Ex-lease van finance
Former contract hire vans with full service history and a known life — often the best value on the market, and straightforward to fund.
Whole-of-market — 60+ lenders searched, including
Can you finance an ex-lease van?
Yes. Ex-lease and ex-fleet vans are funded routinely, and in many ways they are a funder preferred sort of used vehicle: they have documented servicing, a single corporate keeper and no gaps in the history. What catches buyers out is where you buy from. Ex-lease stock is remarketed largely through auction, and most lenders will not fund a vehicle bought directly at auction because there is no recourse against the seller. Buy the same van from a dealer who has bought it at auction and it funds without issue.
Used kit: Yes by definition, and typically at the three to five year point. Lenders are comfortable with this age band where servicing is documented and the mileage matches the vehicle history.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
What would an ex-lease 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
Provenance is the whole story. A van that has run on a leasing company fleet with main dealer servicing is easy for an underwriter to assess, and lenders are comfortable with the age and mileage profile that comes with it. What varies is how the previous life is judged: general company fleet use is regarded favourably, daily rental and parcel network use less so, because those vans work harder and often show it. Funders will lend against their valuation, and ex-fleet valuations are well documented, so there is rarely a dispute. The consistent obstacle is the purchase route. Auction buys are declined by most of the market. Vehicles still showing an outstanding interest from the previous agreement also stop a deal until settled. Sole traders, limited companies and new starts can all buy ex-lease with the usual supporting evidence.
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 |
|---|---|
| Ford Transit Custom L2H1 | Ex-fleet medium van, well maintained |
| Vauxhall Vivaro L2H1 | Value ex-lease medium van |
| Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 315 L3H2 | Ex-fleet large van with service history |
| Volkswagen Transporter T6.1 | Ex-lease medium van with strong residuals |
| Peugeot Expert Professional | Ex-fleet medium van for trade buyers |
| Toyota Proace Medium | Ex-lease medium van with warranty left |
| Renault Trafic LL30 | Ex-fleet long medium van |
| Ford Transit L3H2 | Ex-lease large van for trade use |
| Citroen Dispatch XL | Ex-fleet medium van for couriers |
| Nissan Primastar L2H1 | Ex-lease medium van, low ownership cost |
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
Who buys one
Trades and small businesses who have worked out that a three-year-old, fully serviced fleet van represents better value than a new one, plus larger operators who buy ex-lease deliberately to keep replacement costs down. Also buyers in a hurry: ex-fleet stock is plentiful and available immediately, which suits a business that has lost a van and needs a replacement this week rather than waiting on a factory order.
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.
Ex-lease van finance questions
Can I finance a van bought at auction?
Usually not directly. Most lenders will not fund auction purchases because there is no recourse against the seller, no warranty and limited opportunity to inspect. If you want that stock, buy it through a dealer who has sourced it at auction — the same vehicle then funds normally.
Are ex-lease vans a good buy?
They often are. Contract hire vehicles are serviced to schedule because the leasing company requires it, and the history is documented. The trade-off is mileage, which tends to be high, and a functional specification. Get an independent inspection if you are buying at distance.
Does high mileage stop finance on an ex-fleet van?
Not by itself. Lenders expect mileage on ex-fleet stock and value accordingly. The issue arises when the asking price assumes a lower-mileage vehicle than the one in front of you. The lender funds against its own valuation rather than the advert, so an optimistic price can leave a shortfall you have to cover out of your own pocket.
How do I know a used van has no outstanding finance?
Run a provenance check before you pay anything. Any previous agreement must be settled and the interest removed before a new lender will pay out, and a dealer should handle that as a matter of routine. It is one of the most common causes of delay.
Is an ex-rental van the same as ex-lease?
No, and lenders treat them differently. Ex-rental vans have had many drivers and short, hard journeys; ex-lease vans have usually had one keeper. Both are fundable, but ex-rental stock is valued more cautiously and inspected more carefully, because damage and wear tend to be worse than the mileage alone suggests. Ask which it is before you agree a price.
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.
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.
- Ford Transit vs Mercedes Sprinter: which is right for your business?
- Transit Custom vs Volkswagen Transporter: how to choose
- Vauxhall Vivaro vs Renault Trafic: what actually separates them
- Ford Transit Connect vs Volkswagen Caddy: the small van decision
- Best vans for electricians: how to choose
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- Best vans for plumbers and heating engineers: how to choose
- Van payload explained: how to avoid buying a van that is illegal when loaded
- Low roof vs high roof vans: which do you actually need?
- What licence do you need to drive a van in the UK?
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.