Eligibility & decisions
Van leasing with no filed accounts
A limited company can lease a van with no filed accounts. First accounts are not due at Companies House until 21 months after incorporation, so having none is a timetable, not a warning sign. We assess trading evidence and affordability.
Your agreement is with FleetMe · we confirm your quote in writing · new limited companies considered
Why can a real trading company have no accounts on file?
A private limited company must deliver its first accounts to Companies House within 21 months of incorporation — or three months after its accounting reference date if the first period runs longer than 12 months, whichever is later. After that, accounts are due nine months after each year end. (Companies House guidance, GOV.UK, checked 2026.)
The implication is worth sitting with: a company can trade profitably for well over a year and still show a completely empty filing history. A rule that demands "two years of filed accounts" treats that company exactly the same as one that has never traded at all, which is why plenty of good businesses get turned away for nothing worse than being new.
We do not treat an empty filing history as an answer in itself. It only means the evidence has to come from somewhere else.
What do we look at instead of filed accounts?
Money in and money out. Three to six months of business bank statements show what the business actually does: what comes in, how regularly, what already goes out, and whether a monthly rental fits alongside it.
Work you can prove. A signed contract, a subcontract agreement, a framework, a purchase order or a run of paid invoices is direct evidence about the months ahead — something no set of accounts can give you, because accounts describe the year behind.
The directors. With no company history, the people behind it matter more. Personal credit profiles, address history and whether you have run a business in this sector before all carry weight.
The shape of the deal. A larger initial rental, a longer term, a sensible vehicle and an honest mileage all reduce the exposure — and every one of them is within your control.
Which evidence does the most work?
If you send one thing, send the business bank statements. If you send three, send the statements, your management accounts straight out of whatever bookkeeping software you use, and the contract or purchase order behind the work.
VAT returns help if you are registered, because they are filed with HMRC rather than written by you. So does a confirmation statement filed on time — small, but it shows the company is being run properly.
Where something looks odd, explain it before we ask. A quiet month, a large one-off payment, a change of bank: a sentence of context turns a question mark into a fact.
What can change a marginal answer?
When an application sits on the line, the levers are almost always the same three. Put more down as an initial rental. Choose a less expensive vehicle, or a longer term, so the monthly rental sits lower against the evidenced income. Or offer a director’s personal guarantee — a real commitment, and worth reading about properly before you offer it.
We will tell you which of those would make the difference, if any would. If none would, we will tell you that too rather than leaving you to guess.
How we work: FleetMe supplies the vehicle and the agreement is with us. Limited companies and LLPs hire on business contract hire over 24 to 60 months; individuals and sole traders hire on short-term rental for up to 89 days. Quotes are indicative until your vehicle, term, mileage and monthly rental are confirmed in writing.
Who we can help: We work best with good and fair credit profiles. New limited companies with no trading history are genuinely considered — commercial underwriting looks at the business, not just years of accounts. Adverse credit is reviewed case by case and we will always tell you honestly if we cannot help.
General information about business vehicle leasing. It is not tax, accounting or legal advice — your accountant should confirm how any of this applies to your business.
Questions, answered
Can I lease a van with no accounts filed?
Yes. Filed accounts are one form of evidence, not a requirement. Business bank statements, management accounts, VAT returns and signed contracts show the same thing for a company that has not yet reached its first filing deadline.
When are a new company’s first accounts due?
Within 21 months of incorporation, or three months after the accounting reference date if the first period runs longer than 12 months, whichever is later. After that, nine months after each year end. (Companies House guidance, GOV.UK, checked 2026.)
How many months of bank statements do you need?
Three to six months of business bank statements is the usual ask. If the company has been trading for less than that, send what exists and tell us what is contracted to come in.
Does having no accounts mean a higher monthly rental?
Not automatically. It can mean a larger initial rental is asked for, or a shorter list of suitable vehicles, because that is how the exposure is balanced. Your quote sets out the figures in writing before you commit to anything.
What if my accounts are overdue rather than not yet due?
That is a different situation and it does count against you, because it is visible at Companies House and feeds the company credit file. Filing them is usually the single most useful thing you can do before applying.
Tell us about the business
One short form covering the vehicle, the term and the mileage you need. We come back with a written quote — usually the same working day — and we will tell you honestly if we cannot help.
Thanks — your enquiry is in.
We’ll go through what you need and come back with a written quote, usually the same working day. Your agreement would be with FleetMe — we supply the vehicle, and we confirm it in writing before anything is agreed.
What happens next
- 1 We read what you sent us. We check the vehicle, the length and the mileage you asked for, and work out what we can do at that specification.
- 2 We come back with a written quote. Usually the same working day. It sets out the vehicle, how long you have it, the mileage, the initial rental and the monthly figure — ex VAT with the VAT-inclusive figure alongside.
- 3 You decide. Nothing is committed until you have that in writing and you are happy to go ahead. If we can’t help, we’ll tell you honestly and say why.
Nothing is committed at this stage, and if we can’t help we’ll tell you honestly rather than leave you waiting.
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Guide information · last reviewed September 2026. Every business is different, so nothing here is a decision. We assess each enquiry on its own facts and confirm the outcome to you directly.