horsebox conversion finance
Converting a van or lorry into a horsebox is common practice, but funders draw a hard line between professional conversions and garage projects.
Whole-of-market — 60+ lenders searched, including
Can you finance a horsebox conversion?
It depends on who did the conversion. A vehicle converted by an established horsebox builder, with an invoice, a specification and a plating certificate issued after the work, is funded much like any purpose built box. A conversion carried out privately, or by an unnamed builder with no documentation, is far harder because an underwriter cannot value the work or vouch for the partition, ramp and floor engineering. In practice most funders will lend against professional conversions and decline undocumented ones. The agreement is regulated or unregulated depending on whether the buyer is private or a business.
Used kit: Yes — completed professional conversions of some age are funded, but part finished or undocumented ones are valued as the base vehicle alone.
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What would a horsebox conversion cost per month?
Asset finance is quoted on a flat rate, so that is what the buttons show, with the equivalent APR beside it. Your exact rate depends on the asset, the term, the deposit and the lender.
Prime is an established, profitable business with clean credit. Specialist covers newer businesses and credit that needs explaining — the asset itself carries part of the risk, which is why finance is often available where an unsecured loan is not.
Representative example: on Hire Purchase, borrowing £25,000 over 48 months at a 5.15% flat rate (equivalent to 9.9% APR representative), you would repay around £628 a month; total amount repayable approximately £30,150, of which £5,150 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.
Rates shown are indicative flat rates with the equivalent APR alongside — the two are not the same number. Indicative only and does not constitute a quote or an offer of finance. Subject to status and lender approval.
How lenders treat it
Everything hinges on documentation. Funders need to know the vehicle is safe and saleable, and on a conversion that means the identity of the builder, an invoice for the work, evidence the vehicle was re plated at the correct weight afterwards, and confirmation the V5C body description was updated. Where all that exists, the box is treated as a standard asset. Where it does not, the funder values the base vehicle only, and the advance may be a fraction of what the seller expects. Part completed conversions are the worst case of all, because a chassis with a half built body has no market. If you are commissioning a conversion, expect to fund the base vehicle first and the conversion separately, with refinance considered once the work is finished and certified.
Makes and models we fund
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 |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz Atego 816 chassis | Chassis cab for horsebox conversion |
| Mercedes-Benz Atego 1523 chassis | HGV chassis for horsebox build |
| DAF LF 180 chassis | Popular horsebox conversion chassis |
| Iveco Eurocargo 75E chassis | Chassis cab for 7.5 tonne build |
| MAN TGL 8.190 chassis | Mid weight conversion chassis |
| Fiat Ducato Maxi chassis cab | Light horsebox conversion base |
| Renault Master chassis cab | Light commercial horsebox base |
| Volkswagen Crafter chassis cab | Base vehicle for light horsebox |
| Coachbuilt horse area and partitions | Horse area body and partition build |
| Living area fit-out and habitation kit | Living accommodation conversion works |
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Who buys one
Often somebody who has a sound commercial vehicle already, or who wants a layout no manufacturer offers — a combined horse and workshop space, a stallion partition, or accommodation for a large family. Small transport businesses converting a used lorry to add capacity are common too. The trigger is usually cost: a good used chassis plus a professional conversion can deliver more box than buying new.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
How it is treated for tax
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.
horsebox conversion finance questions
Will a funder pay the converter directly?
Usually not during the build. Most funders release money against a completed, registered vehicle rather than paying stage invoices to a builder, because there is no asset to secure until the work is done. Some business customers can arrange alternatives, but plan on funding the conversion yourself and refinancing the finished box.
Does the V5C need changing after conversion?
In most cases yes — the body type description should reflect what the vehicle now is, and the vehicle usually needs re plating at the correct weight. Funders check this because a vehicle described inaccurately on its V5C creates problems on resale and raises questions about whether the conversion was done properly.
Can I convert a van myself and then refinance it?
It is possible only where the finished vehicle is professionally certified and evidenced. Without invoices, weight plating and photographic evidence of the build, a funder will value it as a plain van. Structural work such as the partition, ramp and floor is exactly the area where an underwriter wants a named professional behind the job.
Is a rebody treated the same as a conversion?
Broadly yes, and the same evidence applies: who did the work, when, and was the vehicle re plated. A good body transferred onto a sounder chassis by a recognised builder is a well understood practice in this trade and funders see it regularly. It is the absence of paperwork rather than the practice itself that causes declines.
What if the conversion was done abroad?
It can still work, but you will need the build documentation translated or at least clearly evidenced, the vehicle UK registered, and the plating carried out here. European built boxes are common and well regarded, so the origin is not the obstacle — the paperwork trail and UK registration status are what matter.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
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See everything we fund in horsebox and horse trailer finance →
Not an offer of finance. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval.
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Tell us what you’re looking to fund and Conor will come back to you personally — usually the same day.
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