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Our list of the most reliable used vans for under £10k.
If you’re getting a van for work, ensuring that you get the right one for you is extremely important so that it’s up to the job at hand. To get a quality van that you can trust, it may be worthwhile paying a little bit extra to make sure that you get something that is of a high standard.
Vans have a tremendous second-hand market, and you can find great options for used vans across the UK. That said, with there being so many choices, it can be hard to know which models and manufacturers you should look out for when searching for a used van.
To help with your search, we here at Car Adviser have put together a list of the best used vans you can get for under £10,000.
£10,000 is a fantastic budget to have as it gives you many options and makes it easier to find the perfect vehicle for your needs. If you need a van for a bit less, we also have an article detailing the best vans we’ve found for under £5,000. You can find that article, as well as more information about vans and cars, here on Car Adviser.
The Citroen Berlingo is an exciting van type, mainly because it’s technically not a van at all and is instead a family car. That said, it has the dimensions of a van and a van-like cargo space practically, making it a good option for those who need a van for light usage.
Its car-like drive helps to keep the van comfortable and pleasant to control, and it’s a brilliant option if you want something versatile to ferry children to school and that’s also able to load furniture and other cargo.
You can get a Berlingo for a great price, and the second-hand market is full of great options that are still in good condition.
Despite being more car-like than a van, it does suffer from having a pretty clunky gearbox that could be better to use. Plus, there’s a fair bit of wind noise when driving at high speeds, which can become pretty annoying.
As it’s a van with windows, it is a much easier vehicle to drive when compared to other vans, as you have better visibility of what’s behind you, making you much more confident on the roads. If you want a quality vehicle that’s three-quarters a van and one-quarter a typical car, this is an excellent option if you want something with practicality and diversity.
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Much like the Citroen Berlingo, The Transit Connect is a bit of a halfway house between a large SUV and a van. It has a lot of space for passengers and cargo, which can be increased thanks to folding rear seats, but it also has the driving ability and performance of a typical Ford car.
Ford has always been known for making vans that drive well, and Transit Connect is no different. It has a comfortable feel and car-like technology within the van, giving it a familiar feel to those not experienced with van driving. It’s responsive and surprisingly agile for a vehicle of this size and shape.
As it’s a vehicle that’s a cross between a van and a car, it does sacrifice payload space when compared to more traditional vans. That said, it has a reasonably high roof, which can still be helpful, although there are better options for a contractor’s car.
Instead, this vehicle is best suited to large families or those with pets, who may also, on occasion, need the extra space for larger loads. It’s an efficient car, too, with pretty low running costs, making it a good option for those who want to be more frugal.
You can currently pick up a Ford Transit Connect for a good price online and even get it through finance on platforms like Cazoo.
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The Renault Kangoo is a small van with tremendous value, and that’s been something that Renault has been focused on for the entirety of this van’s life.
Newer models of the van have excellent safety features, a cleaner engine that’s great if you’re worried about your emission output, and a good amount of cargo space.
That said, you won’t get short-changed if you get an older version second-hand, as the van is still very reliable and suitable for various situations and uses.
The van is smooth to drive and won’t whip you around corners, which is excellent if you have fragile items stored in the cargo bay. That said, it is a powerful little van that maintains pace and keeps up with highway traffic well.
Its cabin is also very nice and roomy, with comfortable seats that provide an excellent driving position that’s well suited to long drives.
The van does have a bit of an accessibility issue due to it not having a sliding door, which can, in turn, make it a bit harder to load it from the side.
The van isn’t designed for awkward or large loads, but it can be a hindrance if you want something more practical.
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If you’re looking for a classic van with a lot of room for cargo, the Nissan N200 is a great option, as it’s incredibly spacious. That said, this van is so impressive because it offers a significant amount of cargo space despite being a reasonably petite vehicle.
The van achieves this by running on what are small wheels for a traditional van. These wheels don’t only affect the cargo space, but they also make this van agile, making it great to use around town and urban areas. The issue with these wheels is that they can make the ride a bit uncomfortable on even the slightest of bumpy roads.
The NV200 makes use of a reasonably economical engine, helping it to be one of the most environmentally friendly vans available on the market. There’s also a more recent fully electric version, although you’ll struggle to find this on the second-hand market for under £10,000.
The van is not great for long-distance journeys. In fact, it can really suffer on the motorway, due to its small wheels and how it doesn’t ride very well. Its engine can also be a bit weak, and you may feel other traffic pull away from you when on faster roads.
This can be a bit of a shame considering its large load size, as it no longer fits the criteria of being a good long-distance haulier.
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The Citroen Relay is a great alternative to the market leaders such as the Ford Transit. That’s because it’s a bit cheaper and also has low running costs, making it a good option for those looking for something long-term.
It’s a sturdy panel van with a good amount of space and feels solid and durable. The van should be able to hold a Euro pallet easily, and it can also be hinged to the side door, making this van an excellent option for workers.
In terms of how well it drives, the Citroen Relay controls very easily and has light steering and good road visibility that can help drivers feel confident when behind the wheel. However, its gearbox could feel better, which can be offputting for many drivers. It’s also a very loud van, with wind and other road noises penetrating easily into the cockpit, which can be annoying over long distances.
Suppose you find a second-hand Citreon Relay made after 2016. In that case, that is an excellent option if you’re driving around London or other low-emission zones, as that van uses an engine that produces low enough emissions to avoid any charges.
The Relay is a good midway option as it has efficient space, drives well enough, and is equally suited for urban, rural, and motorway driving.
