Van finance when you are self employed
Yes, you can get van finance when you are self employed, even with no accounts yet. Lenders look at you: your experience, where your work comes from, and the van.
You may only have financed your own car before. Here is a work van, step by step. We arrange it from Scotland, across the UK, from £25,000 borrowed. No fee to apply. If your finance goes ahead, the lender pays us a commission.
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Written by Martin Mackenzie, Sales Director. Checked .
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Self employed van finance. In this video we are going to discuss self employed van finance. Can you get van finance when self employed? Yes. Even with no accounts yet. A sole trader, business partners or a new company can apply. We can ask over 120 lenders. Only a lender can say yes. Hire purchase means regular agreed repayments. You have the option to own the van at the end. A lease means regular agreed rentals. The lender keeps the van. No accounts yet? That is normal for a new business. Show what you have done before. Your years in the trade, and who for. Show work lined up, in writing. A contract, an order or an email. And the income you expect, and where it comes from. Your business bank account must be open. Repayments come from it. Been self employed a while? Lenders often want three months of business bank statements. And your latest year end accounts. It is easier for us to arrange finance for a limited company. A sole trader can still apply. Ask your accountant which to be. Most lenders look for a deposit of 5 to 10%. Some take none, even for a new business, when you are strong. You do not need to own a home. Can you get van finance without a credit check? No. Every lender checks your credit before it says yes. Applying to us is not a credit search. A CCJ or a missed bill is not the end. Tell us first. Starting as a courier? Show the income you expect and where it comes from. A joiner needs a van. No lender finds that odd. You do not need a long business plan. A short outline helps. Turned down at the dealer? A dealer has only a few lenders. We can often find one that says yes. Ask us first. Get your finance in place. Then ask the dealer for the cash price. Our page has a free checklist to tick and print. Apply online with Donnie, our in house AI agent, 24/7. Or call our team on 01463 652 653. Thanks for watching!
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Can I get self employed van finance?
Yes. A sole trader, a small partnership or your own new limited company can get a van on finance.
Hire purchase means you make regular agreed repayments, with the option to own the van at the end. A lease means you pay regular agreed rentals, and the lender keeps ownership. We are a broker: we can ask over 120 lenders for you, and only a lender can say yes.
I have no accounts yet. What do I show instead?
Show the lender who you are and where the money will come from. Having no accounts is normal for a new business.
Many well known lenders want 12 or 24 months of trading. Some of ours actively look to support new businesses.
- Your business bank account. Proof it is open. The repayments come from it, so the finance cannot pay out without one. A few statements is fine.
- Your experience. Years in the trade, who you worked for, a CV or LinkedIn profile.
- Work lined up, in writing. A contract, an order, or a customer's email.
- Your likely income, and where it comes from.
- The van. Make, model, number plate, mileage, the seller and the price.
- Your deposit, and where it comes from.
- ID and proof of address, for every director if a company.
Should I buy the van as a sole trader or a limited company?
It is easier for us to arrange finance for a limited company. A sole trader can still apply, from £25,000 borrowed.
As a sole trader, the finance is in your own name. With a company, expect a director's personal guarantee: a promise to pay if the company cannot. You do not need to own a home. A tenant is not usually asked for a bigger deposit.
Ask your accountant which to be.
Can I get a van with no deposit?
Often, yes. Most lenders look for 5 to 10%. Some take 0%, even for a new business, when the person behind it is strong.
No deposit saved? Tell us. A start-up grant can pay part of it. A business loan can pay the deposit, with the van finance paying the rest. We put the package together.
VAT is the other cost. Pay it at the start, or some lenders pay it for now and collect it later.
Is there van finance with no credit check?
No. Every lender checks your credit before it says yes.
Applying to us is not a credit search. If you go ahead, you sign a consent form. We then run a light credit check on the business, often called a soft search. Each lender then does its own check, soft or hard.
Be honest up front. A CCJ, a missed payment or a trust deed is not the end. A CCJ is a court order to pay a debt. A trust deed is a formal plan to pay debts back. Tell us first, and your explanation reaches the lender before it decides.
I am starting as a courier. What do lenders want to see?
Lenders want to see where the parcels come from and what they pay. Lenders understand a van that fits the trade.
Have ready: your likely income, the van, the seller, the price and your deposit. An agreement with the parcel firm helps, if you have one.
I am a joiner or builder going self employed. What about my van?
A joiner needs a van, and no lender finds that unusual. You do not need a long business plan.
What matters is a short summary. Your years in the trade, who you worked for, work lined up, the van. We help you put it together. The same goes for an electrician, plumber or plasterer.
The dealer said no. What now?
A dealer has only a few lenders. Many dealer panels are built for personal car finance.
Some people starting out are turned down at the dealer. With over 120 lenders, we can often find one that says yes. Do not settle for an older van with cash. Ask us first.
Get your finance in place first, then ask the dealer for the cash price.
How does it work, and how long does it take?
A person in our team gets back to you within a day.
- Apply through our in house AI agent, Donnie, or call us.
- Our team talks it through with you. You sign a consent form.
- We send your case to the lenders that suit it.
- A lender approves. We show you the figures, and you decide.
- You sign, often online, and the lender pays the seller.
The fastest was the same day. A private sale takes longer.
Our self employed van checklist
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We love helping people start out on their own. We have been there ourselves.
More to read
All articlesQuestions people ask about self employed van finance
Is it hard to get van finance when self employed?
It is harder with no accounts, but often possible. Your experience and work lined up do the talking.
Can I finance a van through my limited company?
Yes, on hire purchase or a lease. Expect a director's personal guarantee.
Can I get a grant for a van as a self employed person?
We do not arrange grants. If you have one, it can go towards your deposit.
Is a van tax deductible when self employed?
It can be, but we are not tax advisers. Ask your accountant.
Are there 0% van finance offers?
Usually only from a van maker, through its dealer. Ask for the cash price too, and compare.
Can I get van finance with a CCJ?
Often, yes, when you tell us first and the reason is clear. Only a lender can say yes.
Where should I go for van finance?
A broker can ask many lenders for you, not just the dealer's few. We can ask over 120.
I have been self employed a while. What do lenders ask for?
Usually 3 months of business bank statements and your latest year-end accounts.
Can I get finance for a used van?
Yes. Vans up to about 7 years old at the start are common.
Can I buy a van from a private seller on finance?
Yes. The seller must prove the van is theirs, and the lender may inspect it. It takes longer.
Apply for your van
Donnie, our in house AI agent, takes applications 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and answers questions. AI assistants can ask Donnie for their users too.
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