Having worked with the RSPCA for over a year, the south-coast based auction house will now take care of all RSPCA’s ex-fleet vehicles. The company was chosen as part of a tendering process, due to its high level of personalized services and its strong track record in remarketing ex-fleet vans and cars.

With a strong buyer base of over 1,200 trade and private buyers and a previous history of selling RSPCA vehicles at 109% of CAP average, the RSPCA is confident that Shoreham can sell vehicles from its 740-strong fleet to the right buyer at the right price.

Shoreham understands the remarketing industry moves quickly, so any vehicle entering its care is prepared, priced up, a reserve posted on its website and pushed out into the auction hall for sale in just a few days.

RSPCA’s vehicles are promoted on Shoreham’s website, with a link from the front page directly to photos and detailed descriptions of the cars and vans themselves. The high resolution images, online bidding, zoom-in technology and detailed descriptions help buyers get the best possible information on its vehicles prior to buying.

Shoreham has 2,000 vehicles passing through its halls every month, so its experienced staff know exactly what influences the value of RSPCA’s wide variety of passenger cars and small to medium panel vans, including Citroen Berlingos and Ford Transits.

Tony Branch, RSPCA fleet manager said, “From the companies tendering for our business, Shoreham has always delivered on personal service levels, as well as achieving the best prices for our ex-fleet vehicles. Shoreham is a great help with the challenges of running a fleet and always comes back with solutions not problems. Alex and his team have built the RSPCA brand at auction and created a strong buyer following for our vehicles, so we’re very pleased to be working with them.”

Ends…

At a time when motorists need cash quickly, Shoreham Vehicle Auctions, based on Chartwell Road, Shoreham has launched a free no obligation valuation service until the end of April to ensure they get the best price for their used car or van in the current tough economic conditions.

In times of recession motorists often rush to sell their vehicle in a bid to free up cash, but end up sacrificing valuable time and losing money on the market value of their car or van. At auction, Shoreham will not only work hard to get the best possible price for every vehicle, but will handle everything from valuation to auctioning to filling in tedious paperwork.

The offer will help motorists get the right price for their vehicle and when they accept Shoreham’s reserve price, it allows them to sell their vehicle for FREE through the Chartwell Road auction, saving £60 and ensuring they get their money within five working days! Should the vehicle sell, the only cost to the seller will be the commission of 7.5% of the selling price (minimum £50). There is no charge if the bid price does not reach the reserve.

When deciding which route to use to sell a vehicle, there are several things to take into consideration:

1- Audience: Selling at auction exposes vehicles to a much wider audience than trying to sell independently or to a local garage, and ultimately achieves a higher price, because a single buyer will try to buy a vehicle as cheaply as possible, in order to then sell the vehicle on at as high a profit as possible. With Shoreham’s strong buyer base of over 1,200 regular trade and private buyers, as well as its strong online presence, motorists can be sure Shoreham will work hard on their behalf, offering their vehicle to a wide audience to get the highest bid.
2- Security: Selling a vehicle at auction means sellers will avoid strangers visiting their home to view their used car or van and also offers peace of mind that payment will be received within the week. When selling a vehicle independently, there is no guarantee that the buyer will pay on time.
3- Additional costs: When selling a vehicle at auction, the costs are immediately clear. The only cost, should the seller accept Shoreham’s reserve price, is the commission of 7.5% of the price the vehicle is sold for – so it is in Shoreham’s interest to sell every vehicle for as much as possible. It’s simple – if a vehicle does not sell, there are no costs. There are, however, often hidden costs when selling a vehicle independently, and no guarantee the seller will actually sell the vehicle.

Shoreham’s experts will use their top ten check list to value every vehicle, checking whether the car has a full service history, whether it is in possession of a V5 registration document, as well as small details like the presence of a spare key, in order to ensure it is valued as accurately as possible.

Shoreham celebrated 50 years of trading last year, and with over 7,500 vehicles passing through its halls each year, it knows exactly what influences the price of any car or van. The company has valued just about every make and model of vehicle in varying states of condition, with anything from ten miles to 950 thousand miles on the clock.

