Box van finance
A chassis cab and a purpose-built box, funded as one asset, whether it is coming off a dealer forecourt or out of a bodybuilder workshop.
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Yes. A box van is funded as a converted commercial vehicle, with the chassis cab and the body treated as a single asset on one agreement. Used box vans are fundable and there is genuine demand for them second-hand. The complication most buyers do not expect is the build itself: if the box is being made to order, the chassis and the bodywork often come from two different suppliers on two invoices, and not every lender will pay out in stages. Sort that out before you place the order, because a part-built vehicle sitting at a bodybuilder is nobody favourite situation.
Who finances this
Wholesale distributors, bakery and drinks delivery rounds, builders merchants running their own deliveries, and parts distributors who need a secure dry load area with shelving. Frequently a business that has been running panel vans and found the load cube no longer works, or one that has won a supply contract with a fixed drop schedule. Also common among hire and rental operators adding units to a fleet on a replacement cycle.
How lenders see it
The underwriting splits between the chassis, which is a commodity and easy to value, and the body, which is not. Funders assess the converter, the body material and how generic the build is, a standard dry-freight box with a roller shutter sells on easily, whereas a box built around one customer racking layout does not, and that is reflected in the valuation. Bespoke builds are still placeable, they just need a lender comfortable with specialist bodywork rather than a straight vehicle funder. Limited companies with filed accounts get the easiest run; sole traders are fine with a deposit. Stage-payment facilities are the real differentiator, because the lenders who will pay a bodybuilder mid-build are a subset of the market. Declines usually involve an unidentified converter, a body with no weight plate, or an applicant with no evidence the delivery contract exists.
Buying used
Yes. Used box vans are funded regularly, with lenders weighing the condition and generic appeal of the body at least as heavily as the age of the chassis underneath.
Also in van and light commercial finance
See everything we fund in van and light commercial finance →
Van buying guides
We are a broker, not a dealer. We have no stake in which van you choose. These are written on that basis.
The van is one cost
Flowzo covers fuel, wages and the wait for customers to pay, working capital rather than the vehicle itself.
Machines we have funded
| Ford Transit chassis cab | Base for a box or curtain body |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 315 chassis cab | Durable chassis for box conversion |
| Iveco Daily 50C chassis cab | Heavier chassis for a long box body |
| Peugeot Boxer chassis cab | Value chassis for box bodywork |
| Renault Master chassis cab | Chassis cab with high payload rating |
| Maxus Deliver 9 chassis cab | Value chassis with long warranty |
| Citroen Relay chassis cab | Chassis for box and luton conversions |
| Isuzu Grafter 3.5t box | Small box truck with alloy body |
| Fiat Ducato chassis cab | Popular base for box builders |
| Ford E-Transit chassis cab | Electric base for a city box body |
What is the difference between a box van and a Luton?
A Luton has the box extended forward over the cab roof to create an extra pod of space. A box van stops behind the cab. The Luton gains volume for light bulky loads; the box van is usually easier on height restrictions and slightly simpler to build and repair.
Can the bodybuilder be paid directly by the lender?
With the right funder, yes. Some lenders will settle a chassis invoice and a separate body invoice, either together on completion or in stages during the build. Others insist on a single invoice from one supplier. We match the deal to a lender that works the way your build is structured.
Can I finance a box van with a roller shutter and tail lift?
Yes. Both are standard on distribution boxes and are usually included in the body invoice. The tail lift will need a valid thorough examination certificate, since it counts as lifting equipment and the funder will ask for it. Specifying widely used equipment from a recognised manufacturer rather than something obscure keeps the vehicle easier to value, easier to repair and easier to fund.
Do I need a contract in place to get funding?
Not always, but it helps enormously if the box is being built for a specific job. A signed supply agreement or a schedule of drops gives the lender something concrete to underwrite against, which can make the difference on a newer business or an unusual build.
Can I finance a second-hand box van from an auction?
It is difficult. Most lenders will not fund auction purchases, because there is no recourse against the seller, no warranty and little opportunity to inspect the body properly before the hammer falls. Buying the same vehicle from a dealer who has sourced it at auction is a different matter entirely and is funded without issue.
Tell us what you need
About a minute of plain questions, and no documents to dig out.
Prime is established and profitable with clean credit. Specialist covers newer businesses and credit that needs explaining, the asset carries part of the risk, so finance is often available where an unsecured loan is not.
Illustrative only, not a quote, a flat rate is not an APR, so the APR on a given agreement will be higher. VAT and fees excluded.
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One adviser from your first enquiry to the money in your account. No call centres.
Your adviser
Conor HullMon to Fri, 9am–6pm
5.0 from 19 Google reviews
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