A used van can be a brilliant buy or an expensive headache, and the difference usually comes down to what you check before money changes hands. This used van buying guide keeps things simple by splitting those checks into four areas: the documentation and history (V5C, MOT record, service log, finance or write-off markers), the mechanical and structural condition (engine, bodywork, rust and tyres), its suitability for the job (size, payload and emissions), and how it drives.