Best used vans for trades: reliability, style & practicality

As a trade or small business, your van is the beating heart of your business. It's a rolling advertisement for your business, helps you get to clients on time, and keeps your tools and materials safe throughout the day. 

If you're looking to save a few pennies but don't want to compromise on your van, used van leasing offers plenty of options for trades like electricians, plumbers, and builders. 

In this guide, we'll run through some of the best used van options for trades, covering small and medium vans and rugged pickups. 

Whether you're looking for a new or used van, there are a few things to consider before making a choice. 

Start with the basics. You need enough payload for your tools, equipment and materials, as well as enough load space for anything bulky or awkward.

Access matters too, so sliding doors, wide-opening rear doors and a practical load height can make your life a whole lot easier. 

Running costs also matter. If you're racking up the miles, fuel economy and driving comfort are likely to matter more. For city or residential work, a van that's easy to park may well be more useful than one with extra capacity. 

The right van size completely depends on the nature of your business:

• Small vans - Perfect for electricians, couriers, decorators, and other trades that carry lighter tools or smaller loads. They're easy to park, economical to run, and well-suited to busy towns or residential streets.
• Medium vans - Slightly bigger than small vans, medium vans offer a balance of load space and usability. They're a strong choice for plumbers, builders and trades carrying bulkier equipment, longer materials or heavier loads, while still being manageable day-to-day.
• Pickups - Pickups are ideal for landscapers, builders and tradespeople who regularly carry awkward or dirty loads, tow trailers or travel onto rougher sites.

For electricians, a small van should be the first port of call. 

Electricians will most likely be navigating urban routes, including residential streets, and will need a van that's easy to manoeuvre, affordable to run, and one that still has enough storage for tools and materials. 

We'd recommend looking for vans with sliding side doors, secure load areas and useful internal storage in the cabin and rear to help keep everything organised. 

If you regularly carry ladders or bulkier equipment, a medium van may be worth considering. 

Models such as the Peugeot Partner, Citroen Berlingo, and Volkswagen Caddy are strong small-van options for electricians. 

Plumbers need a little more space, so a medium van is likely to suit most workloads. Extra load length makes it easier to carry pipework, boilers, fittings and larger tools, while sliding side doors are useful when you need quick access at the roadside.

A well-shaped load area is key, so don't just focus on total load volume, look at pictures and see whether loading and unloading will be practical. 

Good options include the Ford Transit Custom, Vauxhall Vivaro and Peugeot Expert. 

Builders need a bit of everything, so a medium van is a great starting point. Look for a practical load bay, good payload capability and wide rear or side access, especially if you regularly carry heavy tools and materials. 

Durability matters too, as the van is likely to spend plenty of time travelling between busy sites, so consider your typical mileage and journeys when deciding which engine or powertrain suits your day-to-day work.

Models such as the Ford Transit Custom, Volkswagen Transporter and Vauxhall Vivaro are well suited to this kind of work. If you don't need as much interior space but work in more challenging conditions, a pickup such as the Ford Ranger or Toyota Hilux would be a great option. 

For landscapers, a medium van or pickup offers the best balance of practicality and versatility. Medium vans are ideal for those who need slightly more storage for things like mowers, strimmers and power tools, while pickups are more suited to bulky or awkward items. 

Look for good payload capability, four-wheel drive (if your work in the countryside), and easy load access to prevent putting stress on your back before you've even touched the grass! 

A Ford Transit Custom is a strong medium-van option, while pickups such as the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux can provide the towing ability and rough-ground capability needed for more demanding jobs.

The best used van for your trade is the one that gives you enough space and capability for the job without adding unnecessary size or running costs.

For some businesses, that could mean a compact small van that's easy to park and economical to run. For others, the extra load space of a medium van or the versatility of a pickup will make more sense.

Think about what you carry, where you work and how you use your van day to day, then choose the option that fits those needs best.

Ready to find your next work van? Browse our latest used van lease deals from Nationwide Vehicle Contracts, trusted since 2002 with more than 180,000 leases arranged.