Whether you’re a sole trader looking to buy your first van, an established trader business looking to add to your company fleet, or you’re simply looking for self-employed van finance, there are many options to consider when buying a van. Let us guide you through the various factors to consider, to ensure you get the right van to suit your needs.
Whether you’re a sole trader looking to buy your first van, an established trader business looking to add to your company fleet, or you’re simply looking for self-employed van finance, there are many options to consider when buying a van. Let us guide you through the various factors to consider, to ensure you get the right van to suit your needs.
Before you start the process of buying a van, there are a number of considerations to make and questions to ask yourself:
Before you start the process of buying a van, there are a number of considerations to make and questions to ask yourself:
Once you’re able to answer these questions, you should be in a great position to buy a van!
Once you’re able to answer these questions, you should be in a great position to buy a van!
Buying a used van is a popular option, but there are a few things to consider and red flags to look out for during the buying process.
If you intend to buy a used van from a dealer or garage, you should check to make sure they have a good reputation and whether they are part of any trade associations. Some associations, such as the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI), can add a level of protection should anything go wrong with your purchase. Be sure to check that all the paperwork is accurate and legitimate, as well as the van’s history – discrepancies with the V5C, for example, can indicate that the vehicle may in fact be stolen.
If possible, you should test drive the used van as this will provide a good sense of its condition. Ensure the radio, lights and air conditioning work properly, as well as the steering and pedals. Make sure you conduct exterior checks as well – inspect the condition and tread depth of the tyres, and ensure no rust can be found on the bodywork. Any problems you find can be raised with the dealer and used as possible haggle points.
For details of further checks you should conduct when buying a used van, visit the GOV.UK website.
Buying a used van is a popular option, but there are a few things to consider and red flags to look out for during the buying process.
If you intend to buy a used van from a dealer or garage, you should check to make sure they have a good reputation and whether they are part of any trade associations. Some associations, such as the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI), can add a level of protection should anything go wrong with your purchase. Be sure to check that all the paperwork is accurate and legitimate, as well as the van’s history – discrepancies with the V5C, for example, can indicate that the vehicle may in fact be stolen.
If possible, you should test drive the used van as this will provide a good sense of its condition. Ensure the radio, lights and air conditioning work properly, as well as the steering and pedals. Make sure you conduct exterior checks as well – inspect the condition and tread depth of the tyres, and ensure no rust can be found on the bodywork. Any problems you find can be raised with the dealer and used as possible haggle points.
For details of further checks you should conduct when buying a used van, visit the GOV.UK website.
It’s very important to consider the various buying options when buying a van.
It’s very important to consider the various buying options when buying a van.
Buying a van outright can be a good option if you have the capital to do so, as you’ll have no additional outgoing payments after the purchase. If you don’t have the funds available yourself, you could consider a personal loan to help. While this will accumulate interest over time, you can claim up to 100% VAT back on the monthly payments, provided the van is for business use only.
Buying a van outright can be a good option if you have the capital to do so, as you’ll have no additional outgoing payments after the purchase. If you don’t have the funds available yourself, you could consider a personal loan to help. While this will accumulate interest over time, you can claim up to 100% VAT back on the monthly payments, provided the van is for business use only.
Leasing a van is a popular option for many, though like with leasing a car, you won’t ever technically own the vehicle. You’ll simply be renting its use for an agreed period of time, for a fixed monthly fee. You are typically restricted to a mileage limit when leasing a van, so there are certain restrictions to consider.
Maintenance costs tend to be covered by the leasing company, and there can be certain tax advantages to leasing a van. If your business is VAT-registered and your van is only for business use, you claim back the cost of the rental payments as a tax-deductible expense. You should check carefully what is and is not covered as part of any van leasing deal, as unforeseen costs could arise.
Leasing a van is a popular option for many, though like with leasing a car, you won’t ever technically own the vehicle. You’ll simply be renting its use for an agreed period of time, for a fixed monthly fee. You are typically restricted to a mileage limit when leasing a van, so there are certain restrictions to consider.
Maintenance costs tend to be covered by the leasing company, and there can be certain tax advantages to leasing a van. If your business is VAT-registered and your van is only for business use, you claim back the cost of the rental payments as a tax-deductible expense. You should check carefully what is and is not covered as part of any van leasing deal, as unforeseen costs could arise.
Finance agreements require fixed monthly loan repayments over an agreed time period, and in some cases a final payment before you become the owner of the van. Some finance deals require a deposit, which can be cash or from a part exchange of another vehicle you own. Finance providers may not finance all types of vans so make sure you check with them before applying. At Moneybarn we use a Conditional Sale agreement for vehicle finance.
For help and advice on van loans and financing a van, we can help today. We can help you with van finance for most of the popular van brands such as Ford vans and Vauxhall vans.
