Used Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van Finance

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter for long distances and heavy loads

The Sprinter is the large van that logistics firms, couriers and conversion specialists reach for when the job involves big miles or big loads. It comes in a wide spread of lengths and heights, from a manageable panel van to extra-long high-roof versions, and in gross weights above the 3.5 tonne class. Plenty of used examples come from parcel and fleet work.

That history matters when you finance one. A Sprinter with a high mileage and a full service record is a very different asset from one with gaps in its paperwork, and lenders look at the history as well as the odometer. A tidy, well-maintained van with long mileage can be easier to fund than a lower-mileage one that nobody can vouch for.

Say how heavy the version is and what body it carries, whether a plain panel van, a Luton or a tipper. That tells us which lenders are comfortable before a full application. All finance is subject to status.

Sprinter sizes, weights and what to check

• Body sizes: several wheelbases and roof heights, with the biggest panel vans offering well over ten cubic metres of load space, plus chassis cab versions for tippers, dropsides and Luton bodies.
• Weights: gross weights from around 3.0 tonnes up to roughly 5.5 tonnes on the heaviest current chassis. Above 3.5 tonnes the licence and operating rules change, so check them before you buy.
• Payload: up to roughly 1,500 kg on common 3.5 tonne panel vans, and considerably more on the heavier chassis.
• Generations and engines: the W906 and the redesigned W907 and W910 from 2018. Most vans up to about 2021 use a 2.1-litre four-cylinder diesel, with a 3.0 V6 on some higher-powered models, and a 2.0-litre diesel followed. An electric eSprinter has also been added.
• What to check: a complete service history, the AdBlue and particulate filter systems, corrosion on arches and sills, clutch and gearbox condition, and signs of body or floor abuse on ex-courier vans.

Sprinter prices and an example monthly payment

Used Sprinters typically sell for around £9,000 to £34,000, a wide band that reflects the spread of ages, weights and body types. Our lenders’ minimum lend is £10,000 excluding VAT and after deposit, so the van needs to cost around £12,000 or more, which rules out the oldest Sprinters at the bottom of the band.

For a Sprinter at around £20,000 with £3,000 down, the balance to finance is £17,000, and a longer term is more common on larger, higher-value vans. Representative example: amount of credit £17,000, term 60 months, 9.9% APR representative, 60 monthly payments of £356.84, total amount payable £21,410.40 (excluding deposit and fees). Illustrative only and subject to status. The calculator lets you test a Sprinter at your own numbers.

VAT on a used Sprinter

A Sprinter’s price makes the VAT a large number, so the invoice deserves a close look. Ex-lease and ex-fleet vans often show VAT that a VAT-registered business can reclaim for business use, whereas a dealer’s margin-scheme van shows none. Get the status in writing, and ask your accountant if the van has a converted body. See our guide to VAT on used vans.

Hire purchase, lease or refinance for a Sprinter

Because Sprinters often cover high mileage, hire purchase tends to suit owners who intend to run the van long term, as standard hire purchase does not usually carry mileage limits. A lease works if you want a fixed monthly cost and a mileage allowance you can live with, but check the excess mileage charges before signing. If the van will carry a Luton or box body, tell us at the start, as that changes which lenders are comfortable. Leasing is only available on some used vans, so ask about the one you choose.