Panel Van Finance

Panel vans are what most businesses need and what most lenders are most comfortable with. No specialist licensing requirements, no complex conversion to assess, no residual value uncertainty. A panel van is a clean, well-understood asset and the finance is usually the simplest part of the purchase.

Most UK businesses financing a van are financing a panel van. Builders, electricians, plumbers, couriers, mobile businesses of every kind. The Transit Custom on a building site, the Sprinter running deliveries, the Transporter that goes everywhere and does everything. These are the vans that keep businesses moving and the finance is straightforward.

Here is what you need to know before you apply.

Makes and models we regularly arrange finance for

Panel vans come in three broad sizes, and the finance works across all of them. Small vans suit urban work and frequent stopping. Mid-size vans are the most common choice for trades. Large vans are for businesses that carry volume, equipment, or multiple operatives.

Small panel vans

The small van market has become increasingly competitive and the quality has improved significantly. Common choices include:

• Ford Transit Connect — the best-selling small van in the UK, reliable, widely serviced, and easy to place with lenders.
• Volkswagen Caddy — popular with businesses that want car-like driving dynamics alongside commercial practicality.
• Renault Kangoo — a strong all-rounder with good payload for its size, now available in electric trim.
• Peugeot Partner and Citroën Berlingo — effectively the same van under different badges, both well-regarded and widely used.
• Vauxhall Combo — the Stellantis platform again, competitive pricing and a well-equipped standard specification.
• Toyota Proace City — increasingly popular with businesses that value reliability records above all else.

Mid-size panel vans

This is where most enquiries sit. The mid-size van covers the majority of trades and commercial use cases and has the widest lending panel of any vehicle category.

• Ford Transit Custom — the most popular van in the UK by a considerable margin. Well-understood by lenders, holds its value well, and available in an enormous range of specifications.
• Volkswagen Transporter — the premium end of the mid-size market. Higher purchase price but strong residual values and popular with businesses where the van represents the brand.
• Mercedes-Benz Vito — a strong performer in the mid-size category, popular with tradespeople and private hire operators running smaller configurations.
• Renault Trafic — a solid, no-nonsense workhorse with good payload and a loyal following in the trades sector.
• Vauxhall Vivaro — competitive pricing and a shared platform with the Trafic makes this one of the better value options in the segment.
• Peugeot Expert and Citroën Dispatch — the Stellantis mid-size twins, increasingly popular with businesses looking for competitive pricing on a well-specified van.
• Toyota Proace — Toyota's entry into the mid-size market has been well-received, particularly with fleet operators who value the reliability reputation.
• Nissan NV300 — a Renault Trafic platform van with good availability in the used market and competitive pricing.

Large panel vans

Large vans carry more, accommodate more equipment, and suit businesses where capacity is the priority.

• Ford Transit — the full-size Transit remains one of the most commonly financed vans in the UK. Available in a huge range of configurations, roof heights, and wheelbase lengths.
• Mercedes-Benz Sprinter — the benchmark large van for businesses that want the best. Strong resale values and broad lender familiarity make it one of the easier large vans to place on finance.
• Volkswagen Crafter — a strong alternative to the Sprinter with excellent build quality and growing popularity in the logistics and trades sectors.
• Vauxhall Movano — competitive large van pricing with good payload figures and wide availability in the used market.
• Renault Master — a popular large van with strong payload and good availability across new and used.
• Peugeot Boxer and Citroën Relay — the large van versions of the Stellantis platform, widely used in the courier and logistics sectors and very well understood by lenders.
• Iveco Daily — a niche choice but popular with businesses that need a heavier-duty large van or specialist configuration.
• Maxus Deliver 9 — an increasingly competitive large van option, particularly for businesses open to less familiar brands in exchange for competitive pricing.

New panel van finance

New panel vans are the most straightforward finance application we handle. A limited company with a clean credit profile applying for finance on a new Transit Custom or Sprinter from a franchised dealer is the kind of application our lending panel is most comfortable with. Decisions are fast, rates are competitive, and the process from application to funds released is usually measured in days rather than weeks.

Manufacturer captive finance is available through franchised dealers but independent lenders on our panel are frequently more competitive on rate. We also offer VAT deferral on qualifying agreements, which many dealer finance arms cannot. It is worth getting a comparison before signing anything.

A growing number of businesses come to us for pre-approval before visiting a dealer. They know what they can borrow, what rate they are working to, and what the monthly payment looks like. They can then negotiate the best price with confidence and move quickly when they find the right van. It costs nothing and removes all the uncertainty from the process.

Visit our new van finance page for more general information on financing new commercial vehicles.

Used panel van finance

Used panel vans represent some of the best value in the commercial vehicle market. A van that is one to three years old has absorbed the steepest drop in its depreciation curve but is still recent enough to carry a full service history, good condition, and in many cases remaining manufacturer warranty.

Lenders are comfortable with used panel vans from all the major makes. Most mainstream lenders want the van to be no more than ten years old at the end of the finance term, but many of the lenders we work with will finance a van that is already ten years old today for a further two to three years, provided the mileage is reasonable and the service history is complete. A well-maintained Transit or Sprinter with a clean record is a fundable asset well into its second decade.

What makes a used van easier to finance

Recognised make and model, full service history, sensible mileage for the age, and bought from a reputable VAT-registered dealer. We work with dealers across the UK and many refer customers directly to us. Private purchases are possible with some lenders but require additional checks including a full vehicle history search to confirm there is no outstanding finance registered against it.

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

Finance products available

Hire purchase

Fixed monthly payments over an agreed term, ownership at the end. The most common product for panel van finance and the one that suits most businesses. Clean capital allowance position, predictable payments, no end-of-term complications.

Finance lease

Monthly rentals over an agreed term with the van sold to a third party at the end. Can offer lower monthly payments through a balloon structure. Less commonly used on panel vans than hire purchase, but available and worth considering if lower monthly payments are the priority. We will advise on which product makes most sense before anything is submitted.

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 and recently incorporated businesses are welcome to apply. Panel van finance for a new business is one of the most commonly placed applications we handle. Lenders who are cautious about a new business applying for a tipper or a specialist vehicle are generally comfortable with a new business applying for a straightforward panel van. It is the most familiar asset on the panel.

The director's personal credit history carries more weight without a trading record. A deposit is usually required. But the applications get placed, regularly.

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

Panel van finance with bad credit

A difficult credit history does not prevent you from financing a panel van. Panel vans are the easiest commercial vehicle to place on finance and that holds true 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 standard panel van than on a more complex asset type.

A larger deposit, strong current trading evidenced by bank statements, and transparency about the credit history all help. We have placed panel van finance for businesses with CCJs, defaults, and previous difficulties.

Visit our bad credit van finance page for more information.