For sole traders & contractors
Hire for the self-employed
Thanks, your enquiry is in.
We’ll pass your details to a suitable rental partner from our panel, and they’ll be in touch about what they can offer. As an introducer we don’t supply the vehicle ourselves, and there’s nothing more you need to send us right now, we’re not asking for any documents at this stage.
Nothing is agreed until you deal directly with the supplier and you’re happy to go ahead.
Browse more vehicles →Free, no obligation · No credit check · No impact on your credit score
Free, no obligation, and enquiring never affects your credit score.
Yes, self-employed drivers, contractors and sole traders can hire a car or van even with irregular income or a thin credit file. Short-term rental partners weigh affordability and ID over payslips, so variable earnings are not the barrier they are with finance.
- No credit check to get a quote
- Flexible terms, 1 to 48 months
- All credit welcome
Updated October 2026
Recommended
Vehicles that suit self-employed & sole traders
Guide prices, not quotes. Tell us what the job needs and a partner confirms what is actually available and what it costs.
Van · Medium Van
Ford Transit Custom Limited L1
from £299 /mo inc VAT
£299 initial · 12 months · 8,000 mi/yr
View deal →
Why this one:The default medium panel van on UK sites. Easy to get racked out, easy to park, and every fitter you meet already knows it.
Van · Medium Van
Vauxhall Vivaro Prime L1
from £289 /mo inc VAT
£289 initial · 12 months · 8,000 mi/yr
View deal →
Why this one:Similar size to the Transit Custom and usually a little cheaper each month, so it is the value pick if the badge does not matter to you.
Van · Large Van
Ford Transit Leader L2H2
from £319 /mo inc VAT
£319 initial · 12 months · 8,000 mi/yr
View deal →
Why this one:Step up to the full-size Transit when the Custom runs out of room. The usual choice once you are carrying boards, lengths or a second set of tools.
Van · Medium Van
Volkswagen Transporter Highline
from £329 /mo inc VAT
£329 initial · 12 months · 8,000 mi/yr
View deal →
Why this one:Costs more, but holds its condition and looks the part on a driveway when you are quoting domestic work.
Prices shown are guide “from” figures and may vary — with term length, mileage, availability and your risk profile. Your rental partner confirms the exact price before anything is agreed.
If you work for yourself, you already know the frustration: lenders want neat, salaried payslips, and self-employment does not fit the box. Short-term hire is more pragmatic. It asks whether the monthly cost is affordable now, which suits contractors, tradespeople and gig-economy drivers whose income moves month to month.
Income that does not fit a payslip
Bank statements, invoices or accounts can all evidence affordability, you are not penalised simply for not having a salary. That is the practical difference between hire and finance for the self-employed: the question is "can you comfortably cover the monthly?", not "can you produce three identical payslips?".
A vehicle that earns its keep
For most self-employed drivers the vehicle is a tool that makes money, a van for a trade, a clean car for client work, something reliable for deliveries. Flexible 1–48 month terms mean you can scale up in busy seasons and hand the vehicle back when work is quieter, without a multi-year commitment hanging over you.
Facts & figures
The bigger picture
Source: ONS, 2026
Source: FCA Financial Lives 2024, 2024
Source: DVLA / GOV.UK, 2025
Common questions
I have only been self-employed a few months, can I still hire?
Often yes. Partners look at current affordability rather than demanding years of accounts, so a relatively new sole trader can frequently be matched.
What can I use to prove income?
Typically recent bank statements, invoices or accounts. The supplying partner confirms exactly what they need before anything is agreed.
Does enquiring affect my credit score?
No. Getting a quote involves no credit search. Any check happens later, with the rental partner, and only with your permission.
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Ready when you are
Takes about a minute. No credit check to get a quote, no obligation, and we tell you which partner we have matched you with.
Thanks, your enquiry is in.
We’ll pass your details to a suitable rental partner from our panel, and they’ll be in touch about what they can offer. As an introducer we don’t supply the vehicle ourselves, and there’s nothing more you need to send us right now, we’re not asking for any documents at this stage.
Nothing is agreed until you deal directly with the supplier and you’re happy to go ahead.
Browse more vehicles →Free, no obligation · No credit check · No impact on your credit score