BCA highlights the options that help to sell vans

According to BCA, the best long-term value extra is interior ply-lining - used buyers now expect to see it and it protects vehicles from 'inside-out' damage. All sizes of vans benefit from this 'extra', from LWB High-roof examples to small hatchbacks.

In terms of added value, ply-lining might add only £100 or so, but the real benefit is that the van is much more likely to be in a more saleable condition after three or four years' hard work. An otherwise clean van valued at £5,000 could easily lose up to £1,500 if its side panels are extensively blemished from inside-out damage.

BCA also suggests that side-loading doors are as essential for the smaller car-sized vans as they are for the one tonne and 3.5 tonne van sectors. A single nearside SLD is probably the bare minimum these days, while a van that is going to work in tight urban conditions would benefit from twin side-loading doors. Potential value in the used market can increase by around £150 for a single and £250 for two side-loading doors, depending on the vehicle.

Duncan Ward, BCA's UK Business Development Manager, Commercial Vehicles, comments: "Air-conditioning is highly valued when combined with a bulkhead, otherwise all that cool air dissipates into the load area and simply burns money. Air-con will add more value to a well-presented 'retail' van than it will on an otherwise more basic model and is worth between £100 and £200 depending on the vehicle. On a late year, low mileage van this difference could easily widen to as much as £500."

"Trim and finish are often overlooked in terms of options, but can add some considerable value to the right vehicle as the self-employed tradesman will always favour a van that bristles with 'car-like' options. A good retail colour could add £300 to £500 on the right van, when compared with a standard white finish, and if paired with a decent set of alloys add another £200. What should be avoided are obvious corporate colour schemes."

"Where cars go, vans inevitably follow and today's extras will be tomorrows standard. Volume van operators should certainly bear this in mind if they are ordering large numbers of basic models - it could mean their vehicles are out of step with the buyer's needs when they come to be sold in three or more years time."

"The key factor is balancing supply versus demand. It wasn't too long ago when vans fitted with power steering added up to £200, but this was gradually eroded as manufacturers soon realised this was a 'necessary' option as opposed to just 'nice'. Inevitably, as time goes on, this will also happen to air conditioning, satnav, bluetooth, central and self-locking. All these options are worth more now because they are relatively rare, but they will eventually attract little or no premium as they each become standard fit items across the LCV market."