New figures have revealed that average used van insurance wholesale figures have fallen from their peak in 2007.

The three-year analysis of sales data from auctioneers Manheim, shows that the £3,263 average price is 10.7 per cent (£389) lower than 2007 when prices were at an all-time high. However, values now exceed what they were in 2006 by 4% or £127.

Alex Wright, Manheim’s commercial vehicles sales director, said: “Prices should ease during the final quarter due to seasonality and we are also starting to see increases in average age and mileage.

“If this trend continues, due to contract extensions and deferred fleet replacement programmes, we will see the re-emergence of a two-tier marketplace with older, higher mileage and more damaged vans suffering a ‘softening’ in values with the more desirable sub-60,000 mile vehicles making strong money,” he claimed.

According to figures released earlier this month by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), there was only a slight fall of 0.7 per cent in the number of vans registered in November.

The report showed the market is beginning to recover after several months of sliding sales.