You’re right to be prudent when thinking of buying at auction, but there are big savings to be made if you strike the right bid and do your homework. My advice would be to visit a couple of commercial auctions first to get accustomed to how it all works and speak with the auctioneer after the sale to ask them any questions you may have about the process. They will be all too happy to help.

If you’re worried about buying a lemon, then I’d suggest refining your search to vans that are sold with warranty from the supplying dealer. There’s usually quite a few as sellers look to clear their stocks. But do your homework and check the history of the vans you’re interested in. And never be tempted to bid above your budget.