Van Leasing FAQs

If you’d like to get a personal quote on a van, please call our sales team, as such quotes are not available through our website.

Pick-ups are an exception. Although dealt with by our van specialists, these vehicles are readily available to both business and personal customers, provided you are financially eligible.

Am I eligible for van leasing finance?

As part of your leasing application, you will be asked to fill out our online Business Finance Application Form. We’ll ask you for details about yourself and your company, which will then be used by the relevant finance company to determine whether you are eligible for finance or not.

To find out whether you’re likely to be eligible for business finance, take our quick interactive questionnaire.

Do you provide van leasing for people with bad credit?

Most funders ask for a good to excellent credit score in order to be accepted for finance. If you’ve been denied finance before, or your company is less than a year old, we may ask for further supporting information, for example:

• 3 months’ business bank statements
• Management accounts
• A director’s guarantee

If you’re unsure whether you will be eligible for business finance, take our interactive ‘Am I Eligible’ questionnaire.

If you’ve been declined finance, other funding options may be available to you depending on your circumstances. Your sales consultant will be able to discuss these options with you at enquiry stage.

What are the different types of contracts available?

For business customers, the most common forms of van leasing contracts (in rough order of popularity) are:

• Finance lease
• Contract hire
• Contract purchase
• Business lease purchase

Some vans can be leased on a personal basis, although some funders will not provide finance for personal van leasing and there may be certain limitations on personal van lease contracts. Personal contract purchase (PCP) is not available for vans. Please contact our sales team if you would like to find out more about personal van leasing.

Although our vans team deals with the leasing of pick-ups, these are readily available to both personal and business customers.

Do you provide short term agreements?

At Nationwide Vehicle Contracts, we specialise in long term lease agreements. The shortest van leasing agreement we offer is 24 months (two years).

We understand that sometimes you might only need a van for a short amount of time, if you’re moving house, for example. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Europcar to help you save on car and van hire.

Do you provide ‘no deposit’ van leases?

No, we do not provide no deposit lease contracts for vans.

What vans are available to lease?

Thanks to our relationship with manufacturers across the country, we are able to give you and your business deals on a huge range of makes and models of vans at excellent prices, including Citroen, Ford, Volkswagen and Renault to name but a few. Visit our van leasing section to search our available vehicles.

How much annual company vehicle tax will be due on my leased van?

Unlike cars, where the benefit in kind tax is variable depending on the price of the vehicle, company van tax is fixed.

For 2016/2017, the taxable benefit for vans is £3,170. per year, while the fuel benefit is £598 per year. Check out our Company Van Tax Explained guide for further information.

Will you take my current van as part exchange?

Unfortunately, we do not offer a part exchange service. You will be responsible for the resale or disposal of your existing van if required. Many of our LCV (light commercial vehicle) customers have used sites such as www.webuyanyvan.com to do this.

Can I use the lease vehicle as a self-drive hire van?

Unfortunately we are unable to assist businesses who wish to use the lease vehicle for "Hire & Reward" purposes as this is not permitted by the funder. This includes Taxi, Chauffeur, Driving Schools and Rental companies. Some funders may also have additional restrictions in place for customers who work in the Motor Trade. Please contact one of our Leasing Consultants for further information regarding this.

Can I have a tow bar fitted to my lease vehicle?

If you require any additional accessories fitted to your vehicle, such as a tow bar, please request this at point of order.

Some small and reversible modifications may be permitted by the funder providing your leasing contract but please note that this will be at your own risk and may invalidate the vehicle warranty. You will also need to arrange for removal any modifications without damaging the vehicle before returning it at the end of the contract.

Before making any changes to your vehicle, please speak to your sales advisor. Permission and restrictions will depend on the modification in question, manufacturer and finance provider.

Do I have to have ply lining?

Ply lining must be fitted to all leased vans. This is to help protect you from any de-hire damage charges (charges made by the finance company for any damage to the vehicle that exceeds the relevant fair wear and tear guidelines) and to help maintain the resale value of the van.

For all vans leased through us, ply lining will be fitted before the vehicle is delivered to you. Our pricing includes the ply lining, so there’s no need for you to worry about additional initial costs.

Can I put my company decals on my van?

Of course you can. All we ask is that at the end of the term you remove these before the vehicle is returned.

Do you provide roof racks and racking?

Absolutely! We will be happy to quote your vehicle and include your relevant accessories. We can provide quotes to include everything from tow bars to roof racks. Prices will be dependent on your location but please feel free to ask your LCV sales advisor for more details when you call.

Can I take my lease van or pick-up truck out of the country?

