Fridge & Freezer Vans for Sale

A refrigerated van has an insulated load space and a refrigeration unit that keeps it cold: chilled for fresh food, flowers and medicines, or frozen for frozen food and ice cream.

There are often three options when it comes to choosing a refrigerated van. You can either convert an existing van into a refrigerated van by improving the insulation and then adding a refrigeration unit. You can also choose between a range of used and new vehicles. There are petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles available.

A wide range of businesses can benefit from a refrigerated van. This includes any business responsible for transporting perishables, including food, flowers or medical supplies.

Small vans (like the Mercedes Citan or Ford Transit Connect) suit city multi-drop and light loads, medium vans (like the Ford Transit Custom or Mercedes Vito) suit most trades, and large vans (like the Mercedes Sprinter) carry pallets and heavier loads. Don’t overload it: the fridge needs room for air to flow around the load. Read what size fridge van do you actually need?

It depends on the size of the van, the insulation, the fridge unit and the weather outside. Pre-cool the load space before you load it, and ask us for the figures for a particular van.

It depends on what you carry. By law, chilled food must be kept at 8°C or below, and the Food Standards Agency recommends 5°C or below. Frozen food should be kept at -18°C or colder. Many medicines must be kept at 2–8°C, but always check the maker’s storage instructions. Read chiller van or freezer van: which do you need?

Our biggest are long-wheelbase, high-roof vans like the Mercedes Sprinter L3H2, Ford Transit L3H3 and Renault Master LWB. A medium wheelbase takes 3 pallets, and a long-wheelbase Sprinter takes 4. Need more space? Ask us about refrigerated box vans.

No. Most refrigerated vans weigh up to 3.5 tonnes, so you can drive one on a normal car licence. A refrigerated truck is heavier and needs a lorry licence. Vans are easier to drive and park in towns; trucks carry more over long distances.

If you transport perishable goods and you have previously been limited in your business by a lack of suitable vehicles, then you can benefit from a refrigerated van. Some of the businesses that can benefit from this type of vehicle include food suppliers, farmers, caterers, pharmaceutical companies, florists and many more. If you’re not sure if a refrigerated van is right for your company, we’d be happy to help you explore your options.

Most refrigerated vans are diesel. An electric van has no exhaust emissions, so London’s ULEZ charge doesn’t apply, but check its range against your daily round, as running the fridge uses some of the battery. See our electric fridge vans.

You can check any van’s MOT history free on GOV.UK using its registration number. It shows past MOT results, recorded mileages and any advisories, which helps you spot problems before you buy.

It is certainly possible to find pre-owned refrigerated vans on the market. This can help to save money and avoid the need for a more significant upfront investment. However, with a new vehicle, you will enjoy improved performance and efficiency. When buying a used vehicle, make sure you check out the history of the van to check for any more extensive repairs.

You will need a valid driver’s licence in order to operate your refrigerated van. If you only have an automatic licence, you will need an automatic van. Without a full manual licence, you will be restricted to automatic vehicles. You will also need insurance and road tax before you can take your vehicle on the road. Since it is a commercial vehicle, you will need commercial van insurance.

You can carry perishable goods like food, flowers and medicines at the right temperature, chilled or frozen, all the way to your customer, so they arrive in peak condition.

The main difference is the temperature inside the cargo hold and the type of items typically transported. A freezer van is more likely to be used for frozen goods, like frozen fish or ice cream. Catering companies can benefit from different temperature controlled compartments, allowing them to store items at different temperatures.