Buying a van for your business can seem like a daunting task. There are several important factors to consider and choosing the wrong vehicle can make professional life more difficult and less efficient than it could be.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles offers a variety of vans to fit a wide range of requirements. The Caddy, Transporter and Crafter are all more sophisticated than ever before, as well as safer and more comfortable, leaving you with just a few key questions to ask yourself before you buy.

Take the time to answer the following before you begin your search for a van: how many people and how much cargo do you regularly need to carry? How much load space do you require and what’s the maximum payload? Do you need specific storage options? What technology do you need?

Once you have an idea of the specifications and size requirements, you can focus on how you’ll pay for it and what aftersales support you need.

Practicality

The most obvious aspect that prospective van owners need to consider when buying a new van is its size. It’s important not just to think of length, width and height but also weight and load carrying capacity, as well as passengers.

Also think about whether you need a unique racking system or bespoke conversion. A good racking solution can not only save time hunting for tools, it can also improve safety and security by ensuring equipment isn’t damaged while the van is moving.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles also offers a range of vehicle accessories such as roof racks or rear access steps so that you can tailor your van to your specific needs.

Safety and security

It’s vital to ensure that your van is as safe as possible in order to avoid unnecessary accidents that can cause injuries and/or damage to your vehicle. Safety comes in many forms for vans and there are a number of features to consider, including stability control, airbags, parking sensors, lane keeping assist and many more.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ award-winning safety features include Front Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and Crosswind Assist.

Vans are often targeted by thieves, particularly if they think the van contains expensive tools and equipment, so it’s worth considering the security systems available. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ vans are available with an anti-theft alarm system, interior monitoring and vehicle trackers. Buying a van equipped with these systems can avoid unnecessary downtime caused by vehicle break-ins and theft.

Stay connected

Vans are so much more than load-lugging workhorses these days, with many fitted with hi-tech features to make life easier and more comfortable. Researching the kind of technology that is available should play a part in your purchase decision. For example, parking sensors can prevent expensive repair bills from car park bumps and scrapes that cost UK businesses millions of pounds a year. Similarly, connectivity features such as USB ports, climate control, basic Bluetooth or more advanced systems like Volkswagen’s We Connect, which allows you to access certain apps on the road, add extra convenience and luxury, too.

Paying for your van

There are many ways to purchase or lease your van, so it’s important to consider all options and decide on the best solution for your business. Speaking to your local Van Centre and their finance expert to find out more about the available range of finance options is the perfect place to start.

Paying upfront for your van can often appear to be the most straightforward way to purchase a new vehicle, however many manufacturers offer attractive finance packages that may be better for cashflow. Finance options can also be beneficial in the long run if there is more than one of you in the company and you are running more than one van.

Contract Hire can offer greater flexibility to businesses as well as reduce worries about the future vehicle value or the hassle of selling it on. With varying durations and mileage limits, Contract Hire agreements offer monthly rentals with the option to include a servicing and maintenance package. At the end of the contract you simply hand the vehicle back, subject to mileage and vehicle condition, and have the option to start a new agreement or walk away.

Another option is Finance Lease, which is a flexible form of funding allowing tradespeople to change the size of the deposit, length of agreement and monthly rental costs. You can choose between paying off the entire cost of a vehicle via monthly rentals over the term of a lease and paying monthly rentals plus a final payment (balloon payment) based on the forecast resale value of the vehicle. Agreements usually range between 12 to 48 months and have a maximum mileage limit of 150,000 at contract end.

Aftersales

Don’t separate buying your van from running it. Taking out a service and maintenance contract when you purchase your van can be cost-effective, especially when rolled into a monthly payment, and means you don’t have to worry about regular servicing costs. What’s more you’ll get regular reminders from your dealer, ensuring your van’s properly looked after.

In addition, by planning maintenance in advance, you can minimise disruption to your day-to-day work in two ways. Firstly, by scheduling routine work so your van’s operational when you and your customers need it; and secondly, by being proactive and conducting regular checks, you can reduce the likelihood of it breaking down. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles offers flexible servicing hours and mobile options so make sure you check before you buy what aftersales support comes with your van.

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