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Self Employed Car Finance

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Rates from 9.9% APR. Representative APR 19.9%. CarFinance 247 is a credit broker, not a lender.
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Car Loans | CarFinance 247

Rates from 8.9% APR. Representative Example 19.9% APR. Hire Purchase (HP) Example: Borrow £10,000 over 5 years with a £0 deposit. Representative APR 19.9% fixed rate. Monthly payment: £255.50. Option to purchase fee £10 payable. Total cost of credit: £5,340.00. Total amount repayable: £15,340.00.
Car Finance 247 Limited is a credit broker not a lender.

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Can you get car finance when self-employed?

Yes, we can help you find self-employed car finance! No matter your employment status, we’ll look to find you the best deal from our panel of lenders.

According to the Office of National Statistics, there are 4.2 million self-employed people in the UK (Aug 2021). And who could blame them? Flexible work schedules, picking and choosing the jobs you take, and being your own boss are just a few of the perks that come with self-employment.

But the trade-off for these freedoms can often be financial uncertainty. Unlike a 9-5 worker, you might not have a set payday and your salary could change every month. This unpredictability can make it tough for self-employed people to secure a car loan.

At CarFinance 247, we don’t believe that choosing a different career path should stop you from finding and funding your dream wheels. And if you’re looking for self-employed car finance, we could help!

Get a no obligation quote today.

Why is it hard to get car finance when you’re self-employed?

Finding car finance can be frustrating when you’re self-employed. Why? It’s all about uncertainty.

When you’re employed by a company and have a set salary, lenders have a good idea of how much money you’ll have and when.

Self-employment is a little more complicated; there are no guarantees. You might have some months when you’re working every day and all your invoices are paid on time, and others when projects move more slowly and you’re chasing late payments. That uncertainty can make some lenders more wary.

That’s why we work with a panel of lenders so we can help people with a range of employment circumstances find finance, including self-employed, temp, and agency workers.

Retired or unemployed and looking for a loan? We could still help!

How to prove your income if self-employed

Proving your income can be more difficult when you’re self-employed. The lenders we work with might ask you to provide three months’ worth of bank statements or invite you to use open banking, which can help lenders understand your incomings and outgoings.

If you plan to use your car for business or you’re a driving instructor or taxi driver, we can still help – just let your account manager know.
From our expert
“Car finance can be a lifeline for those with bad credit as it offers a manageable way to own a car while rebuilding your credit score with consistent, on-time payments”
Louise Haines
Louise Haines
Head of Partnerships at Car Finance 247

Self Employed Car Finance Calculator

£
£3,000£200,000
£
Term
Finance type
Vehicle price£10,000.00
Deposit£1,000.00
Amount to finance£9,000.00
APR
11.9%
Optional final payment*£4,589.42
Option-to-purchase fee£10.00
Total cost of credit£3,132.45
Total amount repayable£13,132.45
47 monthly payments of£160.49
*Optional final payment includes a £10 option-to-purchase fee. Annual mileage limit of 10,000 miles, excess mileage fee of 8p/mile.
Rates from 8.9% APR. Representative APR 19.9%.
Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) Representative Example 12.9% APR: Car price £25,000.00, Term 4 years, Deposit £2,500.00, Total amount of credit £22,500.00, Representative APR 12.9% fixed rate, Monthly payment £394.69, Option to purchase fee £10 payable, Total cost of credit £8,738.50, Total amount payable £33,748.50, Optional final payment £12,688.07, Annual mileage 8,000pa.

Self-employed with bad credit

You can still find car finance if you’re self-employed with bad credit. We understand that the unpredictable nature of working for yourself can make it tough to stick to rigid payment schedules sometimes. If you’ve missed payments or been refused finance in the past, it doesn’t have to be the end of the road.

We work with a panel of lenders including some that can help people with bad credit find a loan. This includes people with CCJs, defaults and IVAs, subject to approval. 

How do I buy a car if I’m self-employed?

While it can be more difficult to find car finance when you’re self-employed, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible! At CarFinance 247, we work with a panel of lenders including those that can help self-employed drivers find finance to buy a new car. We’ll work hard to find you the best deal from our lending panel but there are a few steps you can take to increase your chances of securing a loan that’s right for you.

  • Check your credit score
    Regularly checking your credit score is a good habit to get into, especially when applying for car finance. You can check your score for free with each of the three UK credit reference agencies. This means you can get an idea of your financial information before you apply, and you can check your credit report for any mistakes or errors that could be affecting your score. If you’re looking to build your score, make sure to check out our guide to improving your credit score.

  • Prepare proof of income
    As a self-employed worker, you might not have payslips to provide as proof of income. Instead, you’ll need to supply three months’ worth of bank statements or connect to open banking. It’s important to let your account manager know which items on your statements are related to work, especially if you have several employers. It could also be worth doing a quick banking admin check: cancel any non-essential subscriptions, review your monthly direct debits, and close any joint bank accounts shared with people with poor credit history.

  • Register on the electoral roll
    One of the quickest and easiest steps to take when applying for car finance or improve your credit score is to get on the electoral roll. It’s free and allows you to confirm your name and address online. The electoral roll is one of the first things that lenders look at when assessing your finance application and being listed could help prove your eligibility for a loan.

  • Consider open banking
    When you apply with CarFinance 247, you may be invited to opt into open banking. This gives lenders a valuable insight into your financial history and find out more recent information than the details available on your credit report. Open banking frees you from being restricted by your credit score and give lenders a fuller picture of your ability to afford and pay back a car loan.

