March is typically a strong month for new vehicle registrations, but was it enough to reverse three consecutive months of new van registration declines? And was there a final push for double-bed pickup trucks before tax changes took effect in April? Here are the top 10 most popular vans in the UK in 2025 so far, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The lure of the new 25 plates was not enough, as van registrations declined 3.2% year-on-year in March to 51,221 light commercial vehicles registered, marking a fourth consecutive monthly decline.
The overall fall can be traced to drops in registrations for medium and large vans of 8.5% and 10%, to 8,180 and 32,025, respectively. Commercial 4x4 registrations also fell 18.9% to 1,324.
Registrations of small vans saw a healthy uptick of 60.8% year-on-year, but the modest 1,585 registered units still show a small overall market share.
There was also a 40.6% upswing in new pickup truck registrations in March, with 8,107 registrations. This surge can be explained by the changes to benefit in kind and capital allowance on double-cab pickup trucks registered from April 2025 onwards.
There was a slight glimmer of hope with regards electric van sales, which rose for the sixth month in a row, up 40.3% to 4,215 units and 8.3% of the market, which is still some way short of the government’s zero emission vehicles mandate. More work will be needed if goals are to be met.
What the industry says
SMMT chief executive, Mike Hawes, said: ‘Vans, pick-ups and 4x4s are critical for business operations across the UK so four months of falling investment is concerning and reflects weak confidence, with further constraints set to impact the pick-up segment.
It is positive, however, that electric uptake continues to rise thanks to growing model choice. Even so, with demand still well below 2025 ambitions, suitably bold plans for infrastructure rollout and workable regulation are needed to grow operator confidence and the investment that is needed.’
Below, you’ll see the UK’s top 10 most popular vans in March 2025, in reverse order. You’ll also find full year data for the years 2018 to 2024, so you can see what the most popular vans and pickups were in those years.
All this is useful because it means you can see which vans make the most sense to other businesses, so they may also make the most sense for you. What’s more, it gives you an idea of the most available used vans of a particular age.
Top 10 bestselling vans and pickups March 2025
10. Toyota Hilux (1385 sold)
One of the best-known pickups, the Toyota Hilux has been respected as a tough and durable workhorse since 1968. As things stand, it is one of the best out there, too, as it is a previous holder of the Parkers Pickup of the Year award. While the Hilux isn’t the cheapest model on the market, a comfortable ride, versatile set-up, and a substantial increase in safety equipment make this pickup an appealing consideration. The fact there’s up to 10 years warranty available doesn’t hurt either.
Find a Toyota Hilux for sale near you
9. Peugeot Expert (1,523 sold)
The Peugeot Expert is one of five vans to offer the same fundamental shape with a few tweaks to badging and trim, sharing most elements with the Citroen Dispatch, Fiat Scudo, Toyota Proace and Vauxhall Vivaro. The cabin is not the best in the class, but the payloads and driving experience are excellent. There is also an electric version, which offers a lot of the same benefits as the standard van but without the need to keep it topped up with diesel.
Find a Peugeot Expert for sale near you
8. Peugeot Partner (1,617 sold)
The Peugeot Partner is one of five nigh identical vans, sharing much with equivalents at Citroen, Vauxhall, Toyota and Fiat, many of which crop up in the top 10 list from time to time. However, the Partner is the only one to have something that sets it apart from the others – a smaller steering wheel as part of a setup dubbed the i-Cockpit. This will suit some better than others, but the rest of the van is otherwise the same as the rest of the quintet – practical, good to drive and boasting a strong electric version.
Find a Peugeot Partner for sale near you
7. Volkswagen Crafter (1,649)
The Volkswagen Crafter is a multiple former Parkers Award winner and a big favourite with us. It has a well-thought-out cabin, is great to drive and has a strong set of engines. It is much more modern than some of its large-van rivals, too, with some excellent tech on offer. It’s a shame that it won’t come with an electric version until the new model arrives in 2026 but it is proving popular with buyers nonetheless.
Find a Volkswagen Crafter for sale near you
6. Citroen Berlingo (1671 sold)
The small Citroen Berlingo is a regular feature in the best-seller list, and it is easy to see why. This van is practical, good to drive, has an excellent cabin and represents good value for money. There is a strong electric model in the range too.
The challenge it has is tempting buyers away from the practically identical Peugeot, Fiat, Toyota and Vauxhall equivalents. As the top-10 list often shows, it doesn’t always succeed as they often feature too.
