Getting a van

[deanoakley]

I'm looking into getting a van - probably looking at leasing, any hints, tips, advice?

[Benny Smyth]

I'm looking into getting a van - probably looking at leasing, any hints, tips, advice?

Yeah - don't ask Toby.

My van is on contract hire. Costs me £330ish a month (inclusive of VAT) and while it's more expensive to run on a month-to-month basis, I'll benefit more come tax time. Plus I've got a nicer van to drive around in (nicer than some people's cars, to be honest).

My first van was an Ex-AA jobbie. Cost me about £4,500 and while it was just a tin box on wheels, it really was a good van. No reason why you couldn't get a decent ex-fleet vehicle and, if you don't like the colour, just get it vinyl wrapped (cheaper than a full paint job). That in itself will be cheaper than a new van.

[deanoakley]

Yeah - don't ask Toby.

My van is on contract hire. Costs me £330ish a month (inclusive of VAT) and while it's more expensive to run on a month-to-month basis, I'll benefit more come tax time. Plus I've got a nicer van to drive around in (nicer than some people's cars, to be honest).

My first van was an Ex-AA jobbie. Cost me about £4,500 and while it was just a tin box on wheels, it really was a good van. No reason why you couldn't get a decent ex-fleet vehicle and, if you don't like the colour, just get it vinyl wrapped (cheaper than a full paint job). That in itself will be cheaper than a new van.

Been reading around and I saw somewhere that you have to be VAT registered to be able to write off the leasing cost with regards to tax, is this right?

[Benny Smyth]

Been reading around and I saw somewhere that you have to be VAT registered to be able to write off the leasing cost with regards to tax, is this right?

I'm not VAT registered. I have an accountant who performs some sort of witchcraft with my expenses.

That makes it sound dodgy. He's not dodgy. He just knows what he's doing.

[Excalibur]

My first van was an Ex-AA jobbie. Cost me about £4,500 and while it was just a tin box on wheels, it really was a good van.

Oi! Don't you insult my Big Yellow Taxi! Armrest, air con, full hands free now I've upgraded the radio, you should have driven Thunderbird 2, now that was an experience. 55mph cruising speed, steering that liked to use all three lanes of the motorway, and draughty and noisy beyond belief.

Mainly due to the hands free not being as good in the car, I'll always take the van in preference nowadays.

I have an accountant who performs some sort of witchcraft with my expenses.

That makes it sound dodgy. He's not dodgy. He just knows what he's doing.

Snap.

[deanoakley]

Oi! Don't you insult my Big Yellow Taxi! Armrest, air con, full hands free now I've upgraded the radio, you should have driven Thunderbird 2, now that was an experience. 55mph cruising speed, steering that liked to use all three lanes of the motorway, and draughty and noisy beyond belief.

Mainly due to the hands free not being as good in the car, I'll always take the van in preference nowadays.



Snap.

Haha. Sounds decent.

Regarding accountant, I need to submit my first year tax return by end of Jan, will let you know how good my accountant is (he's a friend of my brother).

[Benny Smyth]

Oi! Don't you insult my Big Yellow Taxi! Armrest, air con, full hands free now I've upgraded the radio, you should have driven Thunderbird 2, now that was an experience. 55mph cruising speed, steering that liked to use all three lanes of the motorway, and draughty and noisy beyond belief.

My Big Yellow Taxi didn't have working air con, was draughty and noisy as hell. But still a great van.

[ukpartydj]

I'm not VAT registered. I have an accountant who performs some sort of witchcraft with my expenses.

That makes it sound dodgy. He's not dodgy. He just knows what he's doing.

Sounds an awful lot like Jimmy Carr to me

[ckpr2]

I'm looking into getting a van - probably looking at leasing, any hints, tips, advice?

I would either buy a very large car or estate rather than have two vehicles.
I ran a disco out of a Mondeo for years. With rear seats folded down I was amazed how much gear I could get in.

[Imagine]

I would either buy a very large car or estate rather than have two vehicles.
I ran a disco out of a Mondeo for years. With rear seats folded down I was amazed how much gear I could get in.

Isn't that a bit like turning up with only one playout system though Mike?

I have the van AND a Zafria (the family car), both insured for the disco. Admittedly I can't fit the whole rig into the Zafira but also have a box trailer to hand just in case I need backup.

Better safe than sorry