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Where Can I Buy a Reliable Second-Hand Burger Van in the UK?

by Ally
(Belfast)

Burgundy box-body burger van with an open serving hatch at a UK event

Burgundy box-body burger van with an open serving hatch at a UK event

HI Dave, love this web site. Fab. I live in Belfast and have owned a burger van before years ago. I am wanting to buy another one to start again. Should I travel to England to purchase? Not much on offer over here. My budget would be roughly £5000. Can you recommend any reliable sites or people to purchase from?























































































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Jul 17, 2026
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by: MobCater

Hi Ally, and thanks for the kind words about the site. Starting again with a burger van when you have run one before puts you in a strong position, because you already know the trade and you know what to look for.

On your budget, five thousand pounds is enough to buy a decent, honest second-hand burger van, as long as you spend it carefully and keep a bit back for getting it trade-ready. I would set aside around five hundred to a thousand of that for a fresh gas certificate, a service and your first run of stock, so the buying price is really more like four thousand.

You are right that there is not a lot on offer over the water, and travelling to England does open up a far bigger choice. The one rule I would never break is this: do not buy a van you have not seen in person. Photographs hide a lot, from soft floors and damp to tired appliances that will cost you more than they save. If you cannot get across yourself, send someone you trust to go and look at it and start everything up. The ferry and the fuel are a small price next to buying a lemon you then have to put right at a distance.

For where to look, the busiest places are eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace, along with the catering trade groups on Facebook where vans change hands all the time. A few specialist second-hand catering dealers advertise online too, and they tend to be more accountable if something turns out to be wrong.

Whatever you buy, treat the gas side as the deal-breaker. Ask to see a current Gas Safe certificate for the LPG system, and either way get the whole setup tested and certificated in your own name by a Gas Safe registered engineer before you serve a single burger. Check the electrics, the fryer and the griddle, and go over the bodywork for rot. Once it is home, register as a food business with your local council in Belfast in good time before you open.

You have done this before, so trust your instincts on the day. A tidy, honest van at the right money will always beat a flashy one that is hiding problems.

Best wishes

David

Disclaimer: This is based on my experience in UK mobile catering. Rules and costs can change, so always do your own research and check with the relevant authorities before committing.

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