Commercial vehicle, company car & equipment
After salaries and premises costs, vehicle finance is often the largest expense for many SMEs. Making sure you get the right vehicles, at the right cost, with the most effective type of vehicle finance, will make a major difference to your business. This guide takes you through the main options, giving tips on the kinds of vehicle finance that best suits your business and suggesting ways to minimise your liabilities.
- Purchase vehicle, hire-purchase vehicle or vehicle leasing?
- Commercial vehicles and company cars costs - a brief checklist
- Tax issues for all commercial vehicles and company cars
- Environmental issues for all commercial vehicles and company cars
Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are the main differences:
Buying a commercial vehicle or company car
Advantages of buying a company vehicle
• If you buy a commercial vehicle or company car outright, it is an asset to your business which you can sell at any time.
• The commercial vehicle or company car may be worth more to you than its second hand value.
• You avoid paying interest and administration charges on loans.
• You have a greater choice of commercial vehicles or company cars than you would have through some finance companies owned by manufacturers, who usually only offer their own models.
• You can claim a percentage of the vehicle's cost against tax as a capital allowance and can recover VAT on the purchase of a new commercial vehicle or company car.
Disadvantages of buying a company vehicle
• You tie up cash in the purchase of your commercial vehicle or company car which could have been used for other business needs.
• You have to make your own arrangements for servicing and maintenance of those company vehicles.
• You will have to cover the cost of depreciation and the administrative hassle of selling if you replace the company vehicle.
• You may have to pay more for a commercial vehicle or company car than through a finance company, which can arrange better deals because of their purchasing power.
Hire-purchasing commercial vehicles or company cars
Advantages of hire-purchasing a company vehicle
• You can spread the cost of purchase, reducing the impact on your cashflow.
• The package can include service and maintenance of your commercial vehicles and company cars, reducing administration costs and capping the amount per month giving more financial certainty.
• At the end of the purchase arrangement, the commercial vehicle or company car belongs to you to use or sell.
• You can arrange 'off-balance-sheet' financing, to buy vehicles without altering your company gearing. This means that you will still be able to borrow as much money as before from banks.
• Finance companies can arrange good deals through their purchasing power.
Disadvantages of hire-purchasing a company vehicle
• The cost per month will usually be higher than vehicle leasing.
• You will have to cover the cost of depreciation – how much less the commercial vehicle or company car is worth than when you bought it - if you sell.
• You may have a reduced choice of vehicles if you use a finance company owned by a manufacturer.
Leasing vehicle
Advantages of vehicle leasing
• You will not be responsible for selling the commercial vehicle or company car at the end of the lease.
• You can replace your vehicles without any further administrative burden.
• Your employees may be entitled to buy commercial vans and cars at the end of the lease.
• The average cost of vehicle leasing is less than hire-purchase.
Disadvantages of vehicle leasing
• You never own the vehicle and so your costs are not recoverable.
• A typical lease arrangement lasts for three years, giving you less flexibility to change your plans.
• You may be liable for additional costs if you have exceeded an agreed mileage or the commercial vehicles and company cars are not in good repair at the end of the lease.
Commercial vehicle, company car & equipment