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The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is one of the best vans you can get second-hand and make up the top-tier level vans alongside the Ford Transit. There are multiple reasons why we at Car Adviser think the Sprinter is one van you need to consider, ranging from its practicality and driving ability.
The Sprinter is a large van, giving you a lot of storage space for your cargo while offering a spacious and comfortable cabin for you to sit in.
Modern Sprinters has adopted a front-wheel drive, helping to make them a very economical van. This also gives you a bit more control over the van as well, making it easier to drive and more responsive. The front-wheel drive models also have greater storage capacity, and this is because the load floor is actually to the ground.
That said, if you get a rear-wheel drive variety, you’ll still have ample space and be able to carry up to 17 cubic meters depending on the specific van you get.
The van has light steering, which helps when making complicated manoeuvres or parking in difficult locations. This makes this van a practical option for many, and with such a beautiful interior, it’s a fantastic option.
The only downside to this van is that it’s a bit pricey, and it can be hard to get for under £10,000 unless you opt for a much older version that doesn’t have many modern features.
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The VW Caddy is a bit more of a dinky van, designed more for those who don’t need a massive amount of cargo space.
The van is a comfortable vehicle, both from an interior and driving perspective. Plus, it has excellent build quality with good safety features, helping the driver to be even more relaxed and comfortable when behind the wheel.
That said, the car is most comfortable when you’re riding solo. Once a passenger joins the cabin, it can get a bit cramped, so this van isn’t an excellent option for a team of workers. It can also get cramped for your cargo, as there are no high roof options, which limits what you can store in your van too.
The van can feel a bit laboured when getting to speed, even without any cargo in it, which is why it is a good idea to buy a VW Caddy that has a larger engine. That said, the van is responsive and sharp and uses direct steering. The suspension is also really good and deals with harsh roads well.
The cabin is also a really well-built area, using quality materials that give the van a slight bit of class. Although it looks and feels nice to be in, the van can get a bit uncomfortable when you’re sharing the space with someone else.
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The Vauxhall Vivaro is a very popular van for those who may not have driven one before and who prefer a car-like feel. This is because the Vivaro is very similar to a standard car in terms of how it operates. It steers well, has a good, familiar driving position, has a smooth gearbox and feels very similar to a standard SUV.
The vehicle is still very much a van, despite how it feels, as it offers a good amount of cargo space. However, it can be a bit of an issue to access that space. That is because the doors to the load space are a bit small, meaning that it can be hard to fit more awkward-sized items.
The Vivaro has a good engine that doesn’t have to be worked that hard to get going, even when there’s cargo. The gearbox has a lot of torque, helping this car feel nice and powerful and cope with heavier payloads.
The interior is very comfortable, and the dashboard offers a lot of dials and controls for easy access and control. The entire driving position is adjustable, helping you create the perfect configuration. The driving position is also slightly lower than most vans, which can make it feel more like a car, suiting those with little van driving experience.
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The D-Max is an excellent option if you’re looking for a pick-up track. Although it doesn’t have the load capacity and size of a traditional van, the D-max is a versatile vehicle, as it can be used off-road and also has the room and capacity to be used as a family car.
Being a pick-up, loading is a lot easier with this vehicle, as there are no doors that can get in the way, making placing items into it more difficult.
The D-Max is an interesting option for those looking for a van because it has no driving restrictions. As it weighs under 2040Kg, it doesn’t need to be driven at 10mphs under the speed limit, which is the case for some of the other vans on this list. This means that you can progress faster to jobs.
The interior of this truck is really good, as it has enough room to fit larger people in both the front and rear passenger seats. It’s also pretty comfortable when on the road as it has good suspension, which deals with road blemishes well. The van also does really well when off-road, making it an excellent option for those working on building sites.
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The Movano is an exciting type of van to get, and this is because this model gives you so much choice within the range. This means that one Movano can be very different from the next, helping drivers to get one that suits their needs.
This means that on the second-hand market, multiple options are available, making this van an interesting one to explore.
That said, although there are different varieties of the Movano, they all share the same features at their core. One of these features is that the Movano has a lot of excellent load space, meaning that it can fit a lot of equipment and cargo in it without much hassle.
It’s also a van that has good driving features. It’s a tall van, so it gives you a commanding driving position that gives you a good view of the road ahead. It has light steering, making it great when driving at low speeds in town, although it can feel a bit sketchy on faster, open roads.
The cab area is good, pretty solid, has all the storage compartments you’d need and expect, and will easily cater for a passenger.
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As long as your van is not heavier than 3,500kg, you should be able to drive it with a standard UK license. This means that most small and mid-weight vans mentioned on this list can be driven without an issue.
However, if you do pick up a larger van, you will need to obtain a special kind of license that demonstrates that you can drive these types of heavier vehicles on the roads safely.
Vans have certain restrictions, and you need to follow them to ensure that you're using your vehicle properly.
As a van owner, you need to be aware that your van will have a maximum load weight capacity. This is put in place to ensure that you don't overload the van, as doing so can harm the van and make it less safe to drive. Overloading a van will result in a fine and potentially even points off your license.
In addition to this, you will also need to adhere to alternative speed limits if your van is not considered a car-type van. If you need to figure out what type of van your vehicle is, you should be able to find it in the handbook.
If your van is not car-like, meaning that it's bigger and heavier, you will have to drive 10mph slower when on a motorway, duel carriageway, or single carriageway. This means you can't exceed 60mph on a carriageway in the UK.
You'll also have to go even slower if your van is towing something behind it.