Alan Agate, operations director at Shoreham said, “There has been a sharp increase in vendors taking up this service. At Shoreham we value and sell 1000s of cars and vans every year, so we pride ourselves on the accuracy of our valuation. In the case of us overvaluing a vehicle, the seller can always take the car or van away with no charge, and if we undervalue it is always a delight to see the vehicles make more than the reserve price. We encourage sellers to remember the reserve is the safety net, it is the minimum figure an auctioneer will bring down the hammer on. And if the bid is lower than the reserve they will phone it through to you to give you the choice of selling it or not. You can then pick your vehicle up the next day and not pay a penny.”

For your free valuation service, visit www.shorehamvehicleauctions.com and follow the instructions, or call 01903 851 200 for more information.

…ends…

Used van buyers in the London area looking to meet the new London Low Emission Zone regulations set for introduction in early 2012 are not behaving as the market thought they would.

Instead of buying four to six year old ex-fleet vans in good condition, they are instead purchasing 56-plate and younger vans with high mileage or in poor condition.

Basically anything that is cheap and that enables them to adhere to the new standards that apply to Euro 4 vehicles registered after 1 October 2006.

The result has been a major increase in residuals of high mileage vans in poor condition to such an extent that some have appreciated in value by as much as 50% in just the last few months.

This leaves used van traders and franchised dealers who have stocked up on four to six year old vans in anticipation of the change in regulations rethinking their strategy by introducing lower price vehicles to their forecourts.

Those used van retailers already stocking sub three year, low price product in the London area are enjoying an upturn in business.

“We have seen buyers at Shoreham competing to buy low price post 1 October registered vans with damage and or high mileage, which has in turn increased prices quite dramatically. A 56-plate Transit Connect or Vauxhall Combo that would have been worth £1,000 five months ago is now selling for £1,500,” explained Alex Wright, Shoreham Vehicle Auction’s managing director.

“These buyers coming out of a 9-15 year old van are small businesses who aren’t high mileage users and who can’t or don’t want to get finance. The result is them turning their attention to the cheapest vehicle possible to avoid being penalised which is a complete U-turn in their buying patterns predicted by the industry,” he added.

Ends…

New smart phone and App technologies are being cited for the biggest change in used vehicle buying behaviour for the past 50 years.

Used car buyers are using the latest smart phone and App technologies to bring vehicle prices to their fingertips wherever they are in the country.

Whether it is researching how much consumers have paid for a specific car on Auto Trader or the stock availability of a certain car in their region, buyers are using this new technology on the basis that knowledge is power.

So how are buyers using this information? Each time a buyer visits a physical auction and sees a car they like, through the Auto Trader App they will look at the supply and demand ratio in their area and prices to understand what stock is already for sale locally. If supplies of a particular car are scarce they are prepared to pay a little more at auction as they know they are likely to sell it for a higher sale price.

If they are bidding for a vehicle online they will use information to the point of it coming up for sale in the auction hall which is why the switched on auctions like Shoreham supply broadband access to aid their buyer’s thirst for information.

The benefits are all too clear – the buyer never overpays for a vehicle and can up or downgrade their bids to the point the vehicle goes under the hammer.

That’s not to say the guide books have been thrown away totally – they provide yet more price information for the buyer, but generally as the information can be three to four weeks out of date at the end of the month they use them as they were intended – as a guide only. They also give buyers confidence to pay full book price and above if stock is scarce.

“For 50 years the used vehicle guides supported by some local knowledge were the basis for their view on market prices,” explained Alex Wright, Shoreham Vehicle Auctions.

“The smart phone coupled to its relevant Apps, and easy access to the internet has transformed the available access to price information. Those buying not only ensure they pay the true market price for a vehicle, but are also making sure they price the vehicle correctly when it comes to selling,” he added.

