Used light commercial vehicle prices at BCA climbed to their highest level in 18 months in September, as strong buyer demand and tightening supply drove values sharply upward.
Average prices rose to £8,460, up £568 (7.2%) month-on-month and £1,010 (13.6%) higher than in the same month last year. The figure marks the highest average LCV value since March 2024, signalling renewed strength in the used van market despite a slowdown in new van sales.
BCA recorded 2,600 unique LCV buyers during the month, with performance against price guide expectations rising by three percentage points, the best result so far in 2025. More than 9,000 vans were sold, making September the busiest month since early spring.
The strong showing pushed BCA’s year-to-date average LCV value above £8,000 for the first time this year, equivalent to more than 104% of guide price expectations.
Over 8,200 individual buyers have purchased vans from BCA in 2025 so far.
Stuart Pearson, BCA’s UK chief operating officer, said September’s results reflected “exceptional” demand in the used market.
“Every metric showed a notable uplift over previous months, with the highest average value seen for some 18 months,” Pearson said. “Buyer numbers increased throughout the month, with new customers continuing to be drawn to BCA’s seven-day-a-week online sales programme and the industry’s widest selection of stock.”
He added that with new LCV registrations down 2.1% year-on-year in September, according to SMMT figures, the used market is stepping in to fill the gap for sole traders and SMEs needing work-ready vehicles.
“Professional buyers tell us that sourcing the right stock is increasingly competitive, and with forecourt inventory still well below expectations, this pressure is unlikely to ease anytime soon,” Pearson said.
Demand has pushed up prices across the board, particularly for well-maintained, low-mileage vans, but Pearson noted that interest is also returning for older, higher-mileage models — provided they remain in good condition.
With home delivery services ramping up for the Christmas period and new vehicle supply still constrained, BCA expects the used van market to remain highly competitive in the months ahead.