  • Increase your deposit
    If you have a deposit available, putting down a larger sum upfront can not only reduce the amount you need to borrow but also make it easier to find a loan. Don’t have a deposit saved? No problem. At CarFinance 247, we work with a panel of lenders including those that can offer no deposit car finance and it is possible to find self-employed finance without a deposit.

Self-employed van finance

If you need new wheels for work, we could help you find finance for a van. No matter whether you’re looking for a spacious Ford Transit or a speedy Volkswagen Caddy, our panel of lenders includes those who can offer van finance for people with a variety of different circumstances, including the self-employed. Just let your account manager know that you’re looking to finance a commercial vehicle.

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Self-employed motorbike finance

Prefer to travel on two wheels instead of four? Our panel of lenders also includes those who can provide motorbike finance. Whether you’re looking for a bike for work or want to go full throttle on the weekend, we have loan options available for motorcyclists with a range of circumstances.

Why come to us for car finance if you’re self-employed?

A helping hand

At Car Finance 247, used car finance is all about helping people improve their everyday lives. We understand that building a good credit score isn’t always easy, and we believe that people should not be penalised for past mistakes. Unfortunately, some individuals find themselves trapped in a cycle, hindered by the lack of a vehicle, impeding both their commute to work and their ability to improve their credit score.

Dedicated account manager

Plus, you’ll have a dedicated account manager on hand to help guide you through the process, so there’s nothing to worry about.

Finding you the best deal

Whether it’s sorting out the school run, getting that big boot for the big shop, or a car you’re proud to park outside the office, we’ll work to find you the best deal from our panel of lenders, even if you have bad credit.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the minimum income for a car loan?

    There is no set minimum income that you need to get a car loan. Income is just one of the factors that lenders look at when deciding whether to approve you in principle. However, most lenders will run an affordability check to ensure that you’re not taking on an unsustainable level of debt. Affordability checks look at the amount of disposable income you have left after paying all your essential bills and the higher the amount left over, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to afford a monthly car payment.

  • What do you need to finance a car if self-employed?

    When applying for self-employed finance with CarFinance 247, you’ll be asked to provide the following details and documents:

    • Personal details including your full name, marital status, date of birth, and address history
    • Employment details and history
    • Estimated amount you’d like to borrow
    • Email address and phone number
    • Driving licence
    • Proof of address
    • Proof of income

  • Will applying for a car on finance affect my credit rating?

    When you apply for finance with CarFinance 247, we’ll run a soft credit search to find out if we can find you an approval in principle from one of the lenders on our panel. However, lenders will make a hard search on your credit score if you choose to proceed. Too many hard searches in a short time can negatively impact your credit score.

  • Can I get car finance without a payslip?

    Yes! Here at Car Finance 247, we understand that if you’re self-employed or own your own business, you might not receive a payslip. The good news is that you can still secure a car loan without a payslip if you can provide proof of income another way. The lenders we work with will typically ask you to provide three months’ worth of bank statements or invite you to use open banking, which can give them a good idea of your incomings and outgoings.

  • Do you need proof of income for car finance?

    Yes, in most cases, you will need proof of income to secure car finance. This is because lenders need reassurance that you’ll be able to cover your monthly repayments and still afford your everyday bills. In most cases, lenders will ask you to provide three months’ bank statements or to use open banking.

  • Do you need tax returns to finance a car?

    No. If you’re a freelancer or self-employed person, most lenders will not accept tax returns as proof of income and will ask you to supply three months’ bank statements or choose open banking instead. If you’re a sole trader and are applying on behalf of your business, then different terms and conditions will apply depending on the lender. Your dedicated account manager will be able to guide you through the process and any documents you need to supply to support your application, which may include tax returns or your latest trading accounts.

  • Can a freelancer buy a car?

    Yes! If you’re a freelancer and looking for finance to buy a car, we could help. Depending on your freelancing field, you could have a long-term contract with steady pay or have an income that fluctuates month to month. At CarFinance 247, we work with a panel of lenders including those who can help freelancers find a car loan. You will need to provide proof of income to show that you’ll be able to keep up with your repayments. We understand that some months you may earn more than others so it’s a good idea to check your past earnings for any seasonal trends and keep this in mind when applying.

  • Will my repayments be higher if I have bad credit?

    The rate and terms you’ll be offered for self-employed car finance will depend on a range of factors including your credit score, how much you’d like to borrow and the car you’d like to buy. It’s not a one size fits all, which is why our team at CarFinance 247 are here to guide you through the process and find the deal that’s right for you.

    Start with our bad credit finance calculator to get an estimate of what your monthly repayments might look like. Just select the bad credit banding and adjust the sliders until you choose the loan amount and term length that best suits you.

  • What is the criteria to apply for self-employed car finance?

    You can apply for finance if you’re over 18 years old and have a minimum of three years’ address history in the UK. If you’re self-employed, you may need to provide proof of income in the form of three months’ bank statements or connect to open banking.

  • What types of car finance are available if self-employed?

    At CarFinance 247, we can help you secure one of two main types of car finance:

  • Can I finance a van for commercial use?

    Yes, you can finance a van for commercial use. Your account manager can help you find a van that’s suitable for your work, whether you need something big enough to hold all your tools or nimble enough to navigate narrow rural roads.

  • What vehicles can I finance through Car Finance 247?

    Car Finance 247 works with a panel of lenders, which means we can help you find finance for a range of different vehicles, including used cars, vans, motorbikes, and motorhomes.

  • How much can I borrow?

    At Car Finance 247, we work with lenders can finance amounts between £2,000 and £100,000.