Curtainside van finance
Side loading without a forklift reaching over a headboard — 3.5 tonne curtainsiders funded for merchants, distributors and pallet work.
Whole-of-market — 60+ lenders searched, including
Can you finance a curtainside van?
Yes. Curtainside vans are funded as converted commercial vehicles, with the chassis cab and the curtain-sided body on one agreement. Used curtainsiders are fundable and there is real demand for them from merchants and distributors. The point buyers often miss is payload. A curtainside body with a rear barn door or shutter, internal straps and a tail lift is heavier than a plain dropside, and on a 3.5 tonne chassis that can leave less usable payload than expected. Work out what you actually need to carry before you specify the body, not afterwards.
Used kit: Yes. Used curtainsiders are funded regularly, with lenders looking at curtain and rail condition, the floor, and the tail lift service record alongside chassis mileage.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
What would a curtainside van 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
Curtainsiders place with mainstream and specialist commercial vehicle funders without much friction, because the body is a recognised distribution format and sells on readily. Funders check who built the body, because curtain rails, buckles and the roof structure are where cheap builds show up, and they will note whether the body is a standard length or something bespoke. A tail lift on the back adds usability and needs current thorough examination evidence. On the credit side, distribution businesses are assessed on contract income and on how many vehicles they already run — a firm adding a fourth unit is a different proposition to one buying its first. Pallet network subcontractors are placeable where the network agreement and remittances are visible. Declines typically come from unbranded bodies, overweight conversions, and applicants relying on a contract that has not started.
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 |
|---|---|
| Iveco Daily 50C curtainsider | Truck-derived van with curtain body |
| Isuzu Grafter 3.5t curtainside | Small curtainsider for pallet delivery |
| Ford Transit curtainside | Light curtain body for side loading |
| Mercedes-Benz Sprinter curtainsider | Durable curtain body for merchants |
| Renault Master curtainside | Value curtainsider for building supplies |
| Peugeot Boxer curtainsider | Curtain body with alloy dropsides |
| Citroen Relay curtainside | Long curtainsider for pallet work |
| Iveco Daily 70C curtainsider | Seven tonne curtain for heavier loads |
| Maxus Deliver 9 curtainside | Value curtain body with long warranty |
| Tiger curtainside bodies | Lightweight curtain bodies for vans |
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
Who buys one
Builders and timber merchants delivering palletised goods, drinks and packaging distributors, glass and window suppliers, and pallet network subcontractors running local collections and deliveries. Often a business upgrading from a dropside because loads keep getting wet or because a customer now requires goods to arrive covered and secured. Another frequent trigger is a forklift at the receiving end that needs side access rather than a tail-lift-only vehicle.
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.
Curtainside van finance questions
Why choose a curtainsider over a box van?
Access. Curtains open the full length of the body so a forklift can load from either side, which matters when you are delivering pallets to yards and sites. A box van gives better security and insulation but forces everything through the back doors.
How much can a 3.5 tonne curtainsider carry?
Less than most buyers assume once the body, tail lift and fuel are accounted for. The usable payload depends entirely on the specification, so ask the bodybuilder for the finished kerb weight and compare it against the plate. Overloading is an insurance and enforcement problem.
Can the tail lift be included in the finance?
Yes, when it is part of the build invoice. Lifting equipment needs a valid thorough examination certificate, and funders will expect it to be in date. Adding a lift after payout usually means a separate agreement or a variation, so specify it up front.
Are curtains a security risk?
They are easier to cut through than a steel box, which is why high-value loads usually travel in boxes. For building materials, packaging and palletised trade goods the access advantage outweighs it. Some operators specify a shutter rear and internal load locks as a compromise.
Can a pallet network subcontractor finance a curtainsider?
Yes. Lenders will want to see the network agreement and remittance history, because the round is the source of repayment. Established subcontractors add vehicles to their fleet routinely and are straightforward to place. Newer ones usually need a deposit and evidence the contract is live and paying rather than merely promised for a start date that has not arrived.
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.