A quick guide to our most popular vans and their uses

There are millions of vans on UK roads. Transporting goods, equipment, and people all across the country, they're an essential (and often unsung) part of many businesses and operations, and they’re vital to the UK economy.

This is why we thought we’d give you a greater insight into our most popular vans and their uses. Why do people choose to hire a van? What’s the most common van in the UK? What is the number one reason for daily hire? Is flexihire actually cost-effective? Are people superstitious about certain types of vans?

Let’s take a look!

What is the most popular van in the world?

How many of you said the Ford Transit? Great guess, but you’re wrong! (but it is the most popular van in the UK). In fact, the most popular van in the world is the Volkswagen Transporter. Not only is it the van that holds the record for being in continuous production (since 1950), but it’s the van that’s sold the most units - a whopping 12 million have been manufactured over the years.

The Transporter has always been an in-demand van for us, so we’re not surprised by this, but the Kombi is also extremely popular. VW takes the title for our most popular car rental, too, with the Golf consistently taking the number one spot. When it comes to minibuses, however, the 8-9 seater Mercedes Vito takes the top spot on the podium.

What jobs do people typically hire a van for?

Unsurprisingly, we get a lot of residential people hiring vans to do furniture runs and to go to Ikea at the weekends, but they’re also incredibly popular with tradespeople on our flexihire contract. With prices starting at just £109.90 per week, inclusive of road tax, manufacturer's warranty, breakdown cover, and all service costs, it’s no wonder why so many tradespeople trust us with their livelihoods.

Away from work, though, the VW Kombi van is a magnet for people wanting a bit of extra space and luxury for their golfing, fishing, or camping trips.

That’s the beauty of vans; they’re so versatile!

Why are our panel vans so popular?

Our panel vans are popular for a number of reasons, including:

• Versatility: They can be used for a wide range of purposes, such as transporting goods, carrying tools and equipment, and even camping.
• Fuel efficiency: Panel vans are more fuel-efficient than other types of vans, such as pickup trucks and SUVs, thanks to their smaller frontal area and a lower weight-to-power ratio.
• Durability: They’re built to last! They’re typically made from durable materials, such as steel and aluminium, making them ideal for use in demanding environments.
• Affordability: We offer small panel van hire from just £31.42 a day (+ VAT), so they’re an incredibly affordable option for everyone.

What’s been our biggest seller over the years, and why?

And the winner is… undecided! We’re not just trying to remain impartial here - there genuinely isn't one all-out bestseller. Our minibus hire is especially popular in the summer with school trips, stag do’s, hen parties, and horse racing outings, while the Luton vans are popular at the weekends for people moving house. Meanwhile, the business community keeps us busy hiring cars, and tradespeople always need reliable vans of all shapes, sizes, and capacities to keep their businesses running smoothly.

Do repeat customers always stick to the same van model when it comes time to upgrade? Are people superstitious about certain models?

Recently, vehicle renewals have been very difficult due to global supply chain issues, and customers requiring a new vehicle are generally in a “beggars can’t be choosers” scenario, but until that happened, we found that people did like to stick to what they know.

Need to hire a van? Trust Intack Self Drive

Hiring a van from Intack Self Drive is a convenient and affordable way to get the van you need for the job. Whether you need to hire a van on flexihire or daily hire terms, we can help.

We stock the most popular vans from Volkswagen, Ford, Citroen, Mercedes, and Mitsubishi, and our fifty years of trading have earned us a reputation for value for money and superb customer service. If it’s van hire you need, then speak to our expert team on 01254 57811 for the best van hire deals in Blackburn and the wider North West.