Depending on the finance provider, you may be allowed to take the vehicle abroad for a specified period of time. Before arranging your trip, you will need to contact the finance provider to discuss your options. Along with the standard documentation, leased vehicle drivers will require a form VE103B. This is essentially authorisation from the finance provider which allows the driver to take the lease or hire car abroad. The VE103B contains details of the vehicle, the name and address of the driver and gives permission from the finance provider for the driver to be using the car abroad. This is a legal document and acts as an alternative to the V5C. This form must be ordered in advance of your trip.

Is tax and insurance included in your van contracts?

Your van leasing agreement will include tax (otherwise known as the Road Fund Licence), either for the duration of your contract or 12 months, depending on the type of contract you take out.

For finance lease – the most common type of contract used for van leasing – tax will typically only be provided for 12 months. After that, you will be responsible for taxing the vehicle.

Insurance is not included in the leasing contract. You are responsible for arranging your own insurance on the vehicle, and it must be a fully comprehensive insurance policy. Your sales advisor will be able to give you any additional information you need.

Is maintenance included in your agreements?

Maintenance is an optional package that can be added to your agreement and included in your monthly payments. It includes all servicing, plus the replacement of tyres, brakes, exhausts, batteries as necessary, and includes any labour costs. For further details, go to our vehicle maintenance section, or give us a call.

Do you provide breakdown cover with a replacement van?

Many of the van manufacturers provide a roadside service running alongside the vehicle warranty. However, we can also provide a maintenance service that, along with full UK breakdown cover and recovery, will look after all routine servicing and tyre replacement (even in the event of a puncture).

Find out more in our Van Warranty and Breakdown guide.

Will my van be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty?

Yes. All vans leased through us are covered by the full manufacturer’s warranty. The length of time this warranty covers will depend on the manufacturer. Please ask your sales advisor for details of the warranty that is provided for your vehicle.

When will my new van be delivered?

Where possible, we try to ‘ring-fence stock’ to ensure you don’t have too long to wait for the van you choose. Stock vans, subject to completion of the correct paperwork and manufacturer availability, can be delivered within 14 working days.

Ultimately, the delivery date of your van will depend on the lead time from the manufacturer. Popular and new models will likely mean a longer wait. Some finance providers also have a statutory ‘cooling off’ period, which must be adhered to before your vehicle can be delivered. Your lease consultant will be able to advise you of typical lead times and delivery dates.

I do a lot of mileage – do I need a tachograph fitted?

Unless your vehicle has a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of over 3.5 tonnes, no tachograph is required. If you have a van over this weight, not only do you require a tachograph to be fitted but you will also need an Operator’s Licence. Please visit www.gov.uk/being-a-goods-vehicle-operator for more information.

What if I exceed the agreed mileage on the contract?

At the beginning of the contract, an annual mileage will be agreed upon and stipulated within the contract (although as stated above, this mileage can be changed if you choose).

Any mileage over the contract is charged at the excess mileage rate, charged in pence per mile. The excess mileage rate applicable to you will be stated in your contract. As an example if the excess was 5 pence per mile, you would be charged £50 for exceeding your allowance by 1,000 miles.

Can I end my agreement early?

It is possible to end your agreement early, but you will be liable to pay a penalty charge. The amount this is will depend on how long you’ve got left on your contract and the finance provider.

To discuss ending your agreement early, call our customer services team and request an ‘early settlement figure’. Once you have this information, you can decide the best course of action for you.

Can I buy my van at the end of a finance lease agreement?

With the funders we use, purchasing the vehicle at the end of a finance lease agreement is not an option.

Your options, depending on the funder, usually are:

• Refinance the balloon payment (i.e. the outstanding amount of money to be paid at the end of the agreement)
• Sell the van to a third party – not immediate family or anyone holding a financial interest in your company. You keep 98% of the sale price and send the funder the other 2% of the gross sale price so they can end their interest in the vehicle (applies to qualifying cars and commercial vehicles)

Find out more about finance lease agreements here.

If you choose to lease your van using another type of agreement, you may be able to purchase the van at the end of the agreement. For more information about your options at the end of a contract, see our information on the different types of business contracts and types of personal contracts.

Please note that personal contract purchase is not available for vans.

I’ve heard that you charge for even a small dent – is this true?

If you are returning your van to the finance company at the end of your lease, it will be inspected for damage. Inspections are carried out following the industry standard fair wear and tear guides as laid out by the BVRLA (the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association).

If you return your van and it has any damage that falls outside of these guidelines, you will be liable to pay for it in the form of lease-end penalty charges.

For more information, visit our Van Fair Wear and Tear Guide.

Do you still have questions? Submit a question below, or give our leasing consultants a call on 0345 811 9595.