Some Vans Are Built To Really Go The Distance

For anyone in van insurance it’s interesting to know which are the durable, high mileage vehicles;

New DVSA stats reveal just how many vans have registered an odometer reading of 500,000 miles or more during an MOT in the last 12 months.

In total, a whopping 1,611 cars and vans have recorded a mileage over 500,000 miles in the past 12 months, – as revealed by a freedom of information request to the DVSA from leading UK lease firm Select Van Leasing.

One LCV tops the list – the LDV Maxus – with a staggering 179 examples having recorded 500,000 miles or more on the odometer during its annual roadworthiness test in the past year.

The British-built LDV Maxus was produced from 2004 until 2009. After LDV collapsed, China’s SAIC acquired the Maxus intellectual property and relaunched the van in 2011 as the V80, an updated version of the original Maxus.

The LDV has proved itself a true workhorse, with the average odometer reading of these 179 vehicles listed at over 839,000 miles in the past 12 months.

In second place, with 144 examples, is the Mercedes Vito. The original Vito first went on sale in the UK in 1996 and has proved a fleet stalwart ever since.

Of the 144 examples highlighted here, the Vitos clocked an average of 573,778 miles on their MOTs in the past 12 months.

The list of highest-mileage vans also include the Peugeot Expert in third and the Volkswagen Transporter in fourth place.

Sixty-three Peugeot Experts have recorded mileages over 500,000 miles in the past 12 months, while 58 Transporters also feature in the top five highest-mileage vans.

Rounding up the top five highest-mileage vans is the Ford Transit, with 34 of these vehicles recording a mileage over 500,000 miles in the past 12 months.

Beyond the top five, the list includes Ford Tourneo (31), Citroën Dispatch (30), Renault Trafic (26) and Citroën Berlingo (25). 

There is, however, no place in the Top 20 for the medium-sized Ford Transit Custom – which is currently the UK’s most popular new van according to latest registration figures. 

Sam Bryan, LCV Manager at Select Van Leasing, said: “Downtime costs money, so savvy operators understand the importance of keeping their vans on the road.

“That’s why we’re seeing vehicles rack up such extraordinary mileages – they’re working hard, day in, day out, earning their keep for businesses.

“Regular servicing and maintenance are crucial, allowing operators to identify and address small issues before they develop into bigger problems that could take a van off the road.

“It’s perhaps surprising to see an LDV at the top of the list, particularly in a market dominated by heavyweights such as the Ford Transit, Ford Transit Custom and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

“But the Maxus has clearly demonstrated that, when properly maintained, it can be a remarkably durable and capable workhorse.”