Van statistics: How many vans are there in the UK?

We look at how many vans are on UK roads and whether the number is increasing.

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Sophie Barber's headshot

By

Danny Butler

&

Sophie Barber

Updated

Fact checked

Vans are a popular choice for individual or corporate use when transporting goods. They make up a significant portion of all vehicle use in the UK, and they legally require third-party insurance to cover any damage to other parties in an accident. We’ve collected all the latest facts about van use in the UK right here.

Van statistics: Highlights

  • There were almost 4.5 million vans on UK roads at the end of 2022.
  • The number of vans in the UK increased by 37% between 2012 and 2022, up from around 3.3 million.
  • Over 340,000 new vans were registered in 2023.
  • The average age of a van is 8.9 years as of 2022, up from 7.7 years in 2012.

How many vans are there in the UK?

Official statistics show that almost 4.5 million vans were registered in the UK at the end of 2022. This number has increased significantly in the last decade, up 37% from around 3.3 million vans in 2012.

How many vans were registered in 2023?

Data shows that there were more than 340,000 van registrations in 2023, up 21% year-on-year. There was also a record number of electric vans (BEVs) registered in 2023, at more than 20,000, also up by 21% from the previous year.

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How old is the average van?

It also looks as though vans are lasting longer on the roads than they have previously. The average age of a light commercial vehicle (LCV) is at an all-time high of 8.9 years, compared to 7.7 in 2012 – a 15.6% increase in 10 years.

The Ford Transit Custom was the most popular van in the UK in 2023, selling more than 40,000 units. This model was followed by the standard Ford Transit, which sold over 28,000 units. The Vauxhall Vivaro came in third place, selling just over 20,000 units.

Made with Flourish
Van type Number of LCVs sold
Ford Transit Custom 40865
Ford Transit 28280
Vauxhall Vivaro 20477
Ford Ranger 18679
Volkswagen Transporter 17487
Renault Trafic 16041
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 15799
Citroen Berlingo 14065
Toyota Hilux 10888
Ford Transit Connect 10856

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Publisher

Danny is a publisher at Finder specialising in insurance and investing. He previously worked at the global insurer Aon and has appeared in national media giving advice on insurance. Danny holds a BA in International Business from the University of Plymouth and has undying loyalty to his average-poor football team, Portsmouth FC. See full bio

Danny's expertise
Danny has written 336 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Car, home and business insurance
  • Helping people save money on their insurance
  • Project management
  • Giving valuable insights to website visitors
Sophie Barber's headshot
Co-written by

Author

Sophie Barber is a content marketing manager for Finder in the UK after previously working as a content manager at a digital marketing agency. She has over 5 years experience in writing and publishing clear, concise and informative online articles for a variety of websites. See full bio

Sophie's expertise
Sophie has written 82 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Publishing original personal finance research
  • Creating data-led statistics pages to highlight industry trends
  • Cost of living and money saving tips
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