One of the latest Apps to appear is the Auto Trader mobile App which allows the buyer to view all of its advertiser’s cars and bikes (around 350,000) anytime anywhere. The Auto Trader App has been designed to function on any mobile phone with access to the internet. Other related Apps for car valuations and finance for example, are becoming available – a clear indication of their growing influence.

But where will the market go next and how will buying dynamics change – no one truly knows except for one thing – the number of vehicle price Apps and websites will continue to grow and the internet continues to make a huge impact on sellers, retailer and end users alike.

Ends…

The charity auctions started with a bang on Monday 19th September, with the first auction raising a grand total of £1,888.00 for local children’s hospice Chestnut Tree House (www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk)! The auction took place during SVA’s general car sale, and with public, trade and locals attending, the evening was a resounding success. Items auctioned off included a P-reg Escort estate, which fetched £300.00, while a kindly donated cricket bat signed by the Sussex Cricket Club was sold for £250.00.

Motor traders and car dealers attending the second charity auction, held during SVA’s fleet car sale on Thursday 22nd September dug deep and managed to raise a total of £750.00 for automotive industry charity, BEN (www.ben.org.uk)! Items up for auction were donated by various companies and included bottles of wine, a television and a camera.

To wrap up, the final auction was held on Tuesday 27th September, during the light commercial sale, and was attended by a host of commercial vehicle dealers and end users. A total of £500.00 was raised for the leading UK animal welfare charity, RSPCA (www.rspca.org.uk), with a signed Millwall football raising £150.00 alone!

Alex Wright, the managing director of Shoreham Vehicle Auctions said: “Celebrating 50 years of trading is a great achievement and it meant a lot to the team and all those attending to raise money for a good cause. We had a great response from the attendees and were astounded at their generosity!”

The company began trading in 1961, and currently sells around 7,000 vehicles a year through 11 monthly auctions, including a weekly fleet and finance sale, a light commercial, HGV & plant sale, and a weekly evening dealer direct sale.

..ends…

The company began trading in 1961, and currently sells around 7,000 vehicles a year through 11 monthly auctions, including a weekly fleet and finance sale, a light commercial, HGV & plant sale, and a weekly evening dealer direct sale.

All monies raised from the charity auctions, which will be held during SVA’s normal car and van sales through the month of September, will go to the nominated charity of the day. Donations are being supplied by SVA’s customers, suppliers and local businesses, with some of the donations already including a Fourball at Kingsbarns Golf Links in Fife, a cricket bat signed by the Sussex County Cricket Club and dinner and one night stay at the Haselbury Mill Somerset. For more information on lots for sale, see the Sales Catalogue at www.shorehamvehicleauctions.com.

The charity auctions will kick start on Monday 19th September*, and with public, trade and locals attending, it is sure to be a lively event. The charity auction itself will start at 7.00pm, during Shoreham’s general car sale, which commences at 6.00pm. Proceeds from this auction will be donated to Chestnut Tree House – a local children’s hospice offering a homely environment for sick children and their families (www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk).

Thursday 22nd September* will see the second charity auction of the month taking place at 2.00pm, during SVA’s fleet car sale which commences at 12 noon, and will be attended by many motor traders and car dealers. The company has decided to give proceeds from this auction to the automotive industry charity, BEN (www.ben.org.uk). BEN is the UK’s only charity offering practical, emotional or financial support for those who work, or have worked in the automotive and related industries, as well as their dependants.

The charity auctions will conclude, with a final auction at 12 noon on Tuesday 27th September*, during the light commercial sale starting at 11.00am, which will be attended by a host of commercial vehicle dealers and end users. Monies raised from this auction will be donated to the leading UK animal welfare charity, RSPCA (www.rspca.org.uk).

Alex Wright, the Managing Director of Shoreham Vehicle Auctions said: “Celebrating 50 years of trading is a great achievement and what better way to commemorate this special occasion, than by raising money for a good cause? The charities chosen are charities that we as a team at SVA already actively support. We expect there to be a good turnout at the events, and may even throw in a free souvenir! For those interested, a tally of the total donations will be available on our website, so be sure to keep an eye on it.”

