Quick answer: 3 simple steps to begin your vehicle finance enquiry

1. Prepare a few details: company name, turnover, what you want to finance and basic vehicle info.
2. Complete our short enquiry form: it takes around two minutes — we only ask what’s needed to match you to the right lenders/brokers. Free Eligibility Check
3. Receive matched contact: brokers or lenders who suit your needs will contact you with a quick quote, an eligibility check result or a DIP.

That’s it. Use our short form and we’ll do the matching work so you get relevant quotes fast.

What we mean: Quick quote vs Free eligibility check vs Decision in Principle (DIP)

Quick quote — an indicative rate or repayment estimate based on the information you supply. It helps you compare options quickly without committing.

Free eligibility check — a soft-search style check run by a broker or lender to see which products you’re likely to qualify for; this usually won’t affect your credit record and helps avoid wasted hard applications.

Decision in Principle (DIP) — a stronger conditional offer from a lender that indicates they are likely to provide funding, subject to documentation and final checks. A DIP may involve a hard or soft credit check; lenders will tell you which.

What types of vehicle finance you can enquire about

Our panel can connect you with lenders and brokers offering the following business vehicle finance types (from single vans to multi-vehicle fleets and specialist commercial vehicles):

• Hire Purchase (HP) — finance to buy with ownership transferring when the final payment is made.
• Contract Purchase / PCP-style business deals — lower monthly payments with a balloon/residual option at the end.
• Contract Hire / Operating Lease — off-balance-sheet rental for businesses that prefer not to own the vehicle outright.
• Asset finance / Finance Lease — common for commercial or specialist vehicles and equipment.
• Fleet finance & leasing — packages to replace or expand multiple vehicles with one lender or broker solution.
• Chattel mortgage / VAT-funded deals — commercial ownership structures for specific business needs.

For a deeper overview of options for vans, cars and specialist vehicles see our dedicated vehicle finance resource.

Step-by-step: exactly how to start your UK Business Loans vehicle finance enquiry

Before you start — what to have ready

• Business details: company name and registration number (if applicable), recent turnover and how long you’ve been trading.
• Contact details: best contact name, email and phone number and a suitable time for calls.
• Finance requirements: how much you need (from around £10,000 upwards), preferred deposit and term (months/years).
• Vehicle details: make, model, year, mileage (if used), purpose (delivery, sales, HGV, specialist kit).
• Credit background summary: any County Court Judgments (CCJs), defaults or insolvency history — being upfront helps us match you to realistic options.

Completing our enquiry form

The form is concise — designed to be completed in under two minutes. We only ask questions that matter to lenders and brokers so they can provide accurate, relevant quotes. Click Get Started Free Eligibility Check to begin.

What happens after you submit

1. Automatic matching: our system selects the best-suited brokers and lenders based on your sector, trading history and vehicle needs.
2. Rapid contact: you’ll usually hear from a matched broker or lender within hours (sometimes same day) by phone or email.
3. Quotes and DIP: you may be given an immediate indicative quote, a free eligibility check outcome or invited to proceed to a DIP or formal application.

Once you accept a quote, the lender or broker will confirm the documentation required and the expected funding timeline.

Get Quote Now — start your enquiry in minutes.

Documents and information lenders commonly ask for

Having these documents ready will speed up responses and any DIP or full application:

• Business bank statements (typically 3–6 months)
• Recent business accounts or management accounts
• Proof of ID for directors (passport or driving licence) and proof of address
• VAT registration details (when relevant)
• Vehicle quotation or invoice for new purchases
• Existing contract details for lease or fleet renewals

Tip: uploading documents early often shortens the time to DIP and funding.

What lenders check (and how that affects quotes)

Lenders and brokers will typically consider:

• Business trading history and turnover
• Director credit profiles and business credit file
• Vehicle condition, age, mileage and projected residual value
• VAT and tax status (important for VAT-funded deals)
• Deposit/security offered and the term of finance

Most initial eligibility checks use soft credit searches that do not leave a footprint on your credit file. Formal applications and some DIPs may require a hard search — lenders must disclose this before proceeding.

Typical timescales & funding examples

• Quick quote: immediate or within hours of enquiry.
• Free eligibility check: same day response from brokers in many cases.
• Decision in Principle: typically 24–72 hours once documents are supplied.
• Funding after acceptance: 1–14 days depending on paperwork, supplier delivery and vehicle handover.

Examples

Example 1 — An SME seeking a single replacement van: submits the short enquiry in the morning, receives two broker contacts and a DIP within 48 hours, funded within a week once paperwork and the vehicle invoice are supplied.

Example 2 — A business replacing a 10-vehicle fleet: initial matching identifies fleet finance specialists; indicative quotes arrive within 48 hours; detailed proposals and tender-style comparison follow once fleet specs are confirmed.

Common scenarios and how we help

We match businesses to the right partners for situations such as:

• New or limited trading history: specialist lenders who assess future cashflows and sector potential.
• Poor credit history: brokers who place applications where past credit issues are understood.
• Urgent needs: lenders able to accelerate DIPs and documentation for quick delivery.
• Large fleet renewals: fleet finance arrangers and leaseback options to streamline replacement programmes.

Start your enquiry and tell us your situation — we’ll try to match you to the partners best placed to help. Free Eligibility Check

FAQs

Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score?

No — our initial enquiry and most eligibility checks use soft searches that do not affect your credit file. If a lender needs to do a hard search for a DIP or formal application they will disclose this before proceeding.

How much does this cost?

Using UK Business Loans to find and match lenders or brokers is free for business users. Lender quotes may include fees and interest — always check the APR and total cost with the lender or broker.

How long before I get a quote?

Often within hours for an indicative quote or eligibility outcome. A DIP usually takes 1–3 days once documents are provided.

What is the minimum amount I can enquire about?

We typically arrange vehicle finance starting from about £10,000 upwards. For smaller amounts, other product types may be more suitable — tell us what you need on the enquiry form.

What happens to my data?

Your details are shared only with selected lenders and brokers relevant to your enquiry. We use secure systems and follow data protection practices. See our privacy policy for full details.

Ready to start?

If you want a quick quote, a free eligibility check or a Decision in Principle, complete our short enquiry now. It takes under two minutes — we’ll match you to the best lenders or brokers and you’ll often hear back within hours. Get Quote Now

No obligation. No hard credit search at this stage unless the lender tells you otherwise.