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Commercial finance answers.
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Explore 250 practical answers covering the real situations UK businesses face when funding vehicles, plant and equipment. The library is designed to keep growing as new questions emerge.
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Vans & courier vehicles
16 answers
Can I finance a used van?
Potentially. Lenders consider the van’s age, mileage, value, seller, condition and expected working life as well as the applicant business.
Read answer →Can I finance my first courier van through my limited company?
Some lenders may consider a first courier van, but they will assess the business and intended delivery work, not just the vehicle.
Read answer →Does high courier mileage affect van finance?
High annual mileage can affect the vehicle’s expected value and useful life, so it matters when choosing both the van and agreement.
Read answer →Can my business finance an electric delivery van?
Electric vans may be considered for asset finance, with battery condition, charging arrangements and the delivery duty cycle relevant to the decision.
Read answer →HGVs & specialist trucks
23 answers
Can I finance a used truck or HGV?
Potentially. Used HGV funding depends on the vehicle, age, mileage, value, supplier and expected useful life alongside the business credit proposal.
Read answer →Can a new haulage company finance an HGV?
Potentially. New-start funding is more dependent on the complete proposal, including director experience, vehicle, deposit, contracts and financial information requested by the lender.
Read answer →Can I finance a tipper truck?
Potentially. New and used tippers can be considered, with lender appetite influenced by age, specification, value, supplier and the operating business.
Read answer →Can I finance a specialist truck?
Potentially. Specialist vehicles often need more detailed underwriting, especially where the body, equipment or conversion is bespoke or the vehicle is built overseas.
Read answer →Fleets & multiple vehicles
19 answers
Can I finance several vans at the same time?
Potentially. Multiple vehicles can be treated as a wider fleet requirement. Delivery dates, suppliers, deposits and existing commitments should be mapped at the start.
Read answer →Can a courier company finance a fleet of vans?
Potentially. Fleet funding can cover multiple vans, including phased purchases where vehicles arrive at different times.
Read answer →Can I finance a mixed fleet of vans and trucks?
Potentially. A fleet requirement can include different commercial vehicle types and suppliers, but the complete acquisition plan should be explained clearly.
Read answer →Can fleet or equipment finance cover assets delivered at different times?
Potentially. Phased deliveries can often be planned, but lender approval periods, documentation and payment dates need coordinating.
Read answer →Excavators & construction plant
19 answers
Can I finance an excavator?
Potentially. New and used excavators can be considered, subject to the machine, supplier, business and lender criteria.
Read answer →Can I finance a used excavator?
Potentially. Age, hours, condition, value, seller and remaining working life are important to lender appetite and the available term.
Read answer →Can I finance used machinery?
Potentially. Lenders assess age, condition, value, provenance and remaining useful life. Older or specialist machinery may require more information or a valuation.
Read answer →Can I finance construction plant?
Potentially. Asset finance can be used for many types of construction plant, with the exact terms depending on the machine and business.
Read answer →Handling, lifting & agricultural equipment
17 answers
Can I finance a telehandler?
Potentially. New and used telehandlers can be considered subject to the business, asset, supplier and lender criteria.
Read answer →Can I finance a forklift?
Potentially. Forklifts and other materials-handling equipment can be funded subject to lender criteria, including used equipment where acceptable.
Read answer →Can an electric forklift and its battery be financed together?
Potentially, but the quote should identify the forklift, battery, charger and ownership of each item.
Read answer →Should I compare forklift finance with a rental and maintenance package?
Yes. They can allocate ownership, maintenance and replacement responsibilities differently, so monthly price alone is an incomplete comparison.
Read answer →CNC & manufacturing machinery
18 answers
Can a business finance a CNC machine?
Potentially. CNC lathes, mills, machining centres and other production equipment can be considered, including used machinery subject to lender criteria.
Read answer →Can I finance an industrial press or production machine?
Potentially. Manufacturing machinery such as presses and production equipment can be considered under asset finance, subject to specification, supplier and lender appetite.
Read answer →Can I finance machinery to increase production capacity?
Potentially. Explain the capacity constraint, machinery specification, supplier, installation timetable and commercial reason for the investment.
Read answer →Can I finance a CNC machine bought from another engineering company?
Potentially. A purchase from an end user can require private-sale checks in addition to normal machinery underwriting.
Read answer →Imported machinery & supplier payments
20 answers
Can I finance machinery imported into the UK?
Potentially. Overseas supplier payments, currency, shipping, delivery, installation and acceptance conditions need to be planned before committing to the order.
Read answer →Can I finance machinery bought from Germany?
Potentially. UK lenders may consider equipment supplied from Germany, but supplier verification, payment timing, shipping, title and acceptance requirements need to be understood early.
Read answer →Can used machinery from an overseas supplier be financed?
