Values of used light-commercial vehicles and the numbers sold rose for a second consecutive month in October, according to figures recorded by major auction house BCA.

LCV pricing has been volatile for much of 2024, but in recent times BCA has seen rises in both vehicle values and buyer numbers.

Average monthly LCV values rose to £7,501 in October, up by £51 (0.7%) from the £7,450 recorded in September.  BCA sold values continued to outperform guide price expectations, averaging 102.9% in October, a rise of 2.2 percentage points month-on-month.

The significant increase in sold volumes during the month was attributed primarily to operators making preparations for increased demand for delivery vehicles in the run-up to the Christmas period.  However volume was also considerably better than the same period last year with sold LCVs running 28% ahead of October 2023.

BCA’s UK chief operating officer Stuart Pearson commented that after quite sharp realignment in prices between April and August of 2024, the used van market had bounced back recently with two consecutive months of modest value growth and increased sales

“A little consistency in pricing goes a long way to building strength across the wider marketplace – it means sellers can value vehicles realistically in line with market expectations, while buyers can purchase stock in the confidence that values are likely to remain steady in the weeks ahead,” Pearson said.

He added, however that the market remains price sensitive and whilst the remarketing basics remain as important, supporting adding value has significantly improved. “Investing in the right level of both mechanical and cosmetic repairs can add significant value and improve first time conversion,” Pearson said.