Asset Finance for Transport & Logistics
By Joshua Giles, Founder and Director · Reviewed by the CoreFi credit team
Last updated 20 July 2026
CoreFi is a broker, not a lender. We do not set rates and lenders make all credit decisions.
In short: Transport asset finance funds HGVs, trailers and fleet vehicles, spreading the cost over their earning life and securing the debt on the asset, not your premises. Deals typically run from £20k to £5M over 2 to 7 years on hire purchase or finance lease. We are a broker and place these for UK limited companies; the lender sets the rate.
A new HGV costs £80k to £150k. A fleet renewal runs into millions, and most transport businesses cannot absorb that from working capital without starving the rest of the operation. Asset finance puts the vehicle to work on day one, spreads the cost over its earning life, and fixes the monthly payment so you can price contracts without guessing what your fleet costs you.
The lenders we place transport deals with are not high-street banks. They understand operator licensing, they know what a 2019 Volvo FH with 400,000 miles is actually worth at the end of a five-year term, and they can structure a balloon payment to keep the monthly figure manageable while you decide at the end whether to pay it off, refinance, or hand the asset back. That residual value calculation is what makes transport asset finance different from a standard HP agreement. Get it wrong and you are either overpaying every month or facing a balloon you cannot clear.
ULEZ and Clean Air Zone compliance is a real pressure point right now. We have placed deals where operators used asset finance to accelerate fleet replacement specifically to avoid daily charge exposure, treating the finance cost as cheaper than the alternative. That is a legitimate calculation, and lenders accept it as a reason to move quickly. We are a broker, so what we do is match your deal to the lender most likely to fund it on terms that work; approval and pricing sit with the lender.
Key Benefits
- Balloon payments structured around the vehicle's residual value, not a guess, which keeps your monthly cost lower during the earning period
- Lenders on our panel verify operator licence coverage as part of the deal, so compliance is built into the process rather than bolted on afterwards
- Fleet facilities can cover multiple units under one agreement, which turns six separate applications into one renewal conversation
- Used HGVs up to 10 to 12 years old at end of term are accepted by the right lenders, which matters when you buy secondhand to control cost
- Refrigeration units, trailers and specialist bodywork can be bundled with the tractor unit or financed separately, depending on which approach fits your depreciation preference
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I finance used trucks?
Yes. The lenders we use for transport deals look at age, mileage and remaining useful life. Most will finance used commercial vehicles provided they are no more than 10 to 12 years old by the end of the finance term. A 2018 unit on a five-year deal would typically be fine; a 2012 unit on the same term would not.
Are trailers included?
Trailers, refrigeration units and specialist bodywork are all eligible. They can be bundled with the tractor unit into a single facility or financed separately, which sometimes makes sense where the trailer has a longer useful life than the cab and you want different terms for each.
What about electric or hydrogen vehicles?
Electric HGVs and hydrogen vehicles are eligible for asset finance, and some lenders offer preferential rates for zero-emission vehicles. The Plug-in Truck Grant can reduce the amount you need to finance, so it is worth confirming grant eligibility before we structure the facility, because it changes the advance figure.
Do I need a valid operator's licence before applying?
Yes. For vehicles over 3.5 tonnes a valid Operator's Licence is a condition of drawdown, not just a formality. Lenders check that the licence covers the number of vehicles including the one being acquired. If your licence is at capacity, you need to resolve that with the Traffic Commissioner before the finance can complete.
Work out your numbers
Related Funding Options
Asset Finance UK: Rates, Providers, HP & Leasing
Asset finance rates and providers for UK limited companies: hire purchase, lease and asset-backed loans. We are a broker, placing your case with lenders that fit.
Commercial Vehicle Finance for Transport & Haulage
Finance HGVs, vans, and fleet vehicles for UK transport and haulage businesses. Hire purchase or lease, structured around your contracts rather than a bank's preference.
Invoice Finance for Transport & Logistics
Haulage and logistics companies can draw cash from unpaid invoices once delivery is confirmed. Invoice finance for UK transport businesses, with POD integration and fuel card options.
Asset finance by location
Lender appetite varies by city and region. If you would rather start from where your business is based, these local guides cover the same funding with the local picture.
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Get matched with lendersCoreFi is a trading name of JG Core Ltd (Company #16218779, England & Wales). CoreFi acts as a commercial finance broker and does not provide regulated financial advice. All products described are unregulated business-to-business finance. Information on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute a formal offer of finance. Terms, rates, and availability are subject to lender criteria and may change without notice.