Quick answer
Van finance pays for a commercial van used in the business, from small delivery vans to large high-roof vans for trades, couriers, mobile services and catering. The loan can cover the van plus shelving, racking, refrigeration or a mobile workshop fit-out. Vans can be financed against themselves, with an unsecured business loan or with a property-backed loan. The key is matching the van's size and fit-out to the work, and the term to how long you'll run it.
Key points
- Size the van to the work: payload, cargo length and roof height.
- Fit-outs like shelving or refrigeration can be funded with the van.
- High-kilometre vans are best financed over shorter terms.
- Courier and delivery contracts can support the application.
- Common buyers
- Couriers, trades, mobile services, caterers
- Can include
- Shelving, racking, refrigeration, signage
- Structures
- Van-secured, unsecured, property-backed
- Purpose
- Business purposes only
A van is a mobile warehouse, workshop or kitchen. For couriers, electricians, carpet layers, mobile dog groomers and caterers, the van is where the work lives. Van finance gets the right one on the road, fitted out for the job, with repayments that line up with the income it brings.
Who uses van finance?
- Couriers and last-mile delivery businesses, including contractors on platform or parcel runs.
- Trades that need lockable storage: electricians, plumbers, locksmiths, carpet and flooring.
- Mobile services: dog grooming, car detailing, mobile mechanics, window cleaning.
- Food and catering: refrigerated vans and delivery for caterers and wholesalers.
- Removalists and furniture delivery.
How do you choose the right van?
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What’s the heaviest regular load? | Payload limits are legal limits, not suggestions |
| How long is the longest item? | Cargo length decides between wheelbases |
| Do you need to stand up inside? | High-roof vans suit mobile workshops |
| Where do you park? | Some city car parks won’t fit a high-roof van |
| How far do you drive each day? | Drives fuel type and how long the van lasts |
Buy for the work you do most weeks. For the rare oversized job, hiring a bigger vehicle usually beats paying for size you don’t use.
What can be funded with the van?
A bare van rarely does the job. Typical fit-outs:
- Shelving, drawers and racking systems.
- Refrigeration units and insulated linings.
- Mobile workshop benches, inverters and lighting.
- Ladder racks and roof bars.
- Signage and wraps.
With an unsecured business loan or a property-backed loan, the van and fit-out can be funded as one purchase.
What do lenders look for?
- Income that covers the repayment. Bank statements for established businesses; for newer ones, a signed contract helps.
- Your experience in the work the van will do.
- The van. Age, kilometres and whether it’s from a dealer or private seller.
- Existing commitments, including other vehicle loans.
Transport businesses have had a tough run: the Reserve Bank’s October 2026 Financial Stability Review points to elevated insolvencies in transport. Lenders will look closely at whether the work is steady, so show them.
Illustrative example. A Brisbane courier has just signed a 12-month contract with a regional pharmacy wholesaler worth about $9,000 a month. He needs a refrigerated van with shelving; a two-year-old high-roof van with a fridge conversion comes to about $68,000. The contract, plus his two years of courier history, supports a business loan over four years. He keeps his old van as a backup for the first few months.
How long should a van loan run?
Couriers can rack up 60,000 kilometres or more a year. A van doing those numbers may be ready for replacement in four or five years. A trade van doing 20,000 kilometres a year can last much longer. Keep the term within the time you’ll realistically keep the van, and if there’s a balloon, make sure the van will be worth more than the balloon when it falls due.
If you’re weighing a new versus used van, our guide on buying a new or used business vehicle goes through it.
What does a van really cost to run?
Before settling on a van and a loan amount, add up a year of running costs:
| Cost | Notes |
|---|---|
| Fuel or charging | Based on your real weekly kilometres |
| Servicing and tyres | Courier vans can need frequent servicing |
| Insurance | Business use, goods in transit if you carry customer goods |
| Registration | Your state’s rego and CTP |
| Tolls and parking | Significant in city delivery work |
| Fit-out maintenance | Refrigeration servicing, shelving repairs |
Courier and delivery operators should also check how platform or contract income is paid, and whether fuel levies adjust with prices. A margin that looks healthy at one fuel price can disappear at another, so build in a buffer.
Once the full cost is clear, compare it with the income the van will generate. If the numbers are tight, a smaller, cheaper or used van might be the smarter first step.
Got work waiting for a van?
If the right van means more runs, more jobs or a new contract, let’s fund it. Enquiring with us doesn’t involve a credit check; that only happens once you decide to go ahead. We don’t hand your details to a pile of lenders. A real person looks at the van, the work and the contract, then calls you with options.
Please be accurate on the form about the van, the fit-out and your income or contract, so the first option we suggest fits. Start your van finance enquiry.
Frequently asked questions
Can I include a refrigerated fit-out in van finance?
Yes. Refrigeration units, insulated bodies and shelving can be funded with the van. Some van-secured financiers cap how much fit-out they'll include, so an unsecured or property-backed loan may be simpler for a full conversion.
I've just won a delivery contract. Can it support my application?
It can help. A signed contract showing regular income gives a lender confidence about repayments, especially for a newer business. Bring the contract, its length and expected weekly income to the conversation.
Small van or large van?
Buy for the loads you carry most weeks, not the biggest job of the year. A larger van costs more to buy, run and park. Hiring a bigger vehicle for the occasional oversized job is often cheaper.
Can I finance a used van with high kilometres?
Yes, but keep the term short. Some financiers won't take older or very high-kilometre vans as security, so an unsecured loan may be the way. Get a mechanical inspection and a PPSR search first.
Should I consider an electric van?
For predictable urban routes with overnight charging at the depot, electric vans can cut running costs significantly. Check the range with a full load and in winter. Our electric vehicle finance page covers the specifics.