Self build conversions are the hardest leisure vehicles to fund, and it helps to understand why before you start ringing round for quotes.
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Sometimes, but be realistic. Most funders will not lend against a part finished self build, because a van with a stripped interior and a pile of ply in the back has no reliable value and nothing for an underwriter to secure against. What can usually be funded is the base vehicle itself — a Ducato, Sprinter, Crafter or Master bought as a van — with the conversion paid for separately as you go. Once a self build is finished, registered as a motor caravan and properly documented, funding it or refinancing it becomes far more realistic.
Used kit: Rarely — second hand self builds are funded only where the work is clearly professional standard, certified and fully evidenced, otherwise they are valued as a plain van.
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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).
Underwriters lend against something they could sell if the agreement went wrong. A finished factory camper is easy to sell; a half converted shell with cut panels and no seats is not, which is why part built projects are so often declined. The practical route is to fund the van in its commercial form, because as a panel van it has a clear trade value, and to treat the fit out as a separate cash project. Once complete, a self build that has been reclassified on the V5C as a motor caravan, has documented gas and electrical certification and has photographic evidence of the build stages may be refinanced. Purpose still governs the agreement type: a private build is normally regulated consumer credit, a van converted for a business is not.
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 |
|---|---|
| Fiat Ducato Maxi L4H3 | Long wheelbase base van for conversion |
| Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 315 CDI L3H2 | Popular self build base vehicle |
| Volkswagen Crafter CR35 L3H3 | High roof base van for camper build |
| Volkswagen Transporter T6.1 Kombi | Small camper conversion base |
| Renault Master LM35 | Long wheelbase conversion base van |
| Peugeot Boxer 435 L4H2 | Large panel van for self build |
| Citroen Relay L3H2 panel van | Mid size conversion base vehicle |
| Ford Transit L4H3 panel van | Jumbo van for camper conversion |
| Reimo pop-top roof kit | Elevating roof and bed conversion kit |
| Dometic fridge, hob and heater package | Conversion appliances and habitation kit |
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Usually somebody practical who wants a layout no manufacturer builds — a bike garage, a fixed workshop bench, a wheelchair accessible interior, or space for three dogs. Often a tradesperson or engineer who can do the work themselves over a winter. The trigger is normally finding a clean, low mileage panel van at the right moment, which is exactly the part most people need funding for.
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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.
Not usually against the vehicle. Asset finance is secured on an identifiable asset with a resale value, and boards of ply, insulation and a part fitted kitchen do not qualify. Most self builders fund materials from savings or a personal facility and use asset finance only for the base vehicle, which does have a clear market value.
Almost certainly. Once the interior is finished most people apply to the DVLA to have the vehicle reclassified as a motor caravan, and insurers want the vehicle described accurately. That reclassification also helps if you later want to refinance, because it tells the funder the vehicle is a leisure asset rather than a commercial one.
Possibly, once it is complete, registered appropriately and you own it outright. The funder will want photographs, receipts for major components, gas safety and electrical certification, and often an independent valuation. Undocumented builds are treated as a panel van for valuation purposes, so the amount available may be much lower than you expect.
Yes, noticeably. A named converter with an invoice, a specification sheet and a warranty gives the underwriter something to value and someone to stand behind the work. That single difference often decides whether the case is placed at all, which is why many buyers use a converter for the structural work and finish the interior themselves.
Expect this to be difficult. You are asking a funder to lend against an unfinished asset built by somebody you have never met, with no warranty and no certification. Where there is a genuine need, it is usually better to buy the project with your own funds and consider refinancing once the vehicle is complete and documented.
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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.