Van finance for your business
Van finance lets your business buy a van on hire purchase, a finance lease or a business loan. Or it can raise cash from a van it already owns. We can ask over 120 lenders for you, and there is no fee to apply.
Our top tip: get your finance in place before you talk to the dealer. Here is why.
Get the free checklist and van finance calculator
Written by Martin Mackenzie, Sales Director. Checked .
Apply through our in house AI agent, Donnie
What is business van finance?
Van finance is a type of asset finance. If the payments stop, the lender can take the van back. On hire purchase, the van is yours once the last payment and a small fee are paid. A finance lease lets you use it without owning it. For a loan, try our business loan calculator.
Most agreements last 2 to 5 years. They can be as short as 12 months or as long as 7 years.
See how long it takes below.
Which vans can you finance?
We arrange finance for new and used vans, big and small, for any kind of business.
Panel vans, tippers, minibuses built on a van, and pickups with 2 or 4 doors. Work versions of big 4x4s count too, like the Land Rover Defender Commercial and the Toyota Land Cruiser Commercial.
Buy from any seller who can prove the van is theirs. That can be a dealer, another business, a private seller or an auction.
Why get your finance in place before you go to the dealer?
Finance in place first puts you in a strong place with the dealer.
The dealer takes you seriously, and has to show you the cash price.
When a price is only shown as a monthly payment, extras can hide inside it.
With your own finance ready, you see each extra on the order, and what it costs.
What if the dealer's finance turns me down?
If the dealer's finance says no, do not accept it. Ask a broker like us to try other lenders.
Some makers' own finance, like Land Rover's, comes from big high street banks. Many new businesses get turned down by it, often in trades like groundworks and engineering.
A dealer may be happy to sell to you. Its finance can still be much more choosy.
Many of these businesses come to us next, and most of the time our team finds a lender. It costs nothing to apply, and takes very little time.
One honest note. When a maker pays towards its own finance to sell a van, a broker usually cannot beat that. Look at both.
Can a new business get van finance?
Yes, a new business can get van finance in most cases, when the plan stands up.
Lenders look at where the money to start comes from, and how you will win work. Owning your home helps, but it is not a must. You do not need a perfect credit record either.
Do not expect an instant yes. Fewer lenders take new businesses, and high street lenders usually want 2 years of trading. We know the ones that help new businesses. We want to grow with you.
How do I release cash from a van my business already owns?
Refinance lets your business raise cash against a van it already owns. You then pay it back each month.
Most lenders lend up to 80% of what the van is worth. Some lenders on our panel go up to 100%. Read Can I refinance my van? or see asset refinance.
Van hire purchase, finance lease or contract hire?
On hire purchase, your business owns the van at the end. On a finance lease or contract hire, the lender owns it. Business van leasing means a finance lease or contract hire.
| Hire purchase | Finance lease | Contract hire | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who owns the van? | Your business, once it is all paid | The lender, while your business uses it | The lender |
| At the end | A small fee, then it is yours | You can keep on using it | It goes back. Wear and tear can cost extra |
| VAT | Pay it at the start, or the lender pays it for now | A bit each month, with each payment | On each payment. For a work van, you can usually claim it all back |
| Suits a business that | Wants to own the van | Wants to spread the VAT | Will hand the van back |
We can arrange all three, but most of our work is hire purchase.
We are members of the NACFB. It is a UK group for finance brokers like us.
Many people we help have tried contract hire, then come back to hire purchase. A work van gets worn, and on contract hire that can cost a lot when it goes back. Read the small print on any low monthly offer.
How does VAT work on van finance?
You can pay the VAT on van finance in three ways.
Pay it at the start, with your deposit. Or the lender pays it for now. You claim it back on your VAT return, and the lender takes it back a few months later. Or pay a bit each month, which is a finance lease.
On contract hire, a business can usually claim back all the VAT on a work van. GOV.UK explains VAT on motoring.
Is there company van tax on an electric van or a pickup?
A van used only for work has no company van tax. Tiny private trips are fine, like stopping for a newspaper on the way to work.
