to pay for one at auction.
Thanks

photome

A friend of mine has just bought a small PO van from auction. I think it was in Cambridge or thereabouts.

Paid 1400 it is a 54 plate

MX5huggy

You can buy from BT direct, ask them to send you the price list

http://www.btfleet.com/sales/vehicle-sales.aspx

newsseller12

Round here the post office drive them like they are stolen!!!!
They are thrashed everywhere and covered ib battle scars!

goldspanners

hilow wrote: »

Hi
I am looking to purchase a second hand small van. I have been told that ex post office ones are a good buy. Can anyone give me a guide as to how much I would have to pay for one at auction.
Thanks

next time you see a post office or royal mail van watch how much care and attention the driver pays to the vehicle. usually none.
but im sure there will be half decent buys out there somewhere,you just need to know what your looking.

vansboy

My business was built on selling ex government & utilty vehicles.

The Royal Mail fleet was our prime source of work for our paintshop, as they did have more than their fair share of bumps n grazes!!

I was in the fortunate position of buying in such quantity, that I had pick of the fleet! One of the best buys, was from our local office, a 3 year old (their standard life-cycle, for a small van) 3000miler.

The next best, an Escort, which was 5years old with a only couple of hundred miles - it was actually Royal Mail owned, but lent to the Eastenders film set, for realism!!

& the nicest one ever, was from.... the Royal Mail Driving School!! & no, it wasn't all bashed about, where postal people are SHOWN how to drive badly!! It was in remarkable condition!!

& the highest milege was 120000, 9months old, from the Queens own Postal Fleet - it had a more or less daily run, with Her Majesties personal mail on board, to Scotland!! But as clean an example, you'll never see, again!!

Assuming you're buying at auction & not looking for body repairs, go for as dent free as you can see, with 50-60000 miles on. These will have had an easier life, than around town, low miles, with less stop n start work, too.

VB

custardy

i would be very wary.
most of our vans are 3-5 years old and are showing their age
coupled with the fact they are maintained at a minimum
last time i dropped off a van needing a new gearbox i listed other faults including non locking rear doors
the van got its gearbox and the rear doors cable tied shut

harveybobbles

My mate makes his living from selling vans. He buys them from Thrify, Royal Mail, BT and the like. they are all fully maintained and get fully valeted.

You could buy a dented old dog from t'auction or pay a few more quid to get one from a dealer.

I buy lots of cars from the BT Fleet. Mainly Honda Accords as that's all they seem to run lol.

cyclonebri1

Agree with Harvey, don't bother with the hassle of sifting through the auctions for ex fleet vans, loads of outfits make a buisiness of this and buying from them costs little and saves a world of hassle.
Guy near me buys PO vans, RAC, and several others, the few folks I know that have bought from him were well pleased:money:

hilow

Thanks for all the input so far. Going to an auction to purchase a van is not a problem for me I am no expert, but like to think I know enough about vans to not come away with a dodgy one. I was looking to purchase this way to save on the price, cutting out the middle man. How much extra would a dealer add to the price if he bought at auction and then sold on, is it worth paying their mark up? I have about £1500 to spend and thought this may be the best way of getting value for money may be I should have a rethink.

cyclonebri1

In that case go and have a look round a few traders to get an idea on price/condition, and if nothing grabs your money go to one of the commercial auctions, (remembers some are closed auctions), and see if you can save money. Don't forget to check the T&Cs for details of buyers premium, indemnity etc. It all adds to the hammer price.

At least that way you can hopefully be assured of max VFM;)