Self-Employed Van Finance
Sole traders, contractors and the newly self-employed — funded by lenders who look past a thin set of accounts.
- Whole-of-market — 60+ lenders searched
- All credit histories considered
- Decisions in as little as 24 hours
Whole-of-market — 60+ lenders searched, including
Self employed van finance is the profile most often declined by direct lenders, almost always for want of filed accounts rather than anything to do with affordability. We place van on finance for self employed applicants with the lenders who assess sole traders properly, using bank statements and contracts where accounts are thin.
What you can fund
Sole traders
Self-employed applicants with or without full accounts.
New to self-employment
Recently gone independent, limited trading history.
Seasonal income
Trades whose income varies across the year.
Thin credit files
Never borrowed before, so little to score.
CIS contractors
Construction Industry Scheme subcontractors.
First-time buyers
Funding a first work van from scratch.
Why sole traders get declined
A direct lender runs one credit policy. Fall outside it and the application stops, with no explanation of whether a different lender would have said yes. Common reasons a perfectly fundable self-employed application is turned down:
- Less than two or three years of filed accounts
- Income that varies month to month, even where the annual figure is strong
- Recently moved from employment to self-employment
- Drawing a low salary from the business for tax efficiency
- A thin credit file rather than a bad one
None of those mean the van cannot be funded. They mean that lender’s policy did not fit.
What we do differently
We are a broker, not a lender, so we are not defending a single credit policy. Several lenders on our panel specialise in self-employed applicants, newer businesses and people whose accounts do not tell the whole story. Going to them first avoids the credit footprints that come from applying everywhere.
What you will usually need
Proof of identity and address, three to six months of bank statements, and details of the van. Accounts or SA302s help but are not always essential. If something on that list is missing, say so — the gap is usually workable.
Hire purchase or finance lease?
Most self-employed customers take hire purchase: a deposit, fixed monthly payments, and the van is yours at the end. A finance lease keeps monthly costs lower if you are not set on owning it. Worth a short conversation with us and your accountant.
See also: van finance generally, or van finance with bad credit if you have been declined before.
How it works
Tell us what you need
One quick conversation about the asset and how the repayments need to work.
We search 60+ lenders
As an independent broker we find the right structure and rate — not one lender’s products.
You get funded
Indicative decisions in as little as 24 hours, then we manage it through to payout.
Estimate your repayments
Hire Purchase illustration at a representative 8.9% APR — a quick guide only; your actual rate depends on the asset, term, deposit and lender.
Representative example: on Hire Purchase, borrowing £25,000 over 48 months at a representative 8.9% APR, you would repay around £617 a month; total amount repayable approximately £29,610. 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. CW Asset Finance is an Appointed Representative of Rural Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 630701).
Frequently asked questions
Can I get van finance if I am self-employed?
What do I need to finance a van when self-employed?
Can I get a van on finance without accounts?
What credit score do I need?
Can I hire out my van when it is on finance?
Do you cover my area?
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 07581 364281 · serving Leeds, York, Harrogate, Wakefield, Selby, Tadcaster & across North & West Yorkshire.