Finance agreements require fixed monthly loan repayments over an agreed time period, and in some cases a final payment before you become the owner of the van. Some finance deals require a deposit, which can be cash or from a part exchange of another vehicle you own. Finance providers may not finance all types of vans so make sure you check with them before applying. At Moneybarn we use a Conditional Sale agreement for vehicle finance.
For help and advice on van loans and financing a van, we can help today. We can help you with van finance for most of the popular van brands such as Ford vans and Vauxhall vans.
If you’re buying a van for business use, whether you buy outright, lease or financing the van, there are various implications on tax.
When you buy a van outright, you can claim the cost of it against your income tax bill, but how you go about this will depend on how you pay tax.
By contrast, if you lease a van, you can claim up to 100% VAT back on the monthly payments if your business is VAT-registered. As with buying a van outright, you can also claim the cost of the van rental as an expense when filling out your tax return. These rental payments can be classed as a tax-deductible expense.
For more information on expenses and tax implications, visit the GOV.UK website.
There are a number of common van types to choose from, some of the most popular types and example models are:
There are a number of common van types to choose from, some of the most popular types and example models are:
Perhaps the most common type of van in the UK, short wheel base vans (named as such due to the short distance between the front and rear wheels) offer substantial storage space whilst being practical to drive around towns and cities. Some of the most common short wheel base vans are:
Perhaps the most common type of van in the UK, short wheel base vans (named as such due to the short distance between the front and rear wheels) offer substantial storage space whilst being practical to drive around towns and cities. Some of the most common short wheel base vans are:
Favoured by large courier companies, long wheel base vans (named as such due to the long distance between the front and rear wheels) have a large, box-shaped load area which is ideal for transporting lots of packages safely and securely. Some of the most common long wheel base vans are:
Favoured by large courier companies, long wheel base vans (named as such due to the long distance between the front and rear wheels) have a large, box-shaped load area which is ideal for transporting lots of packages safely and securely. Some of the most common long wheel base vans are:
As the name suggests, crew vans are ideal for transporting both a load and additional passengers. They offer an additional row of seats, so are ideal for small workforces and commonly used by travelling groups and bands on tour. Some of the most common long wheel base vans are:
As the name suggests, crew vans are ideal for transporting both a load and additional passengers. They offer an additional row of seats, so are ideal for small workforces and commonly used by travelling groups and bands on tour. Some of the most common long wheel base vans are:
Luton vans are commonly used by removal companies. The van has a boxed-shaped extension behind the main cab, usually with a tail lift to help get heavy goods into the storage space. Most common van manufacturers offer Luton vans as options on their popular models, such as the Ford Transit for example.
Luton vans are commonly used by removal companies. The van has a boxed-shaped extension behind the main cab, usually with a tail lift to help get heavy goods into the storage space. Most common van manufacturers offer Luton vans as options on their popular models, such as the Ford Transit for example.
Similar to a Luton van, a flatbed van has a traditional cab as the front of the vehicle, but instead of a box-shaped extension at the back, it has a large, exposed loading bed. Flatbed vans are common in the building industry as they carry large and awkward loads quite easily. As with Luton vans, many common van models can be built with a flatbed as an option.
Similar to a Luton van, a flatbed van has a traditional cab as the front of the vehicle, but instead of a box-shaped extension at the back, it has a large, exposed loading bed. Flatbed vans are common in the building industry as they carry large and awkward loads quite easily. As with Luton vans, many common van models can be built with a flatbed as an option.
As well as the dimensions of a van being an important consideration, you should also think about weight restrictions. The term light commercial vehicle (LCV) is used to describe any commercial vehicle up to a gross weight of 3.5 tonnes. Any vehicle with a gross weight of more than 3.5 tonnes is classed as a heavy goods vehicle (HGV). If an LCV is found to be overweight, you could find yourself with an expensive fine, or even face court summons and have your van seized.
As well as the dimensions of a van being an important consideration, you should also think about weight restrictions. The term light commercial vehicle (LCV) is used to describe any commercial vehicle up to a gross weight of 3.5 tonnes. Any vehicle with a gross weight of more than 3.5 tonnes is classed as a heavy goods vehicle (HGV). If an LCV is found to be overweight, you could find yourself with an expensive fine, or even face court summons and have your van seized.
Moneybarn is a member of the Finance and Leasing Association, the official trade organisation of the motor finance industry. The FLA promotes best practice in the motor finance industry for lending and leasing to consumers and businesses.
Moneybarn is the trading style of Moneybarn No. 1 Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 04496573, and Moneybarn Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 02766324. The registered address for these companies is: Athena House, Bedford Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 3LJ.
Moneybarn’s VAT registration number is 180 5559 52.
Moneybarn Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services reference No. 702781)
Moneybarn No. 1 Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services reference No. 702780)