Citroen e-Relay driving
Ryan Darby

Ryan Darby

Ryan takes the lead on all things 'wordy'. With a sports media background, a true passion for cars, and a LOT of driving experience under his belt, he'll make sure you have all the information you need, when you need it.

Read time of 5 minutes.

Find the van that ticks your every need

Vans come in all shapes and sizes and depending on your needs, there could be several options that suit you.

To find the right van for you, first, you must understand what you need from your next van.

From a Luton Van to a Combi, vans can serve very different purposes depending on their shape and size. We’ve created this helpful guide to point you in the right direction.

Mercedes-Benz e-Vito Tourer

What are the different types of van body types?

  • Luton
  • Pickup Van
  • Tipper Van
  • Dropside Van
  • Panel Van
  • Crew Van/Combi Van
  • Refrigerated Van
  • Car-derived Van
  • Minibus
Renault Master Luton Van

What is a Luton van?

A Luton van is a style of box van that features a large enclosed cubed cargo space. Inside they have an additional cargo space that extends over the top of the driver's cabin space. 

Offering unrivalled space for your cargo, Luton vans are perfect for those constantly carrying larger items or high-quantity loads. These will typically come fitted with an electric tailgate, which will take all the stress and strain away from lifting heavier items. 

If you’re looking for a Luton van lease, you can consider popular models like the Ford Transit, Peugeot Boxer or Citroen Relay. 

The perfect van for: Delivery/Removal companies & Couriers of large items

What is a Box van? 

A Box van is a chassis cab van that has an enclosed cargo space that is detached from the cabin. They’re some of the biggest vans on the road today and offer tremendous flexibility for those carrying larger or longer loads. 

Though they are similar to Luton vans in how they look, they don't offer the same overheard storage. The load space ends at the cabin.  

However, a box van lease can be just as practical if you're looking to get heavy, tall or longer items from A to B. 

The perfect van for: Delivery/Removal Companies & Couriers

Toyota Hilux

What is a Pickup van? 

A Pickup van is best known for its excellent towing capabilities and ability to drive off-road in more treacherous conditions. With low-hanging tailgates and large load beds, they’re perfect for carrying heavier cargo in more rural settings thanks to all-wheel-drive systems. 

Some of the best Pickup vans on the market will be available as single or double cab options, so if you want to combine work with family life, you do have the option to use them for both with a second row for more passengers. 

Perhaps less industrial in their design, many modern pickups like the Ford Ranger or Toyota Hilux can offer more contemporary designs. 

The perfect van for: Agricultural or rural businesses operating in more treacherous conditions

Isuzu D Max Tipper Van

What is a Tipper van?

A Tipper van is a chassis van that has had an electric underfloor tipping system installed, allowing you to vertically tip heavy loads out of the rear of the van. 

Often popular on construction sites, they come with a large, flat load bed that makes a tipper van lease perfect for those moving heavy items or materials. 

The perfect van for: Construction/Landscape businesses 

Fiat Ducato Dropside Van

What is a Dropside van?

A Dropside van includes hinged sideboards that can be opened and lowered when loading and unloading for ease of access. By dropping these sideboards, you create space for a forklift to access the cargo.

Dropside vans look similar to Tippers in their design - they come with a large, open load bed that offers plenty of space for load or materials.

Take out a dropside van lease with Vanparison and you'll enjoy a van that's incredibly versatile and suitable in many different environments.

The perfect van for: Construction/Landscape businesses 

Vauxhall Combo Panel Van

What is a Panel van? 

Panel vans are - as the name suggests - vans that have been fitted with body panels on the body in favour of windows. They come in various size configurations and are among the most common you see on the road today.

Available in small, medium and large builds, they are incredibly versatile vans. The larger vans can be perfect for tradespeople, while the smaller size vans could be ideal for delivery drivers and couriers. 

Side sliding doors or rear barn doors allow for multiple access points, making it easy to access your load area when parked. The addition of side panels, and some cases no rear windows is also considered an improved security factor. 

Available in various sizes, Panel vans like the Volkswagen Transporter, Vauxhall Vivaro or Mercedes Sprinter offer a very practical load space.

The perfect van for: Deliveries, Couriers or Tradespeople

What is a Crew van/Combi van?

A Crew van is designed to carry multiple people alongside a sustainable load by fitting a second row of seats in the cabin, which is accessible through side doors. 

Crew vans offer a more efficient option for workers through their ability to carry multiple people at once, without sacrificing too heavily on their load potential. 

Sometimes referred to as a 'Combi' or 'Kombi', you choose from the stylish Mercedes-Benz Vito, Fiat Fiorino, Ford Transit and more from our crew van lease deals. They feature some of the mod-cons we’re used to in our cars, as well as the practical space.

The perfect van for: Tradespeople, personal use outside of work

What is a Refrigerated van?

A Refrigerated van is fitted with similar cooling systems that our household fridges use at home and they allow you to carry goods at specific temperatures. Their high-density insulation and cooling systems ensure the van can maintain a particular temperature on the move.

The perfect van for: Food caterers, fishmongers, pharmaceutical and medical suppliers

Renault Zoe Car-Derived Van

What is a Car-derived van? 

A car-derived van (CDV) is a van that has been based on a passenger car but has been adapted to replace the rear seats for a load platform. 

They will also go without rear side windows by either covering them up or having them replaced by paneled sides. 

Legally, a car-derived van cannot exceed a maximum laden weight of 2 tonnes.

They don't match up with a fully-fledged van when it comes to load potential, but their practical benefits include modern technology that can often match or come very close to their car equivalent, as well as lower running costs and being easier to drive.

The perfect van for: Couriers, small trades businesses, personal use outside of work

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