Find a Citroen Berlingo for sale near you
5. Renault Trafic (2,013 sold)
The Renault Trafic last had a major update in 2022, with loads of new safety features and a new look helping to keep it fresh and maintaining its appeal. The medium-sized van has some strong contenders in its class, though, with the Ford Transit Custom and VW Transporter to name but two, but it has plenty in its favour. A new E-Tech electric version has since joined the range, matching its major rivals in that sense.
Find a Renault Trafic for sale near you
4. Vauxhall Vivaro (2028 sold)
The latest Vauxhall Vivaro is still proudly built in Britain, even though Vauxhall is now part of the massive Stellantis group of companies. Cousin to the Citroen Dispatch, Peugeot Expert and Toyota Proace, it can carry generous amounts of payload, offers great fuel economy and is now also available in Vivaro Electric form.
Find a Vauxhall Vivaro for sale near you
3. Ford Transit (4,040 sold)
The Ford Transit is the household name for vans in the UK. This latest version has increased payload, upgraded engines, a revised interior and even more technology. It remains easy to drive, comfortable, and there are plenty of specialist dealers around to keep you on the road. It’s also setting new standards for electric vans, with the Ford E-Transit the best out there by a country mile.
Find a Ford Transit for sale near you
2. Ford Ranger (4,301 sold)
The latest Ford Ranger is regularly the UK’s most popular pickup trucks and often the only vehicle of its type in the top 10. It has moved the game on significantly from its predecessor, being excellent to drive, comfortable and well equipped inside, and offering a wide range of practicality. There are loads of versions to choose from, too, including the outrageous Ford Ranger Raptor.
Find a Ford Ranger for sale near you
1. Ford Transit Custom (9,257 sold)
The new Ford Transit Custom only went on sale in late 2023 but it’s very much business as usual for the brand’s sales team as it takes up where the old one left off at the top of the charts. This all-new model is a notable improvement over all of its rivals and its predecessor, which made it our 2024 Parkers Commercial Vehicle of the Year.
Find a Ford Transit Custom for sale near you
Bestselling vans and pickups of 2024
This table shows the bestselling vans and pickups for all of 2024:
| Sales position | Model | Number sold | Parkers review link |
| 1 | Ford Transit Custom | 46,967 | Ford Transit Custom review |
| 2 | Ford Transit | 31,322 | Ford Transit review |
| 3 | Ford Ranger | 19,695 | Ford Ranger review |
| 4 | Mercedes Sprinter | 18,753 | Mercedes Sprinter review |
| 5 | Vauxhall Vivaro | 18,581 | Vauxhall Vivaro review |
| 6 | VW Transporter | 15,425 | VW Transporter review |
| 7 | Renault Trafic | 15,799 | Renault Trafic review |
| 8 | Peugeot Partner | 12,828 | Peugeot Partner review |
| 9 | Vauxhall Combo | 12,584 | Vauxhall Combo review |
| 10 | Citroen Berlingo | 12,229 | Citroen Berlingo review |
Bestselling vans and pickups of 2023
This table shows the bestselling vans and pickup for all of 2023:
| Sales position | Model | Number sold | Parkers review link |
| 1 | Ford Transit Custom | 40,865 | Ford Transit Custom review |
| 2 | Ford Transit | 28,280 | Ford Transit review |
| 3 | Vauxhall Vivaro | 20,477 | Vauxhall Vivaro review |
| 4 | Ford Ranger | 18,679 | Ford Ranger review |
| 5 | VW Transporter | 17,487 | VW Transporter review |
| 6 | Renault Trafic | 16,041 | Renault Trafic review |
| 7 | Mercedes Sprinter | 15,799 | Mercedes Sprinter review |
| 8 | Citroen Berlingo | 14,065 | Citroen Berlingo review |
| 9 | Toyota Hilux | 10,888 | Toyota Hilux review |
| 10 | Ford Transit Connect | 10,856 | Ford Transit Connect review |
Bestselling vans and pickups of 2022
