Should my business consider the shift towards a smaller van?
Leasing a van can give businesses access to comfortable, efficient, and safe transport. It also removes the financial burden of paying towards ownership, making brand-new vans more affordable.
But if your business is looking for new commercial transport, should you consider shifting towards a smaller van? In this guide we’ll look at the benefits of driving small vans and offer support to businesses of any size looking for small van deals.
Is a bigger van always better for businesses?
Some business owners prefer bigger vans for their daily operations, as they have the capacity to transport larger load sizes. However, large vans aren’t always guaranteed to be better for businesses.
Lease a van that’s too big, and you won’t make use of its payload. You’ll find running costs higher and manoeuvrability in urban areas more difficult. For a van to meet business needs, it’s all about striking a balance between van size, cost, and functionality. This will help you choose the right van for your business, maximising efficiency and growth.
What is classed as a small van?
If you want a small business van, you must first know what you’re looking for. Small vans for lease normally have the following dimensions:
- Length of up to 1.7 metres
- Width of up to 1.5 metres
- Height of up to 1.2 metres
- A short wheelbase (SWB) – although other variants may be available.
Is a small van classed as commercial?
For small vans to be classed as commercial vehicles, they need to meet a set of requirements. For example, its purpose must be to transport commercial materials or goods. This is opposed to primarily transporting passengers or personal items.
There can be exceptions, but as a rule, small vans are used for business purposes will likely be considered commercial vehicles.
How much weight can you put in a small van?
Each small van will have a maximum payload, which varies between make and model. This will determine how much weight it can carry.
On average, small vans have a payload between 500kg to 1000kg. This means despite their smaller dimensions; small vans can still carry an impressive amount of cargo.
What type of businesses tend to use smaller vans?
Small vans are a great choice for fleet owners, sole traders, and SME businesses. They are particularly efficient in urban areas, meaning they are popular with:
- Domestic cleaning companies
- Mobile hairdressers
- Florists
- Couriers
- Mobile valets
Reasons to lease a smaller van for your business
Van leasing has become an increasingly popular option for businesses. While small vans might not seem an obvious choice, they are an affordable option that balances load space with fuel efficiency. Let’s explore some of the reasons to lease small vans for your business.
Usually cheaper to run and lease
Because of their compact size, small vans are almost always cheaper to run, especially compared to medium and large vans. They are often the most-fuel-efficient vans available too, with small electric vans more advanced than ever before.
Small vans also benefit from lower initial and monthly rentals because of their size, making them a great choice if you’re looking for multiple fleet vans.
Manoeuvrability
Small vans should be considered if your business does a lot of driving in towns and city centres. They are optimal for navigating through traffic, side streets, and tight delivery areas.
Choose a small electric van, and you’re also guaranteed to be exempt from ULEZ and clean-air zone charges. This helps make small vans even more appealing.
Versatile
Small vans come in many configurations, making it even easier to choose the right van for your business needs. You’ll choose between different body types, as well as length and height variants.
If your business van is used for personal journeys too, small vans are a great option. They are car-like in size and benefit from some of the latest in-car tech. As a result, they are likely to be the most refined commercial option, helping to make personal usage more pleasant.
To make the most of these versatile commercial vehicles, we’d suggest specifying any non-standard features you’ll need to run your business. These can include internal racking systems, ply lining for the cargo area, external livery, and extra security features. This will help our team find the right van for you sooner.
Should my business shift to a smaller lease van?
Small vans are proving to be a capable commercial transport option. They are compact in size, offering competitive load capacities and economic engines. This means they have a wide range of benefits for businesses of any size.
Synergy is here to make van leasing easy and hassle-free. Our team can provide details of our available top van lease deals. Ultimately, the choice to shift towards a smaller lease van will depend on your individual needs and the type of van your business requires.
But if you’d like to know more about van leasing and have a question about the small vans we have on offer, get in touch with the team at Synergy today.