…Ends…

-      Two choices ell the vehicle or get it fitted with a particulate filter

-      Used vans registered before 1 October 2006 based around London will be greatly de-valued in the South East

The latest Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) regulations that will be introduced on the 3 January 2012 are set to impact on the thousands of converted vans, minibuses and motor caravans owned by sports enthusiasts.

Surfers, windsurfers and mountain bikers alike who own a sub 3.5 tonne Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) registered as new before 1 October 2006 will face a daily charge of £100 if they want to travel in and around London due to their high emissions. An unpaid charge will mean a fine of £500, but the long term benefit is improved air quality for Londoners, but those consumers who own vans as part of their lifestyle will get caught in this net.

The only way to avoid the charge is to have a filter fitted which captures the Particulate Matter (PM),  the fine particles of soot emitted by vehicles, which contribute to asthma, heart and lung disease and other respiratory illnesses. This might be worth the cost and hassle if a consumer has a prized Transporter T3 or T4 conversion, but for older, shabbier models it may mean the end of the road.

Alex Wright, managing director of Shoreham Vehicle Auctions, and self confessed wind surfing fanatic is keen to warn owners before they are sent their first £500 bill for not adhering to the new legislation.

“Transport for London estimates 72,000 vans and minibuses will be affected by the new LEZ regulations. We believe that many will be owned by drivers that have converted them to meet the requirements of their passion for outdoor sports with sleeping and cooking facilities in the back and a rack to store a surfboard on the roof,” said Wright.

“The most efficient option is to have a Particulate Filter fitted as any vehicle registered before 1 October 2006 will be soon worth nothing in the used vehicle market,” he added.

One last word of advice from Wright – “don’t forget to get your vehicle retested after the filter has been fitted to ensure the Government’ central database recognises your new lower emission vehicle and to avoid future charges or fines,” he said.

For a full list of the vehicles affected by the legislation and for a list of converters who can fit a filter to a vehicle can be found at www.tfl.gov.uk.

Ends…

For further media information please contact Kally Carder, Tel: 01628 526208 kally@nobull-communications.co.uk

PR REF: 2578

Buyers are bidding on fewer vehicles at auction and when it comes time to spending money they are doing more research than ever to prove a vehicle’s provenance before parting with their funds.

“Online images and descriptions are a key part of the modern auction environment, but buyers are now relying on these more to do their pre-auction research, to ensure they are as clued up on the market as possible,” explained Shoreham’s managing director, Alex Wright.

“We’ve noticed a big difference – as soon as we upload new vehicles onto our website for forthcoming sales, the phone starts to ring with traders asking more detailed questions about a vehicle, which we welcome. We are seeing a steady growth now, with the number of buyers increasing every day.”

Shoreham has been a relative latecomer to uploading images and descriptions of sale stock prior to sale, only adopting this procedure when it re-launched its website six months ago. It now chooses to upload ALL vehicles for sale onto its website free of charge and is extending each vehicle description to be accompanied by a minimum of four images.

“Even if a car or van comes in for an auction that is two weeks away, we still get it on the website as soon as possible. The long term benefit has to be more buyers buying more vehicles from Shoreham more often. It’s got to be the same for any vendor in this very tough used market, if they want to sell their stock fast and efficiently.”

Forget to load an image or enter a vehicle too late and the price to pay is high, according to Wright. The earlier an image is uploaded, the earlier the buyers can do their research and the more likely you are to see your vehicles shifting. Images are vitally important, as they are making the trade work harder.

He said: “We have seen entries arrive on sale day, just a few hours before the start of the sale, which can result in a car being uploaded without the image or full description. In the current market it is not surprising that buyers are prepared to ignore this stock. Rightfully they are managing their risk and only buying the stock they have pre-qualified or that they have found a buyer for. Everyone has to work their cashflow hard in the current economic climate.”

Ends…

For further Information contact Steve Carman or Kally Carder on 01628 526208 or email steve or kally@nobull-communications.co.uk

PR Ref: 2441

The decision by the European Parliament to ensure 100% of vans are sub 147g/km CO2 emissions by 2020 could create a two tier used market according to Shoreham Vehicle Auctions’ managing director Alex Wright.

