Victorian members of the Housing Industry Association (HIA) are moving in large numbers to take advantage of a fleet deal their association has struck with Toyota Australia.

In recent months as many as 50 individual HIA members per month have taken advantage of their new status as fleet buyers.

The arrangement entitles members to discounts running into thousands of dollars.

HIA Victorian business development manager Warwick Duncan, who was involved in setting up the deal, said the volume would swell considerably as members became more familiar with what was on offer.

Representing more than 10,000 builders and tradespeople, and an even greater number of vehicles, HIA negotiated special pricing with Toyota on a range of "tool of trade" vehicles.

Models available to HIA at fleet rates include HiLux 2WD and 4WD, HiAce and TownAce vans, LandCruiser 78 "military" Series and LandCruiser 100 Series wagons (standard and RV models), Prado wagons (RV and RV6 models), Dyna trucks and the Altona-built Camry CSi wagon range.

Mr Duncan said a major reason for striking the deal with Toyota was the broad range of commercial vehicles it offered - including vans.

"Toyota’s diversity of models was important because we cover the full range of building trades," he said.

"Toyota utes and vans are selling well to our members, with the HiLux and HiAce the most popular. Many HIA people who have become Toyota fleet customers preferred Toyotas anyway - now they get the benefit of their combined purchasing power."

Most trades represented by HIA are small business people, for whom a new vehicle is a major investment.

Ocean Grove plumber and builder John Izatt, who recently traded two vehicles on a new HiAce van, is typical of the HIA customer profile.

He said he enjoyed exceptional reliability from a Celica he owned for seven years in the 1980s and had no hesitation in selecting the HiAce as his only work vehicle.

"That Celica never missed a beat in the seven years I owned it, and the HiAce looks like doing the same," he said.