American RVs sit outside the mainstream UK leisure market, which changes both who will fund them and what an underwriter needs to see.
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Yes, though the panel is narrower than for a European motorhome. American RVs are a specialist asset in the UK: values are not always in standard trade guides, parts and servicing come from a small number of specialists, and many are imported rather than UK supplied. Funders who understand the market will look at them, usually with more attention to the individual vehicle than to a published book figure. Whether your agreement is regulated consumer credit or unregulated business finance depends on whether the RV is for personal touring or for a business such as hire, filming or event work.
Used kit: Yes — used American RVs are funded, and well maintained units from the last fifteen to twenty years are placed where condition and servicing evidence are strong.
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Business asset finance is quoted on a flat rate, so that is what this shows — with the equivalent APR underneath, because the two are not the same number. 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 6.0% flat rate (equivalent to 11.5% APR representative), you would repay around £646 a month; total amount repayable approximately £31,000, of which £6,000 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. CW Asset Finance is an Appointed Representative of Rural Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 630701).
Three things shape an RV case. First, valuation: because many models are not listed in UK trade guides, a funder may ask for an independent valuation or work from recent comparable sales rather than a book price. Second, import status: the vehicle needs to be UK registered with a V5C, and if it is still being imported the timing of customs, VAT and registration has to be planned into the deal. Third, use. A family touring vehicle bought by an individual generally falls under regulated consumer credit, whereas an RV going into a hire fleet, a race team or a production company is unregulated business finance, and that opens up a different and often more flexible set of funders. Weight and licence entitlement also come up, and that depends on when your licence was issued — check with the DVLA.
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 |
|---|---|
| Winnebago Vista | American class A motorhome |
| Winnebago View | Sprinter based class C motorhome |
| Airstream Classic 30RB | Polished aluminium travel trailer |
| Airstream Flying Cloud 25FB | Mid size American travel trailer |
| Fleetwood Bounder 35K | Large American class A motorhome |
| Thor Motor Coach Hurricane | American gas class A motorhome |
| Thor Motor Coach Four Winds | American class C motorhome |
| Coachmen Freelander | Ford chassis class C motorhome |
| Forest River Sunseeker | American class C motorhome |
| Forest River Georgetown | American class A motorhome |
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Often somebody who has already owned European motorhomes and wants the space, the slide outs and the fixed rear bedroom that a UK built coachbuilt cannot offer. Also motorsport and equestrian people who need living accommodation alongside a transporter, and production companies buying a unit for location work. The trigger is usually space — a family that no longer fits, or a business that needs accommodation on site for days at a time.
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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.
Generally the funder wants the vehicle in the UK and registered before releasing money, so most buyers complete the import first and arrange finance against the registered vehicle. Some business buyers use a different structure, but it needs planning well ahead. Talk to us before you commit to a shipping date rather than afterwards.
It can be a consideration. Underwriters know that American drivetrains are serviced by a small number of UK specialists, so evidence of regular maintenance from a recognised RV workshop carries real weight. A folder of invoices from an established specialist does more for your case than the mileage figure on its own.
Many American RVs are well over 3.5 tonnes, and what you are entitled to drive depends on when your licence was issued and what categories it carries. We cannot advise on entitlement — check your licence and the DVLA guidance directly before you buy, because the wrong purchase is an expensive mistake to unwind.
Yes. An RV going into a hire fleet is a business asset and is funded on unregulated business terms, which tends to widen the panel. Funders will ask about your booking record or projections, your insurance arrangements for hire use, and how the vehicle is stored and maintained between customers.
Not quite. A fifth wheel is a trailer rather than a motor vehicle, so it is assessed alongside the towing unit and the way it is registered matters. Funders who handle RVs usually handle fifth wheels too, but the paperwork differs, so tell us which you are buying when you make the enquiry.
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Not an offer of finance. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval.
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.