What Van-Based Businesses Are Paying in 2025

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-05

For thousands of businesses, a commercial van isn't just a vehicle. It's your office, your warehouse, and your lifeline all rolled into one. Whether you're a tradesperson hauling tools between jobs or running a delivery route, that van is working as hard as you are. But here's the thing nobody talks about enough: keeping a van on the road is getting more expensive. Fuel, servicing, repairs, insurance—it all adds up fast. And if you're not paying attention, those costs can quietly eat into your margins. ### Commercial Vans Are Still Big Business Despite everything, demand for commercial vehicles hasn't slowed down. In Ireland alone, more than 32,000 new light commercial vehicles hit the road in 2025—that's up about 7% from the year before, according to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry. What does that tell us? Vans matter. They're essential for construction crews, logistics companies, retail operations, maintenance teams, and just about anyone who needs to get from point A to point B with equipment in tow. ### Fuel Is Still the Biggest Bite Fuel is the expense you feel every single week. If you're driving between multiple jobs or making dozens of stops a day, you can easily rack up hundreds of miles without even thinking about it. Recent estimates put the annual cost of running a medium-sized commercial van in Ireland somewhere between $6,000 and $9,800—and that's before you factor in financing or depreciation. > "You can't control fuel prices, but you can control how much fuel you burn." That means smarter route planning, combining jobs when possible, and actually paying attention to how your vehicles are performing. ### Don't Forget Insurance and Maintenance Fuel is only part of the picture. Regular servicing, tires, brakes, repairs, replacement parts—they all need to be part of your budget. Then there's testing, motor tax, and insurance on top of that. Here's a tip: stay ahead of maintenance. Address small issues before they become big ones. It's cheaper to replace a belt now than an engine later. ### Where Technology Actually Helps Technology isn't just hype. GPS route planning and fleet management software can cut unnecessary mileage. Digital scheduling tools can help you organize jobs and reduce downtime. Other tools worth considering: - Fuel consumption monitoring - Mobile invoicing software - Digital job management systems - Cloud-based accounting platforms - Vehicle maintenance tracking Even small improvements in how you plan routes and schedule work can add up over a year. ### Are Electric Vans Worth It? Electric vans are getting more attention, and for good reason. Yes, the upfront cost can be higher. But lower running and maintenance costs might make them worth it—especially if your routes are predictable. The CSO Road Freight Transport Survey showed continued activity in 2025, which tells us that efficient commercial transport matters more than ever. ### The Bottom Line Running a van-based business isn't cheap. But with better planning, smarter tools, and a bit of discipline, you can keep more of what you earn. And that's what really matters.