For newly formed companies
Van leasing for a new limited company
Yes — a newly formed limited company can lease a van from FleetMe, with no filed accounts needed. Underwriting looks at the business, its directors and affordability. If your business is not incorporated, the route is short-term rental.
Check my options →Updated September 2026 · your agreement is with FleetMe
The standard objection a new company hits is "come back when you have two years of accounts". That test made sense for lending against a business's history; it makes far less sense for a van that the business needs in order to generate that history in the first place. Commercial van leasing takes a wider view — but it is still an assessment, and it helps to know what is being looked at.
What do we look at when there are no accounts?
Three things carry the weight: the directors, the affordability of the rental, and how credible the trading plan is. Director history matters because a new company is usually run by people with a track record, even if the entity itself is weeks old. Affordability matters because a van has to be payable out of real income, not projected income. And the trading picture — who your customers are, what the van earns, whether you have contracts or a pipeline — tells us whether the numbers hold. Our eligibility page sets out the whole picture in one place.
What is a new company often asked for?
Expect to provide the company registration number, director details and address history, business bank statements if you have them, and personal bank statements if the company is too new to have a trading record. Two things come up often enough to be worth flagging now rather than as a surprise: a new company may be asked for a personal guarantee from a director, and it may be asked for a larger initial rental than an established business would be. Neither is universal, and both are set out in writing before you commit — see how a director's guarantee works and what an initial rental is.
How does the decision work, and how fast?
You give us the details, we assess it, and we aim to come back with a decision in principle the same working day in most cases. If we can help, you get a written quote setting out the vehicle, the term, the mileage, the initial rental and the monthly figure, ex-VAT with the VAT-inclusive figure alongside it. If we cannot help, we will tell you honestly and say why, rather than leaving an application open indefinitely. That is the whole point of asking early: a clear answer is useful even when it is a no, because it tells you what to change.
Not a limited company?
Business contract hire is for limited companies and LLPs. If you trade as a sole trader, or you want the vehicle in your own name, what we can supply is short-term vehicle rental of up to 89 days instead. Incorporating is the step that opens up business contract hire over 24 to 60 months, which is why plenty of tradespeople do it before taking on a van.
Get a written quote
Tell us the vehicle, the mileage and how long you need it for. We come back with a written quote, and we aim to do that the same working day. We confirm which agreement applies before anything is signed.
- ✓ Your agreement is with FleetMe
- ✓ We confirm your quote in writing
- ✓ Business rentals quoted ex VAT, with VAT shown
Thanks — your enquiry is in.
We’ll go through what you need and come back with a written quote, we aim to do that the same working day. Your agreement would be with FleetMe — we supply the vehicle, and we confirm it in writing before anything is agreed.
What happens next
- 1 We read what you sent us. We check the vehicle, the length and the mileage you asked for, and work out what we can do at that specification.
- 2 We come back with a written quote. We aim to send it the same working day. It sets out the vehicle, how long you have it, the mileage, the initial rental and the monthly figure — ex VAT with the VAT-inclusive figure alongside.
- 3 You decide. Nothing is committed until you have that in writing and you are happy to go ahead. If we can’t help, we’ll tell you honestly and say why.
Nothing is committed at this stage, and if we can’t help we’ll tell you honestly rather than leave you waiting.
Browse vans →Facts & figures
The bigger picture
Source: BVRLA Leasing Outlook, 2026
Source: SMMT, 2025
Source: SMMT, 2025
UK market figures from the sources named on each card — not FleetMe's own results.
Common questions
Can a company with no filed accounts lease a van?
Yes — no filed accounts are needed. The assessment weighs the directors, the affordability of the rental and the trading picture. A company incorporated weeks ago can be considered; it simply needs a fuller conversation.
Will I be asked for a personal guarantee?
It is common for a newly formed company, though not universal. If one is required it is set out in writing before you commit, so you can decide with the full picture rather than at signature.
Does a new business need a bigger initial payment?
Sometimes. A larger initial rental can be part of how a limited trading history is offset. It is quoted up front alongside the monthly figure, never introduced later.
How quickly can I get an answer?
We aim to give a decision in principle the same working day in most cases, once we have the company details, director information and a clear picture of affordability. Having those ready is the single biggest thing that speeds it up.
My new business is not a limited company — does this page apply to me?
No. This is about newly formed limited companies and LLPs. If you trade as a sole trader the route is short-term rental of up to 89 days, and incorporating at Companies House is what brings business contract hire into reach.
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