Potentially. Both used-asset underwriting and overseas-supplier checks may apply, so provide the full quote, specification, serial information and payment schedule early.
Read answer →Can an asset-finance lender pay an overseas supplier?
Sometimes, but lender processes differ. The supplier, jurisdiction, payment schedule, asset and delivery arrangements must be acceptable to the chosen lender.
Read answer →Auctions, private sales & used assets
20 answers
Can I finance an asset bought at auction?
Potentially. Auction payment deadlines can be short, so seek finance approval and confirm lender requirements before bidding.
Read answer →Should I bid at auction before finance is approved?
It is safer to understand the finance position first. A winning bid can create a binding payment deadline while lender checks may still be outstanding.
Read answer →Can I finance a vehicle bought from a private seller?
Potentially. Private sales often require extra evidence around ownership, identity, asset provenance, value and payment instructions.
Read answer →Can I finance machinery bought privately?
Potentially. Lenders may require additional ownership, valuation, identification and asset checks before paying a private seller.
Read answer →New companies & lender requirements
22 answers
Can a new limited company get asset finance?
Potentially. A lack of filed accounts does not automatically rule out asset finance. Lenders may consider director experience, bank conduct, deposit, the asset, supplier, contracts or forecasts and any guarantee requirements.
Read answer →What documents are normally needed for asset finance?
Common starting information includes the supplier quote, asset details, company information and financial information such as accounts or bank statements where requested.
Read answer →Is DCF a lender?
No. Direct Commercial Finance is a commercial finance broker. DCF discusses the requirement and approaches suitable lenders; the lender makes the credit decision and sets the terms.
Read answer →Can I get asset finance without filed accounts?
Potentially. New and recently incorporated companies can be considered by some lenders, but the proposal may rely more heavily on director experience, bank statements, contracts, forecasts, deposit and the quality of the asset.
Read answer →New contracts & business growth
19 answers
Can I finance equipment needed for a new contract?
Potentially. Explain the contract, required assets, delivery timetable and cash commitment so lenders can understand why the investment is needed and how it fits the business.
Read answer →Can I finance vans needed to start a new contract?
Potentially. Provide details of the contract, required vehicles, timing and business finances so the funding requirement can be assessed before mobilisation.
Read answer →Can I finance plant needed for a new contract?
Potentially. Contract-driven plant purchases can be considered where the asset, supplier, business and overall credit proposal fit lender criteria.
Read answer →Can I finance assets from more than one supplier?
Potentially. A wider project may involve several suppliers, but each asset, invoice, delivery date and payment requirement should be identified clearly.
Read answer →Deposits, VAT & purchase costs
16 answers
How does VAT work on asset finance?
VAT treatment and timing depend on the agreement. Hire purchase and finance lease can create different cash-flow requirements, so review the specific proposal and confirm tax treatment with your accountant.
Read answer →How much deposit should I budget for asset finance?
There is no universal percentage. The required initial payment depends on the lender, business, asset, value and structure.
Read answer →Is zero-deposit asset finance always available?
No. Some proposals may be considered with little initial payment, but this depends on assessment and does not mean there are no upfront costs.
Read answer →Should I pay the deposit to the supplier or the finance provider?
Follow the agreed transaction instructions because the recipient and invoice route can depend on the funding structure.
Read answer →HP, finance lease & repayments
17 answers
Should I use hire purchase or finance lease?
It depends on ownership plans, cash flow, VAT position, accounting and tax considerations and the available terms. Hire purchase provides a route to ownership; finance lease is a rental structure with different end-of-term arrangements.
Read answer →How long can asset finance run for?
The available term depends on the asset, its age and expected useful life, the business and the lender. A newer long-life asset may support a different term from an older used asset.
Read answer →When does my company own an asset on hire purchase?
Ownership normally passes only after the agreement’s conditions are met, including all required payments and any option-to-purchase process or fee.
Read answer →What happens at the end of a finance lease’s primary term?
The options depend on the agreement and may involve continued rentals or a sale process; ownership does not automatically transfer to the lessee.
Read answer →Refinance & releasing equity
24 answers
Can I refinance vans or trucks already on finance?
Potentially. A new lender may settle an existing eligible agreement and, where sufficient equity exists, may release additional cash to the business.
Read answer →Can I release equity from vehicles?
Potentially. If eligible vehicles have sufficient value above any settlement amount, an asset refinance proposal may be able to release cash to the business.
Read answer →Can I release equity from machinery?
Potentially. Owned or partly financed machinery may support refinance subject to ownership, valuation, condition, settlement and lender criteria.
Read answer →Can I refinance an asset financed by another lender?
Potentially. A new lender can consider settling the current eligible agreement. A current settlement figure and accurate asset details are key starting information.
Read answer →CAN'T FIND YOUR QUESTION?
Ask DCF about the actual deal.
Tell us what you are buying, who is selling it and what the business is trying to achieve.