More and more commercial vehicle operators are changing from buying new vehicles to used ones, according to the 2026 Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer.
Latest data reveals that 58% of operators now use second-hand vans, climbing from 52% last year. Meanwhile, a further 31% are planning to add more in the next three years, against 27% in 2025.
John Peters, head of Arval Mobility Observatory in the UK, said the way in which used vehicles had become a staple of fleets was an interesting trend.
He said: “The shortage of new vans during the pandemic prompted many fleets to consider pre-owned options and incorporating them into long-term acquisition strategies has subsequently become recognised as an effective option.
“This is enabled by the improved durability and quality of today’s vans. Modern designs maintain safety, operational cost-effectiveness, and good overall cosmetic condition for significantly longer periods than in the past.”
Notably, larger corporations are leading the shift toward pre-owned fleets. Specifically, 63% of those with more than 1,000 employees have integrated used vehicles, against 59% of those with 100-999 and 56% with fewer than 100.
Peters added: “To some extent, this is an unexpected finding but the key is that used vehicles are much more likely to be employed to fill gaps in fleet provision than as a core part of operations. Trying to buy 20 identical used models that can be added to a fleet is going to be difficult – but adding a couple to be operated as pool vehicles is relatively easy.”
