Comparing van offers: price, deductions and conditions

Label the stage of every figure

For each proposal, record the buyer's identity, the date received, its expiry and whether the van has been inspected. Ask whether the amount is an indicative estimate or a purchase offer, when acceptance creates a commitment and what conditions remain. Keep the original wording so that a later conversation cannot quietly turn a conditional estimate into an unconditional promise.

Check that everyone assessed the same van. Send a consistent factual description covering mileage, specification, known faults, history and included accessories. If one buyer assumed complete servicing and another knew that records were partial, the numbers are not yet comparable. Correct the assumptions first rather than treating the difference as evidence of market value.

• Has the buyer seen the damage photographs?
• Are both keys, shelving and other accessories included?
• What happens if the recorded mileage changes before handover?

Put prices on the same basis

Ask explicitly whether the stated amount includes VAT, excludes VAT or is not subject to VAT in the proposed transaction. Do not infer the answer from the word commercial or from a buyer's headline. VAT treatment depends on the circumstances; obtain appropriate accounting advice if necessary. A comparison worksheet cannot determine your tax position or correct incompatible price bases.

List every stated transaction, administration, transport and optional payment charge. A free estimate does not establish a fee-free sale. Record an unanswered charge as unknown, not zero, and ask whether a fee is already included in another deduction. Once the price basis is consistent, subtract declared deductions once only. Keep finance settlement and any tax calculation separate from this simple comparison.

Examine inspection and rejection terms

Ask what could change after inspection and how a revised amount would be explained. A buyer may identify differences from the original description, but you still need to understand the proposed contractual process. Request any revision and its reasons in writing before deciding. Do not assume that an appointment obliges you to accept a lower price; check the actual terms you agreed.

Find out who pays if the transaction stops. This matters particularly when a transporter arrives or you have driven a long distance. Ask about inspection charges, collection cancellation and return arrangements if the van has already moved. A convenient appointment can become a poor option if the cost of declining a revised offer is unclear.

Compare completion, not just acceptance

Write down the proposed payment method, timing, release conditions and who will collect the van. Ask how weekends, bank processing or additional checks affect the schedule. No website wording makes payment guaranteed. Verify money through your own bank using trusted access, rather than relying on a screenshot, message or link supplied by the buyer.

Record the practical burden too: travel, time away from work, arranging a lift home and removing equipment. These are your circumstances, not automatic valuation deductions. Keep them visible beside the price rather than inventing a monetary cost for every inconvenience. For part exchange, compare the replacement vehicle's price, allowance and fees together; the allowance alone cannot show the whole deal.

Choose only after unresolved questions are answered

Summarise each option as price basis, deductions, outstanding conditions and completion plan. An unanswered finance or ownership question is a reason to pause, not a small discount to overlook. Once terms are agreed, plan the keeper notification separately: GOV.UK says to tell DVLA when you no longer own the vehicle, and vehicle tax does not transfer with it. This site cannot accept an offer or complete that notification for you.