Lendus.

Trailer Finance

Spread the cost of commercial trailers from £5,000 to £100,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance, compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a trailer?

Yes, trailers are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £5,000 to £100,000, and most deals are written over 12–60 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

200+ UK lenders
2-minute application
No credit check to apply
FCA-regulated brokers

Typical Cost

£5k – £100k

Approval Speed

24 hours

Same-day for < £40k

Rates From

4.8% APR

What would a trailer cost per month?

£30,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical trailer price. Indicative only, not a quote.

Compare trailer finance rates from 200+ lenders

Check Eligibility

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
From 5.2% APR
Term
12–60 months
Deposit
10–20%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Hauliers wanting to own trailers outright

Finance Lease

Rate
From 4.8% APR
Term
12–60 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Tax-efficient, claim 100% of payments against profit

Operating Lease

Rate
From 5.5% APR
Term
24–60 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at end
Best for
Flex fleet size with demand. Off balance sheet.

Representative example

On a purchase price of £30,000: a 10% deposit of £3,000, then 48 monthly payments of £633 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £33,384, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification Guide price Type
Ifor Williams LM166G £4,000 – £6,500 Flatbed Trailer
Montracon Curtainsider 13.6m £25,000 – £40,000 Curtain-Side
Gray & Adams Fridge Trailer £45,000 – £80,000 Refrigerated
SDC Box Trailer 13.6m £18,000 – £30,000 Box Trailer

Ready to compare trailer finance? 2 minutes, no credit check.

Check Eligibility

Tax benefits

Trailers qualify for Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting you deduct the full cost from taxable profits in year one, up to £1,000,000. HP allows capital allowances. Lease payments are fully deductible.

Market context

Trailers, flatbeds, curtainsiders, tippers and specialist types, are bought by haulage firms, builders' merchants and any business moving goods behind its own tractor unit or van rather than relying entirely on third-party carriers. Because a trailer has no engine and a genuinely long working life, many operators finance it separately from the tractor unit that pulls it, spreading the cost over a longer term matching how slowly a well-built trailer depreciates. Replacement is generally driven by chassis and floor condition under repeated heavy loading, rather than a fixed age. A large, active used market keeps residual values solid and makes refinance straightforward for most hauliers.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

Compare rates from 200+ lenders, takes 2 minutes.

Check Eligibility

Frequently asked questions

Can I finance a used trailer?
Yes, used trailers can be financed, supported by a large, active used market that keeps residual values solid and makes refinance straightforward for most hauliers. Lenders will want to see the condition of the chassis and floor specifically, since these are what take repeated heavy loading and tend to drive replacement more than a fixed age. A trailer bought through an established commercial vehicle dealer with service records is generally easier to finance than a private sale with none.
What deposit do I need?
Hire purchase typically asks for a deposit of around 10 to 20% of the trailer's cost, with the balance spread over the agreed term and ownership passing to you at the end. A finance lease or operating lease usually needs no deposit, since the lender's security is the trailer itself, which many operators use because a trailer has no engine and a genuinely long working life, allowing the cost to be spread over a longer term than the tractor unit that pulls it.
Can I finance a fleet of trailers?
Yes. Hauliers and builders' merchants running several trailers commonly finance them together under one facility rather than a separate agreement for each, which keeps the specification and repayment schedule consistent across the fleet. Financing a fleet as one package also tends to be quicker to arrange for later additions, since the lender already understands the pattern of use and the business's payment history from the earlier trailers. It is worth discussing a fleet facility with your broker if you expect to add trailers over time.
How quickly can I get trailer finance?
A straightforward single trailer purchase is commonly approved within 24 to 48 hours once your application, the supplier's quote and basic company details are with the lender. A larger fleet order typically takes a little longer, around three to five working days, since the lender is reviewing a bigger facility covering several units. Having your supplier's quote and recent bank statements ready before applying is the main thing that keeps either timeline as short as possible.
Is VAT charged on trailer finance in the same way as buying outright?
If your business is VAT registered, VAT is generally charged in a similar way to an outright purchase, though when it falls due depends on the finance structure. Hire purchase treats the trailer as a purchase from the outset, so VAT is typically due upfront and usually reclaimable on your next return, while a finance lease charges VAT on each rental payment as it falls due instead. It is worth confirming the exact treatment with your accountant before choosing between the two structures.
What happens if I sell or part-exchange the trailer before the agreement ends?
The trailer remains the lender's security until the agreement is settled, so it cannot be sold or part-exchanged without first clearing the outstanding balance, usually done from the sale or part-exchange proceeds. Given how slowly a well-built trailer depreciates, this is a common consideration for operators financing over a long term, and most lenders will provide a settlement figure on request and roll any shortfall into a new agreement for a replacement trailer.

Related equipment finance

More vehicles finance

See how lenders treat vehicles assets

Guides and resources

Ready to finance your trailer?

Compare rates from 200+ lenders. No credit check.

Check Eligibility →
Check Eligibility, 2 min, no credit check