Catering van and food truck finance
A commercial kitchen in a vehicle — food trucks and catering vans funded for street food traders, event caterers and festival operators.
Whole-of-market — 60+ lenders searched, including
Can you finance a catering van and food truck?
Yes. Catering vans and food trucks are funded as a base vehicle plus commercial kitchen conversion, normally on one hire purchase agreement. Used units are fundable and there is an active market in them. The honest qualifier is that lenders treat this as hospitality lending, not vehicle lending, so the business case carries real weight. What catches people out is compliance paperwork: gas safety certification for LPG appliances, an electrical installation check, extraction and food hygiene registration. Without those, a funder cannot lend and an event organiser will not let you trade.
Used kit: Yes. Used catering vans are funded regularly, and a used unit with current gas and electrical certification is often a safer purchase than an uncertified new build.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
What would a catering van and food truck 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
Placement depends on who is behind the kitchen more than on the kitchen itself. Funders in this niche look at trading history, event bookings, whether you hold pitches at recognised festivals, and how seasonal the income is. Equipment matters to the valuation: commercial appliances from established brands hold value and are resaleable, whereas a bespoke stainless fit-out around one menu does not travel well to the next owner. Gas and electrical certification is non-negotiable, both for the funder insurance position and for resale. Established caterers with two or more seasons of accounts place readily. New starts need a deposit and evidence of bookings. Declines typically involve self-built conversions without certification, applicants with no hospitality background, and units specified so unusually that nobody else could trade from them.
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 Sprinter food truck | Large van with full commercial kitchen |
| Ford Transit catering conversion | Van with fryers, griddle and extraction |
| Citroen Relay mobile kitchen | Long van for festival street food |
| Fiat Ducato street food van | Popular base for kitchen conversions |
| Volkswagen Transporter catering van | Compact van for coffee and snacks |
| Iveco Daily mobile kitchen | Heavy chassis for a big kitchen fit |
| Peugeot Boxer catering conversion | Tall van for stand-up cooking |
| Renault Master food truck | Value large van with serving hatch |
| Piaggio Ape food unit | Three-wheel unit for small pitches |
| Maxus Deliver 9 catering conversion | Value large van with long warranty |
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
Who buys one
Street food traders moving from a stall to a vehicle, event and festival caterers, wedding and corporate caterers who need a mobile kitchen rather than a hired marquee setup, and chefs launching a brand without committing to restaurant premises. The usual trigger is a booked season — festivals and events are contracted months in advance, so a trader with a confirmed diary needs a unit built and certified before the first date.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
We publish the deals we arrange, with no client named and no rate quoted. See what we have funded in vans and fleet.
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.
Catering van and food truck finance questions
What paperwork does a catering van need before finance?
A gas safety certificate for any LPG appliances, an electrical installation condition report, food business registration with your local authority and suitable public liability cover. Funders want to see the unit is legally tradeable, and event organisers will ask for exactly the same documents.
Can I finance a self-built food truck?
It is difficult. A self-built conversion is hard to value, and without professional gas and electrical certification most funders will not proceed. If you are set on building your own, get the installation work done and certified by qualified trades, and keep every invoice.
Is a food trailer easier to finance than a van?
Not necessarily easier, but it is a different asset — a trailer is funded on its own and you still need a tow vehicle. Trailers are cheaper to buy and can be left on a pitch, but some events and city sites only accept self-propelled units. Weigh both.
Can a new street food business get funding?
Yes, with the right preparation. Confirmed event bookings, a pitch at a regular market, previous hospitality experience and a deposit are what turn a hopeful application into a placeable one. Lenders are backing the operator as much as the vehicle at this stage.
Can I fund the kitchen equipment separately?
Yes. Commercial catering equipment is a recognised fundable asset and can go on its own agreement, which can suit operators upgrading appliances in a van they already own. If you are buying vehicle and kitchen together, one invoice and one agreement is usually cleaner.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
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See everything we fund in van and light commercial finance →
Not an offer of finance. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval.
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Get your quote
Tell us what you’re looking to fund and Conor will come back to you personally — usually the same day.
Prefer to talk? Call 0333 772 4864 · serving Leeds, York, Harrogate, Wakefield, Selby, Tadcaster & across North & West Yorkshire.