The world has probably been saved by delivery drivers during the coronavirus pandemic.

And no, we don't think that's stretching the truth – it's (probably) a cold, hard fact.

Van drivers, van manufacturers, van insurance companies, van mechanics and van sales teams have been instrumental in keeping the world supplied with goods when the shops were shut and our lives lost meaning because we couldn't get hold of board games, slippers and food blenders.

But does that mean van sales have increased? Well – yes.

New van registrations have increased

Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has shown that in February 2021, registrations of new vans, 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes, were up 30% from the same time in 2020, while registrations of all vans up to 3.5 tonnes were up 22%. However, registrations of small vans, under 2 tonnes, were down 25.3%.

The annual figures show slightly more fluctuation. February year-to-date figures suggest that while overall registrations of all vans up to 3.5 tons were up 9.5%, registrations of smaller vans have seen a decline – in 2020 the February YTD registration figure for vans under 2 tonnes was 3,387 while the 2021 figure was 1,920, representing a drop of 43.3%.

The second-hand van market is growing

Some of the drop in small van sales and registrations could be explained by the surge in purchases of second-hand vans, also reported on by SMMT. Back in November 2020, they reported that demand for light commercial vehicles being sold through auction had remained exceptionally strong – with the market showing continued buoyancy and growth.

One auctioneer suggested that economic uncertainty caused by the Coronavirus pandemic meant that SMEs were turning to second-hand vehicles rather than saddling themselves with swingeing finance deals.

While another said the growth in sales could be attributed to three major factors: the increase in home delivery services, vans being used more in lockdown and delayed van replacement cycles because new vans were unavailable.

Cheap van insurance quotes are still the van driver's friend

And in the light of the number of people taking up delivery jobs and the increased demand of home delivery services, the availability of cheap van insurance is still a major issue for van drivers and fleet managers.

iVan can help you find the van insurance policy that's right for you. Contact our sales team today or click on the Get a Quote button now.