Picking the right colour for the model of van can lead to a used value premium of nearly 7% over a white equivalent, says Cap HPI.

The organisation analysed sold vehicle research data for the past five years for all ages of LCVs in relation to how colour affects vehicle value in the used market.

Just over half (53%) of vans registered in the UK this year have been white, but the best colour picks are:

• Orange medium vans with a 6.8% premium over the white equivalent.
• Brown large vans with a 5.17% premium over the white equivalent.
• Grey small vans with a 5.03% premium over the white equivalent. 
• Grey vehicles showed a premium in various LCV sectors including city vans (4.2%), small vans (5.03%), medium vans (4.02%), large vans (3.39%) and 4x4 workhorses (1.95%). 

Steve Botfield, senior editor commercial vehicles and motorcycles at Cap HPI, said: “Ever since 1984 when Cap HPI introduced its Red Book valuations for LCVs, the published values have always used a basic LCV in white as the benchmark.

"It remains the number one choice for van drivers, but picking the right colour for the right model can really pay dividends at resale.”