- March 2026 new van registration figures revealed
- Key 'new plate' month
- Large vans rise 8.7%, medium vans increase 2.3%
- Ford Transit Custom still UK's most popular van
- Overall market declines as pick-up sales slump
Demand for medium and large vans has risen - with the Ford Transit Custom still the UK's most popular light commercial vehicle.
That's according to the latest industry sales stats for March - one of the busiest months of the year for the sector.
The figures illustrate a market that's shifting in new directions, with a slump for pick-ups meaning the overall new van market fell by 3.4%, year on year.
Read on to find out what it all means.
Large vans still doing the heavy lifting
The strongest part of the market remained large vans, with registrations rising 8.7% year on year to 34,805 units. Medium vans also edged up, increasing 2.3% year on year to 8,365.
At the other end of the scale, small vans suffered a sharp drop of 53.8%, falling to just 732 registrations. That is a much smaller part of the market overall, but it still added to the broader decline.
The biggest pressure point, however, came from the pick-up sector, where registrations slumped 54.0% to 3,732 units. That fall was severe enough to drag the wider LCV market down despite continued growth in the larger van categories.
Government tax changes have made double-cab pick-ups less affordable for business users, with BIK costs now measured in thousands of pounds a year.
Firms are keeping older, more polluting vehicles on the road for longer, avoiding the new tax regime and reducing Treasury receipts.
Ford still leads the market
Despite the slowdown, the usual best-sellers remained out in front.
The Ford Transit Custom was once again the UK’s best-selling van in March, recording 7,715 registrations, although that was down 16.7% year on year.
In pick-ups, the Ford Ranger remained the market leader with 2,094 registrations, but that was well below the 4,301 recorded in the same month last year.
Electric van demand still under pressure
Battery-electric van registrations fell 15.9% to 3,543 units, giving EVs a market share of just 7.1% in March. That remains well short of the level needed if the market is to keep pace with the government’s zero-emission targets.
Across the first quarter of the year, electric van registrations are still up 4.3%, but EVs account for only 9.0% of the total LCV market so far in 2026. Diesel remains dominant, making up 85.6% of registrations in March.
The SMMT says support measures such as the extended Plug-in Van Grant and depot charging funding should help, but high upfront costs and limited charging options for commercial vehicles remain key barriers.
“A weak March is deeply concerning given this number plate change month often sets the tone for the year,” said Mike Hawes, the SMMT’s chief executive. “With fleet renewal now having contracted in 14 of the past 16 months, it reflects poorly on overall business confidence. A thriving market is essential not just to economic growth but to decarbonisation, and it is increasingly alarming to see BEV demand waning when it must accelerate to reach ever-tougher mandated levels. With the transition already falling behind schedule, a holistic review of the transition is urgently needed.”
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