Ford Transit Finance

Ford Transit finance is a commercial funding agreement used to acquire the full-size version of the UK's most iconic van. Businesses can spread the cost through hire purchase or finance lease, preserving cash flow. As one of the most familiar and easily resold vans on the market, lenders view it as a highly secure asset, which often translates to highly competitive rates.

The Ford Transit needs little introduction. It has been the backbone of British business for sixty years, the best-selling commercial vehicle in the country for most of that time, and the van a huge number of tradespeople and fleet operators simply default to. When people say "a Transit," they usually mean the big one, the full-size van that carries the heavy loads and covers the big miles.

We arrange Ford Transit finance for limited companies and sole traders across the UK, new and used, diesel and electric. Here is what you need to know.

The full-size Ford Transit

This page is about the full-size Transit, the large panel van at the top of the Transit family. It is the one businesses reach for when they need serious capacity. Multiple body lengths, two or three roof heights, and different weight ratings mean it can be configured for almost any job, from a mobile workshop to a high-volume delivery vehicle. The largest variants swallow plasterboard, timber, and bulky loads that would defeat a mid-size van, with payloads reaching well over a tonne.

Under the bonnet the diesel Transit remains the workhorse most businesses know, with strong pulling power and towing capacity up to around 2,800kg. For businesses moving to cleaner running, the electric E-Transit sits alongside it, which we cover below.

If you are actually looking at the mid-size Transit Custom, that is a slightly different van and we have a dedicated page for it. Visit our Ford Transit Custom finance page for that model.

The Ford Transit family

The Transit name covers a whole range of vehicles, not just one van, and we finance all of them.

• The full-size Transit: The large panel van described above.
• The Transit Custom: The mid-size van that suits most trades, covered on its own page.
• The Transit Connect: The compact end of the range, ideal for urban trades and light delivery work.
• The Transit Minibus: A popular choice for schools, care operators, and passenger transport businesses.

If you need a Transit minibus, we have a dedicated page for passenger vehicles. Visit our minibus finance page for that. If you are weighing up the full-size Transit against other large and mid-size panel vans, our panel van finance page gives a broader view of the options.

The Ford E-Transit

The E-Transit is the fully electric version of the full-size Transit, and it has become one of the most capable large electric vans on the market.

It comes in a wide choice of configurations, with three gross weight versions named 350, 390, and 425. The largest weighs in at 4.25 tonnes, yet thanks to a special exception for electric vans it can still be driven on a standard category B licence. Payloads run from over a tonne up to around 1,758kg depending on the body, which is among the highest of any large electric van. The load area is the same size and shape as the equivalent diesel, so nothing is sacrificed by going electric.

For businesses, the electric version has a few things worth knowing. It qualifies for the government's plug-in van grant, which comes off the purchase price. It carries an eight year battery warranty. And as an electric commercial vehicle it comes with tax advantages that for a limited company can be significant. We cover these in more detail on our electric van finance page. As always, your accountant will confirm what applies to your business.

Used Ford Transit finance

The used Transit market is the largest of any van in the country, which makes it a sensible place to find value.

Because the Transit is so common and so well understood, it is one of the most straightforward vans to finance second-hand. Parts and servicing are available everywhere, the vehicles are easy to value, and lenders are entirely comfortable with them. A Transit that is one to three years old has taken the sharpest part of its depreciation but still has plenty of working life left, which often represents the best value.

Older examples finance well too. Many of the lenders we work with will finance a Transit that is already eight or ten years old for a further two to three years, provided the mileage is sensible and the service history is complete. Few vans give a lender that level of confidence, and the Transit is one of them.

Visit our used van finance page for more detail on how age and mileage affect lender decisions.

Finance products available

Hire purchase

The most common product for Transit finance. You pay a deposit, spread the balance over an agreed term of typically 24 to 60 months, and own the van outright at the end. Predictable monthly payments, a clean capital allowance position, and no end-of-term complications. For most businesses, it is the simplest route.

Finance lease

Available with some lenders. Monthly rentals over the term with the van sold to a third party at the end, and the option of a balloon payment to reduce the monthly cost. Worth considering if keeping the monthly payment down is the priority.

For a full explanation of both products, visit our hire purchase vs finance lease page.

Finance for new and start-up businesses

New limited companies, recently incorporated businesses, and start-ups under two years old are all welcome to apply.

The Transit is a common first van for a growing business, and we place finance for new businesses regularly. Without a lengthy trading history, lenders assess the application on the director's personal credit history, and a deposit is usually required. A clean personal profile on a sensibly priced van is often enough to secure an approval even for a business that has only just started trading.

Visit our new business van finance page for more detail on what lenders look for with start-up and early-stage businesses.

Ford Transit finance with bad credit

A difficult credit history does not prevent you from financing a Transit.

As the most common and most easily resold van on the market, the Transit is a straightforward asset for a lender to consider, even when the credit profile is not clean. Specialist lenders who look at the full picture rather than an automated score are more likely to consider an adverse credit application on a mainstream van like this. A larger deposit and strong recent trading both improve the options.

Visit our bad credit van finance page for more information on how we handle adverse credit applications.

No Deposit Ford Transit Finance

Because the Ford Transit is such a well-understood and secure asset, lenders are very comfortable financing it. This means that for VAT-registered businesses with a clean credit profile, we can frequently secure no deposit van finance. You simply pay the VAT upfront (which you later reclaim) or defer it, and finance the full purchase price.

Get pre-approved before you go shopping

A growing number of businesses come to us for pre-approval before they start looking at vans. It means you know exactly what you can borrow and at what rate, so you can negotiate the best price with any reputable dealer and move quickly when you find the right vehicle. Good used vans sell fast, and being ready to proceed puts you in a much stronger position than a buyer still sorting out their finance.

Who can apply

Limited companies can typically borrow from £10,000. Most new and quality used Transits sit comfortably within mainstream lending parameters.

Sole trader finance is available from £25,000 on unregulated credit agreements.

If you are not sure whether your business or the Transit you are looking at qualifies, the quickest thing to do is ask. We will give you a straight answer before anything is submitted.