Contract Hire Vans

Your contract hire agreement covers the use of the vehicle for an agreed period and mileage. Road tax is included for the duration of the contract, and you can optionally add a maintenance package to cover servicing, tyres, and breakdown assistance. Insurance is not included and must be arranged separately.

If you exceed your contracted mileage, you will be charged an excess mileage fee per mile. This rate is set out in your agreement from the start. If you think you are going to go over, get in touch with us as it is often cheaper to renegotiate mid-term than to pay excess charges at the end.

Most contract hire agreements run for the full term. Early termination is possible but typically involves an early settlement charge. We recommend choosing a contract length you are comfortable with from the outset. If your circumstances change, speak to us and we will do our best to help.

Yes, most contract hire agreements require an initial rental payment, typically equivalent to 3, 6, or 9 monthly rentals paid upfront. A higher initial rental will reduce your ongoing monthly payments. We can tailor this to suit your budget.

The van should be returned in a condition consistent with its age and mileage, following the BVRLA fair wear and tear guidelines. Normal wear is expected and accepted. Anything beyond that, such as significant dents, interior damage, or missing items, may result in end-of-contract charges.

It depends on the profile. Contract hire works best for VAT-registered limited companies that will be running the van for the full term and want predictable monthly costs. A non-VAT-registered limited company often does better on hire purchase, because the full VAT is reclaimable on delivery and the vehicle sits on the balance sheet with capital allowances. We'll run the numbers both ways and tell you which saves more over the contract.

Yes. We coordinate racking, ply-lining, livery and tow bars before delivery through our approved fitters, so the van arrives ready for work. The cost rolls into the monthly rental rather than hitting you as a separate invoice. Lender approval is needed for anything that changes the vehicle's residual value (like a full wrap), but that's usually straightforward.

This is the question we get asked most quietly. Most agreements can be settled early but the figure isn't small: typically around half of the remaining monthly rentals. If closure is possible, a shorter contract (24-36 months) and a higher initial rental keeps the settlement risk smaller. Talk to us before signing if this is a concern. We'd rather structure a contract you can comfortably see out than watch an early-termination headache later.

Not necessarily, but most lenders want to see 2 to 3 years of UK trading for a business and a consistent address history for the director or partner. If you've been self-employed under 12 months, or moved across from abroad recently, finance lease or hire purchase through specialist lenders usually works where contract hire doesn't. We start with a soft credit check that leaves no mark; a full application may involve a hard search.