Demand and buyer engagement for used vans has remained healthy throughout Q2 while buyers become more selective with their stock acquisition, according to Mnaheim Auction Services.
Average selling prices across Manheim auctions reduced from £9,505 in Q1 to £8,489 in Q2. This coincided with an increase in average vehicle age and mileage, a typical trend following the March plate change.
Matthew Davock, commercial vehicles director at Manheim UK, said, “The used van market started 2026 at a significant pace, while the second quarter settled into a more natural rhythm.
“It is important to understand that what we’ve seen in Q2 isn’t a weakening market, but a more selective one.
“Buyers are still highly active and their demand remains strong, but they are taking more time to evaluate stock and are placing greater emphasis on value.”
Premiums against guide values also narrowed, reducing by 2.8% during the quarter as buyers became more disciplined when assessing value.
Vans achieved 16.1% more on average during the first six months of 2026 than in the same period of 2025.
First-time conversion rates eased slightly, from 82.8% to 78.8%, though average days to sell held steady at approximately 11 days.
Physical buyer participation continued to grow, with sales to physical buyers rising from 34.5% in Q1 to 36.5% in Q2, while upstream sales increased by 54% during the quarter as buyers looked to secure the right stock.
The standout performer was once again the used electric van sector. While core van sale volumes at Manheim decreased by 6.5% against 2025’s record-breaking figures, electric van volumes increased by 6% quarter-on-quarter and 42% YoY.
First-time conversion rates for electric vans rose from 69.6% in Q1 to 82.2% in Q2, while average days to sell fell from 19.8 to 14.8.
Average electric van selling prices remained above £9,500 throughout H1 and exceeded £10,100 in May, with most electric vans entering the used market around three years old and covering between 19,000 and 23,000 miles.