This table shows the bestselling vans and pickup for all of 2022:
| Sales position | Model | Number sold | Parkers review link |
| 1 | Ford Transit Custom | 42,215 | Ford Transit Custom review |
| 2 | Ford Transit | 33,203 | Ford Transit review |
| 3 | Mercedes Sprinter | 17,034 | Mercedes Sprinter review |
| 4 | Vauxhall Vivaro | 16,830 | Vauxhall Vivaro review |
| 5 | Ford Ranger | 16,827 | Ford Ranger review |
| 6 | VW Transporter | 15,164 | VW Transporter review |
| 7 | Ford Transit Connect | 8,218 | Ford Transit Connect review |
| 8 | Peugeot Expert | 8,131 | Peugeot Expert review |
| 9 | Renault Trafic | 8,085 | Renault Trafic review |
| 10 | VW Crafter | 7,455 | VW Crafter review |
Bestselling vans and pickups of 2021
This table shows the most popular vans and pickups for all of 2021:
| Sales position | Model | Number sold | Parkers review link |
| 1 | Ford Transit Custom | 49,671 | Ford Transit Custom review |
| 2 | Ford Transit | 31,083 | Ford Transit review |
| 3 | Mercedes Sprinter | 20,862 | Mercedes Sprinter review |
| 4 | VW Transporter | 20,033 | VW Transporter review |
| 5 | Ford Ranger | 16,376 | Ford Ranger review |
| 6 | Vauxhall Vivaro | 16,004 | Vauxhall Vivaro review |
| 7 | Citroen Berlingo | 11,109 | Citroen Berlingo review |
| 8 | Ford Transit Connect | 11,001 | Ford Transit Connect review |
| 9 | Peugeot Partner | 10,553 | Peugeot Partner review |
| 10 | Vauxhall Combo | 9,886 | Vauxhall Combo review |
Bestselling vans and pickups of 2020
The most popular vans and pickups of 2020 in a table.
| Sales position | Model | Number sold | Parkers review link |
| 1 | Ford Transit Custom | 43,551 | Ford Transit Custom review |
| 2 | Mercedes Sprinter | 23,506 | Mercedes Sprinter review |
| 3 | Ford Transit | 21,724 | Ford Transit review |
| 4 | VW Transporter | 15,856 | VW Transporter review |
| 5 | Vauxhall Vivaro | 15,530 | Vauxhall Vivaro review |
| 6 | Ford Ranger | 13,097 | Ford Ranger review |
| 7 | Citroen Berlingo | 12,159 | Citroen Berlingo review |
| 8 | Ford Transit Connect | 11,344 | Ford Transit Connect review |
| 9 | Peugeot Partner | 11,174 | Peugeot Partner review |
| 10 | Vauxhall Combo | 11,118 | Vauxhall Combo review |
Bestselling vans and pickups of 2019
This is the top 10 list of the bestselling vans (and pickups) of 2019 in total.
| Sales position | Model | Number sold | Parkers review link |
| 1 | Ford Transit Custom | 52,512 | Ford Transit Custom review |
| 2 | Ford Transit | 26,237 | Ford Transit review |
| 3 | Mercedes Sprinter | 25,862 | Mercedes Sprinter review |
| 4 | VW Transporter | 19,608 | VW Transporter review |
| 5 | Vauxhall Vivaro | 18,029 | Vauxhall Vivaro review |
| 6 | Ford Ranger | 16,459 | Ford Ranger review |
| 7 | Ford Transit Connect | 15,477 | Ford Transit Connect review |
| 8 | Peugeot Partner | 14,605 | Peugeot Partner review |
| 9 | Citroen Berlingo | 13,492 | Citroen Berlingo review |
| 10 | Vauxhall Combo | 12,944 | Vauxhall Combo review |
Bestselling vans and pickups of 2018
This is the top 10 list of the most popular vans (and pickups) in all of 2018.
| Sales position | Model | Number sold | Parkers review link |
| 1 | Ford Transit Custom | 54,806 | Ford Transit Custom review |
| 2 | Ford Transit | 32,694 | Ford Transit review |
| 3 | VW Transporter | 21,763 | VW Transporter review |
| 4 | Mercedes Sprinter | 21,278 | Mercedes Sprinter review |
| 5 | Vauxhall Vivaro | 19,232 | Vauxhall Vivaro review |
| 6 | Ford Transit Connect | 17,495 | Ford Transit Connect review |
| 7 | Ford Ranger | 16,440 | Ford Ranger review |
| 8 | Peugeot Partner | 15,056 | Peugeot Partner review |
| 9 | Citroen Berlingo | 13,428 | Citroen Berlingo review |
| 10 | Peugeot Boxer | 11,731 | Peugeot Boxer review |
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