An electric van has no company van tax at all. It is £0, even with private use.
Double cab pickups are different. Since 6 April 2025, most count as cars for company car tax. Some were bought, leased or ordered before that date. They keep the van rules until they are sold, the lease ends, or 5 April 2029. Lenders still finance a pickup as a commercial.
We are not tax advisers, so ask your accountant. GOV.UK explains company vans and double cab pickups.
What does van finance look like in real life?
Two examples of how it works. They are not quotes.
How can a builder get a new van with £500 down?
He uses van finance from a lender that also pays the VAT for now. His dealer wants £40,000 plus VAT. He wants to put down £500, and cannot pay the £8,000 VAT at the start.
He applies online with Donnie, our in house AI agent, and sends his bank statements, accounts and ID. They go by email to our team.
We find a lender that takes £500 down and pays the VAT for now. He pays the rest over 60 months. He claims the VAT back, and the lender takes it back in month 3. He signs online and drives away.
The result: a new van for £500 down, and no £8,000 hole in his bank account.
How would a business finance a Land Rover Defender Commercial?
The van costs £60,000 plus VAT. A business could put 10% down plus the VAT, then pay over 4 years on hire purchase.
Why no monthly payment? We will not guess. Each of our 120+ lenders sets its own price, and the lender's offer gives the exact figure.
A real example of a hire purchase agreement completed by Mackenzie Commercial Finance
Completed by Martin Mackenzie, September 2026.
These are real figures from a real agreement we completed for a customer. The customer was a limited company buying a used asset from a dealer.
- Price
- £43,998 including VAT
- Deposit
- £8,799.60 (20%)
- How many months
- 60
- Monthly payment
- £714.38
- Documentation fee
- £280
- Option to purchase fee
- £80 + VAT
- Total cost of finance
- £8,024.40
- Total amount paid
- £52,022.40 (+ VAT on the £80 fee)
This was business finance for a company. It was not regulated consumer finance. Every case is different. This is not a quote.
Can I buy a van at auction or from a private seller?
Yes, we can finance a van bought at auction or from a private seller.
It takes a few more checks, so set it up before you pay or bid. Read our guide to private sale and auction van finance, with a checklist for each. Or read how a Highland firm bought a minibus at auction on finance.
Can you help me find the van?
Yes. We do not sell vans. But we can put you in touch with dealers who can find yours, at no extra cost.
What should I get ready before I apply?
Get your documents, your van details and your sums ready before you apply. Two free tools help. First, check how ready you are. Then use the checklist and calculator, and print them or save them as a PDF. Nothing you type here is sent to us.
How ready are you for van finance?
Answer 9 quick questions. The meter shows how ready you are to apply, and what would help. It is not a yes or a no, and it is not a rate. Only a lender can say yes.
Your checklist and calculator
How do you get paid, and what does the finance cost?
The lender pays us a commission, only once your finance is in place. There is no fee to apply, and no fee up front. Apply by phone, by email, or online with Donnie, our in house AI agent, in under 5 minutes.
If you stop before your finance is in place, you owe us nothing, unless you agreed the rare inspection fee. The lender pays our commission to our principal, the firm we work under. It is already inside any figures we give you.
Most lenders pay a share of the amount borrowed. It is up to 10% of what you borrow, and often less. It depends on the lender. You see it before you sign. Lenders pay different amounts, so the one we find may not pay us the most, or the least. A dealer who arranges finance is a broker too.
Lenders' own fees vary. As a guide, a fee to set up the agreement is about £100 to £500. It is often paid with the first payment. Some charge about £30 to £50 a year. On hire purchase, about £100 to £300 to own the asset at the end.
Can you arrange van finance anywhere in the UK?
Yes, we arrange van finance across Scotland and the whole UK, from our base in Scotland.
A buyer in Southampton can buy from a dealer in Aberdeen. A builder in Glasgow can buy from a dealer in Liverpool. A lot of our lenders let you sign online, through the lender or our own e-sign service. So where you are does not matter.