He believes in the quest to reduce CO2 emissions the European Parliament is yet to take into account the impact on the second hand market of these initiatives.

“There will become a two tier used system with sub 147g/km vans being stocked predominantly by franchised dealers, with prices well out of the reach of most SME used van buyers.

“Vehicles with emissions above 147g/km will instantly see residuals fall and overall running costs, such as Vehicle Excise Duty increase,” said Wright.

He fears the moves to reduce emissions will eventually end up as a tax on SMEs who are the lifeblood of the used van industry.

“My fear is that by taxing the higher emission vans, SMEs will be faced with much higher costs if they want to buy and run a younger vehicle. That could dramatically weaken the demand for used vans three years before the proposals are introduced which will impact the entire market,” he said.

Leasing companies need to be particularly aware of a potential reduction in demand along with utilities, the large outright purchase fleets and the rental sector as they feed in many tens of thousands of vans into the used market each year.

“Those underwriting future residual values will have to treat future price predictions with caution as residuals are likely to fall on both the older and newer vans alike, even before the proposals are introduced. While the ‘green’ low CO2 vans may tick all the right boxes in Governmental circles, demand in the used market may not be as high because used buyers such as SMEs don’t have the credit rating to secure enough finance to purchase. Franchised dealers may have to find a new buyer for this type of van,” he said.

“Vans with emissions higher than 147g/km over a three or four year period may well be worth less as the operating costs are likely to rise quite dramatically,” said Wright.

Putting the entire issue into perspective against the Low Emission Zone in London, which is likely to include light vans as the City struggles to meet forthcoming Clean Air regulations in the coming years, some SMEs will simply not buy vans any more to run their businesses.

“What you might have is SMEs buying estate cars or hatchbacks to undertake general deliveries. Rather than face higher used prices for second hand vans, paying an LEZ charge and risking a £500 fine if their vehicle does not meet strict emission criteria, running a non-LEZ exempt car which only incurs a Congestion Charge could be a sensible way forward.

“Health and Safety issues around loads being unsecured in cars could also cause problems for employers who have to meet their Duty of Care responsibilities,” said Wright.

“An estate car can carry out the deliveries in the week and double up as a family car at weekends, without any of the potential issues described which could be seen as a major benefit from SME owners,” said Wright.

He believes there is still time for the UK LCV industry to sit down and discuss this issue in more detail to ensure that the new CO2 emission legislation isn’t just new vehicle centric.

Ends…

For further Information contact Steve Carman or Kally Carder on 01628 526208 or email kally@nobull-communications.co.uk

PR REF: 2289

• 150 vans entered with an 83% conversion rate
• Next ‘Van’ Tastic’ sales with 150+ vehicles to be held on 15th and 29th March 2011
• Additional van sale on 1st March 2011

On Tuesday, 15 February 2011, Shoreham Vehicle Auctions held its second ‘Van’ Tastic sale at its headquarters on the south coast with a record breaking 83% of the 150 vans entered being sold. A number of the vans sold were sourced from The RSPCA, ING Car Lease (UK) Ltd and Balfour Beatty.

Buyer turnout was strong and the majority of the vans sold achieved a price well over 100% of the CAP average – the best being six Citroen Berlingo Enterprise vans, with an average mileage of 89,624, all of which managed an average sale price of 134% of CAP and a 54-plate 88,058-mile Vauxhall Combo 2000 DTI which reached 127% of CAP.
Once again Shoreham Vehicle Auction’s new managing director and vehicle auction expert Alex Wright took to the rostrum to put his mark on the event:

“I have never seen such packed halls as we had on Tuesday! It was unbelievable and the results speak for themselves! We had some great buyers and sellers and once again everyone enjoyed the experience. We are looking forward to the next ‘Van’ Tastic sale in March and furthering Shoreham Vehicle Auctions’ next stage of expansion.”