How to buy a Locksmith Van – Keytek Locksmiths Academy
Locksmith Vans
One of the big things you’ll need to consider purchasing when becoming a Locksmith is buying your own work van. You’ll need it to transport your tools and stock to complete your work at your customer’s homes. But what do you need to consider when buying a Locksmith van? We hope to answer all your questions and more below!
Locksmith Van Reliability
One of the first things you should look for when buying your new Locksmith van is how reliable it is going to be, this is a big consideration to make if you’re buying a second-hand van. In the long run it is better to pay out for a van that won’t break down every now and then and will need lots of repairs if it fails its MOT.
If you are buying a used van the best thing you can do is to get an experience mechanic to take a look over it first before you’ve laid any money down to ensure there are no big problems with it, vans are often subject to lots of wear and tear due to carrying heavy loads and constant long journeys so this could save you a fortune in the long run. If you can’t get hold of a mechanic make sure you do the following vital checks along with your other checks:
- Test Drive: As always when buying a new vehicle take your potential new Locksmith van for a test drive. Ensure it doesn’t pull to one side if it has been unevenly distributed in the past, this is very dangerous.
- Exhaust: Ensure your exhaust is in good working order. No black smoke or rattling sounds should be present.
- HPI check: Ensure you do a HPI check on the vehicle; this covers whether the vehicle had previously been written off, stolen, finance issues, mileage and more.
- Axles: As your potential Locksmith van is probably been subject to carrying heavy loads ensure the axles are in good working order. You’ll find three main types the front, rear and stub.
Buying a brand new Locksmith van is much easier and you can feel reassured that it will have a much higher mechanical reliability than buying a used van. Not only are new Locksmith vans more reliable but they often come equip with newer tech and lower emissions which you may find useful as you’ll be spending so much time in your new van. Another plus for buying new is the warranty that comes with it, so if anything goes wrong you have that to fall back on. Of course, buying a new Locksmith van isn’t all positives as it will cost you a lot more initially and it loses its value pretty quickly if you wish to sell on sooner rather than later.
Tax Relief and your Locksmith Van
If you didn’t know already you will be able to claim the price of your van against your tax bill. A Locksmith van will qualify for investment allowance which means you will be able to deduct the full value of your Locksmith van from the profits you earn as a Locksmith before you submit them for tax. You may also be able to claim tax relief on your mileage, take a look at the Gov website here for more information: https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/vehicles-you-use-for-work
Where to buy a Locksmith Van
If you’re buying a new Locksmith van you can purchase it directly from the manufactures or in a showroom from a local dealer. When buying a second hand Locksmith van there are more options such as Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace but of course ensure you do your checks before paying out any money when buying a used van.
What to look out for when buying a Locksmith Van
One of the most important things to look out for when purchasing your Locksmith van is the size. You’ll need to ensure that your van is big enough to be able to transport all of your tools and stock and room for a lockable safe to be placed inside your van if you need to store expensive tools overnight. Take a look at our blog ‘How to keep your Locksmith Van Secure’ here!
Another thing to consider when buying your Locksmith van is the technology it includes, does it have hands-free option for taking customers calls on the road and does it have a built-in Sat Nav? Of course you’ll need to ensure if your van is in good working order, refer to the reliability section especially if you’re buying a used van.
Running Costs and Low Emissions
A key point to look for when buying your Locksmith van is the amount it is going to cost you to run. You’ll be travelling in your van lots so consider the miles per gallon and the miles between services, a difference of just 10mpg can increase mileage costs of upwards of £1,000 a year!
If you’re buying a new Locksmith van especially it is worth considering buying a low emissions van as not only do these reduce your running costs but you’ll reduce your environmental impact also. However, you must ensure there are enough stations to fuel your van in your area to ensure you can make it to your customer’s homes and back again.
Locksmith Van Insurance
Don’t forget to take into consideration the cost of insurance when buying your new Locksmith van. You may want to opt for a higher premium to cover expenses such as burglary and theft, unfortunately work vans are targeted as the often are hubs for valuables.
Popular Locksmith Vans
Auto Express ranked the top 10 medium-sized vans that should suit the majority of you as Locksmiths for 2021 as the following:
- Ford Transit Custom
- Volkswagen T6.1 Transporter
- Renault Trafic
- Vauxhall Vivaro
- Citroen Dispatch
- Peugeot Expert
- Mercedes Vito
- Toyota Proace
- Fiat Talento
- LEVC VN5
Branding your Locksmith Van
So you’ve been through all your checks and you’ve purchased your Locksmith van and insurance, great! All that is left to do is to brand your van! Branding your van is a great way to build trust with your customers before you’ve even said hello as they will be able to identify you from your van. Branding your van may also attract new customers, ensure your name, logo and contact details and large and easy to read for potential customers to jot down your number. Our blog ‘Top 5 Tips on Attracting New Customers’ has some information on branding your van, check it out!
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/vans/97772/best-medium-panel-vans-to-buy-2020
https://blog.constructaquote.com/guide-buying-commercial-van/
https://www.rac.co.uk/business/news-advice/guide-to-buying-a-van
