2023-09-12 17:28:13
Since vans are generally exposed to a lot of work, especially if they are focused on the work environment, the search for them must be carried out with patience and calmness to avoid unpleasant surprises. Therefore, and first of all, it will be essential to check that it has the ITV in force (and that it has passed it without problems), how the bodywork is in general and that it does not have serious dents or rust (check the undersides and areas very well. interiors, especially if it has been re-registered because it may come from Germany where the salt on the roads corrodes vehicles a lot), as well as the condition of the engine and that it has up-to-date maintenance. Also, do not forget to request a traffic report in order to check if has charges or can be transferred without problems.
It will also be important who the previous owner was. Here we can distinguish three cases, as reported in Autocasión. A self-employed person or individual: in the event that the van has been purchased by a self-employed person or an individual, we must request the maintenance history and invoices for the repairs carried out. If it does not have them, we can be suspicious. It is strange that a self-employed person does not keep the invoices for the expenses of the vehicle with which he works. Here there are the two extremes. The normal thing is that when you own the vehicle you have taken care of it because part of its benefits depend on good conservation of the van and correct maintenance. However, there are also those who simply buy the van and use it without consideration until it no longer works. This second case is the least frequent.
Company with an assigned driver: the van has provided service to a company but the vehicle has always been used by the same employee of the company. It is usually the best alternative. Companies usually have these vehicles through renting or leasing that are responsible for maintenance and, by having a single assigned user, he is usually responsible and also keeps it in good condition because it is his tool and where he spends his workdays.
Or a company with multiple drivers: it’s the worst possible scenario. Since they do not have a single driver and are rotated through several hands, they are usually worse treated.
Likewise, check the kilometers. In reality, it is not so important how many kilometers you have, but rather how those kilometers have been traveled. Transporting light packages is not the same as having worked for a masonry company and having been loaded up to the maximum legal weight. It is true that express parcel delivery services tend to circulate “at full speed”, but those that have transported heavy goods tend to have suffered more significant wear and tear.
It is also important to know if they have been vehicles intended for routes or for delivery, because breakdowns and wear vary. A van intended for delivery is more likely to have problems with the anti-pollution systems and clutches, while those on the road usually have more wear on elements such as the turbo, injectors, transmissions, etc.
Finally, vans are usually vehicles that users normally acquire through leasing or renting instead of buying them outright. This is important to take into account when purchasing it and make sure that we are dealing with the legal owner of the vehicle. Before closing the deal we must make sure in Traffic about possible domain reservations or pending charges that that vehicle has because later we may have problems making the transfer. It is not uncommon for individuals to put rental vehicles up for sale, collect the money and then walk away. Make sure that you pay the legal owner of the vehicle and that he or she is the one who signs the documents and procedures.
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