The 7.5 tonne class is the first rung into operator licensing, and funders treat it as the step up from van fleet into regulated haulage.
Whole-of-market — 60+ lenders searched, including
Yes. A 7.5 tonne truck is funded as a commercial vehicle, most often on hire purchase, and the second-hand market for them is one of the most liquid in the sector. Both new chassis and used stock fund without difficulty. What surprises buyers is that 7.5 tonnes is not a soft option: it sits above the 3.5 tonne threshold, so an operator licence is generally required for business use, and anyone who passed their car test after January 1997 needs C1 entitlement to drive it. Funders check both before releasing funds.
Used kit: Yes — used 7.5 tonne trucks fund very widely, including ex-rental and ex-lease stock into their tenth year and sometimes beyond.
Get a quoteor call 07581 364281
Business asset finance is quoted on a flat rate, so that is what this shows — with the equivalent APR underneath, because the two are not the same number. A quick guide only; your actual rate depends on the asset, term, deposit and lender.
Representative example: on Hire Purchase, borrowing £25,000 over 48 months at a 6.0% flat rate (equivalent to 11.5% APR representative), you would repay around £646 a month; total amount repayable approximately £31,000, of which £6,000 is the cost of finance. This calculator is for illustration only — it is not a quote or an offer of finance, and the rate and repayments you are offered will depend on the asset, term, deposit and your circumstances. CW Asset Finance is a credit broker, not a lender, and may receive a commission from the lender that funds your agreement. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval. CW Asset Finance is an Appointed Representative of Rural Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 630701).
This weight class attracts a wide funder panel because the resale market is broad — rental companies, owner-operators and export buyers all compete for clean 7.5 tonne stock. That depth means funders will accept slightly weaker covenants here than they would on a 44 tonne artic. Where applications fail is on the operator side rather than the asset side: businesses stepping up from vans frequently have no O-licence at all and have not budgeted for the financial standing reserve, the transport manager or the maintenance contract. A funder that has seen that pattern will ask about the licence early. Bodywork is usually factory or a standard bodybuilder fit, which keeps it simple.
Examples of the machines we are asked to fund. This is not an exhaustive list — if what you are buying is not here, it does not mean we cannot fund it. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.
| Machine | What it is |
|---|---|
| DAF LF 150 7.5t | Light rigid favoured for urban delivery |
| Isuzu Forward N75.150 | Reliable light rigid with low running costs |
| Mercedes-Benz Atego 816 | Comfortable cab for long delivery days |
| Fuso Canter 7C18 | Compact light rigid for narrow streets |
| Iveco Eurocargo 75E | Well-equipped light chassis cab |
| MAN TGL 7.180 | Quiet cab with good all-round visibility |
| Isuzu Grafter 7.5t | Small rigid popular with builders |
| Volvo FL 210 7.5t | Low-entry cab for multi-drop crews |
| Fuso eCanter 7.5t | Electric light rigid for low emission zones |
| Cartwright 7.5t box body | Dry freight body on a light chassis |
Get a quoteor call 07581 364281
Commonly a business outgrowing 3.5 tonne Lutons — furniture retailers, event and AV firms, scaffolding contractors, catering suppliers. The trigger is usually payload rather than volume: the van is cubing out and running overweight, and the operator would rather carry the licensing burden than risk a DVSA stop. Also driving schools and hire fleets buying stock. A first 7.5 tonner is often the point at which a business appoints its first transport manager.
Get a quoteor call 07581 364281
Bought on hire purchase, business plant and machinery normally qualifies for capital allowances on the full cost even though you pay for it monthly, which is a large part of why hire purchase is the common structure. On a finance lease you generally set the rentals against profit instead. The rules change between budgets and your position depends on how you trade, so treat this as the direction of travel and get your accountant to confirm the detail before you commit.
For business use in Great Britain, generally yes — the threshold is 3.5 tonnes gross, not 7.5. A standard national licence covers carrying your own and other people’s goods for hire or reward. There are exemptions for certain uses, but funders will ask, because an unlicensed vehicle cannot legally work and therefore cannot generate income.
Only if you passed your car test before 1 January 1997, in which case you usually hold grandfathered C1 entitlement. Anyone who passed after that date needs to take C1 separately. It is worth confirming your entitlement before ordering the vehicle, because it affects who can actually drive what you are about to finance.
The asset value is lower, so the facility is smaller, but the structure is much the same. Where the 7.5 tonne class genuinely helps is breadth of funder appetite — more lenders will look at it, which usually means a better-fitting deal rather than simply a cheaper one. We compare across the panel rather than assuming size dictates terms.
Yes. A tail lift fitted by the supplying dealer or bodybuilder is normally included in the funded amount as part of the vehicle. If it is retrofitted later by a third party it is usually treated as separate equipment. Tell us up front what is on the invoice and we will structure it as one facility where possible.
Generally yes, and it is a sensible buy. Ex-rental vehicles are maintained to a schedule and come with documented history, which funders like. The mileage is often higher than a private sale of the same age, but the maintenance record more than offsets it in underwriting terms. The key is buying from a recognised disposal channel.
Get a quoteor call 07581 364281
See everything we fund in HGV and truck finance →
Not an offer of finance. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval.
Tell us what you’re looking to fund and Conor will come back to you personally — usually the same day.
Prefer to talk? Call 07581 364281 · serving Leeds, York, Harrogate, Wakefield, Selby, Tadcaster & across North & West Yorkshire.