How long does van finance take?
Our team gets back to you within a day. After that, it depends on the lender and your case.
It can be the same day when everything lines up. That means clean credit, a new van from a main dealer, and documents signed at once.
Harder cases can take a few weeks. The more notice you give us, the more lenders we can ask. We do the chasing for you.
How has van finance worked for other businesses?
★★★★★
No time wasted and all set up and new van delivered on the date said .
Van finance questions
Who can arrange van finance?
A lender, a dealer or a broker can. A broker like us can ask over 120 lenders for you.
How do I check a firm is regulated?
Look it up on the FCA register. Our number is 1058283.
Is it hard to get van finance?
It depends on your business and the van. Only a lender can say yes.
Can a limited company get van finance?
Yes, a limited company can get van finance from £15,000. That is the same for a limited liability partnership. We set no top limit of our own. Lenders set different limits.
Can a sole trader or self employed person get van finance?
Yes, a sole trader can get van finance for over £25,000. That is the same for a partnership. For £25,000 or less, please speak to us first.
Does everyone get approved for van finance?
No, not everyone gets approved. Only a lender can say yes, and we never promise one. If one lender says no, we can often ask another.
Is financing a van a good idea?
It can be a good idea. Your business gets the van now and pays over time. Before you sign, check the total you will pay and what happens at the end.
Can I get van finance with bad credit?
Yes, we help businesses with bad credit get van finance. Many people told they have bad credit get finance with no problem. It is often about how the case is set out for the lender. We never promise a yes.
Does applying for van finance mean a credit check?
Applying to us is not a credit search. We read what you send and say what we think the outcome will be. To go ahead, you sign a form to say we may check. Then we run a light credit check on your company with Experian. It is often known as a soft search. Each lender then does its own check, soft or hard.
Is there a mileage limit on a used van?
Usually not, if there is no balloon (a bigger last payment). Some lenders cap it at about 100,000 miles. With high miles, check its condition and service history. Many come from big fleets and were well looked after.
Will I have to sign a personal guarantee?
If you own a limited company, expect to be asked. It is a promise to pay if the company cannot. The lowest-cost lenders often want one. If that stops you, another lender may not ask, but may cost more. Price is not the only thing that matters.
Can you finance a fleet of vans?
Yes, from one van to as many as you need. A big fleet may not fit on one agreement. So we can spread the vans across several lenders. Then one lender's limit does not hold your business back.
Can I finance a used van?
Yes, we arrange finance for used vans as well as new ones. Most lenders want the van to be no older than 12 to 15 years at the last payment. So a van up to about 7 years old can usually be financed.
Can I pay off van finance early?
Yes, you can pay off van finance early. The charges are fixed at the start, so the lender adds up what is left and usually takes some off. If you may pay early, tell us first, so we can set a shorter term.
Can I check if a van has finance on it?
Yes. Run an online check, like an HPI check, before you pay a deposit. The lender checks too, before it pays.
Can I get van finance with no deposit?
Yes, it is possible, and quite common. Most lenders still look for a deposit of 5 to 10%.
Is there tax on an electric company van?
No company van tax: GOV.UK sets the van benefit charge on a zero emission van at £0. Ask your accountant about your own business.
Can I get 0% van finance?
Sometimes, from a van maker's own finance, when the maker pays towards it to sell the van. A broker usually cannot beat that. Ask for the cash price too.
How do I apply for van finance?
Apply online with Donnie, our in house AI agent, at any time, or call us. Donnie can also ask our team to call you back. We will tell you straight what is possible, and what happens next.
Use an AI assistant? It can ask Donnie questions for you. It finds him at /llms.txt and /api/agent.
Can I apply at any time, from anywhere in the UK?
Yes. Donnie, our in house AI agent, takes applications 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He answers your questions too. Our office is in Scotland, and our team works with businesses across the whole UK.
Donnie is powered by Anthropic's Claude. He is built so other AI agents can talk to him. So your own AI assistant can ask him questions for you. How AI assistants talk to Donnie