The situation
Business van finance can be arranged in a sole trader's own name or through a limited company, and the two are assessed differently: a limited company application typically looks at company accounts, trading history and sometimes a personal guarantee from a director, while a sole trader is usually assessed much like a personal applicant with business income evidence layered on top.
What tends to help
- Newer limited companies (under 2–3 years trading) are often asked for a director's personal guarantee — understand what that means before signing.
- Keep company accounts and management information up to date; lenders will want recent figures, not just your last filed accounts.
- For multiple vans, ask lenders about fleet or multi-vehicle terms rather than financing each van as a separate standalone agreement.
- VAT-registered businesses financing a van for business use may be able to reclaim some VAT — check with your accountant, as rules vary by finance structure.
Lenders worth checking
Based on published eligibility criteria and lender positioning — always check current terms directly, as criteria change.