Business car leasing - tailored to your fleet

Why lease your business cars through IVF

Intelligent Vehicle Finance is a specialist business leasing broker, not a price-comparison site. The difference matters more on a business lease than anywhere else, because the right answer depends on your company, not just the car: how the business is structured, whether you are VAT registered, who will drive the vehicle, and what your accountant will want to see at year end. We start with those questions, then quote.

Because we broker across a panel of more than 20 funders, we can match your business to the funder that actually suits it. Different funders take different views of newer companies, sole traders and larger fleets - a single-lender quote can never do that. You also get a named account manager who handles your quotes, orders and renewals personally, so a growing fleet never means starting the conversation from scratch. Intelligent Vehicle Finance is also part of Global Vehicle Group, whose brands have funded more than 70,000 vehicles - so behind the personal service sits genuine group scale.

And because we arrange business and personal leasing under one roof, a director who wants a company car for the tax position and a personal car for home can sort both in one call. Browse all our car leasing offers, or request a callback and we will take it from there.

Company-car tax and the electric advantage

If a director or employee uses a company car privately, benefit-in-kind tax applies - and the rate depends almost entirely on the car's emissions. This is where the strongest tax case we arrange for directors sits: a fully electric company car is taxed at just 4% of its list price in 2026/27, against up to 37% for an equivalent petrol or diesel. On a higher-rate taxpayer, that gap can be worth thousands of pounds a year in take-home pay.

The electric rate rises on a published, gentle trajectory - 4% in 2026/27, 5% in 2027/28 and 7% in 2028/29 - so it stays a fraction of the combustion rates and you can plan around it years ahead. Many of our SME customers now run the company car as an electric lease for exactly this reason, and our electric car leasing hub covers range, charging and the models that suit company use.

The wider business tax picture helps too. VAT-registered businesses can typically reclaim 50% of the VAT on the finance rental, or up to 100% where the car is used solely for business, depending on circumstances. Lease rentals are also typically an allowable expense against taxable profits, with the exact treatment depending on the car's CO2 emissions. We are vehicle leasing specialists, not tax advisers, so confirm your position with your accountant - but we will gladly work the leasing figures through with you.

How business car leasing works

Leasing a business car through IVF is straightforward:

1. Tell us about the business. Call us or request a callback. We ask how the business is structured, who will drive the car, your mileage, budget and timescale.
2. We quote across the panel. We compare more than 20 funders, match your company profile to the right one, and check live stock and factory-order timescales the same day.
3. We arrange the finance. As an FCA-authorised broker we set out clear written options showing the monthly rental, initial rental, contract term, mileage and any applicable fees - so your accountant sees exactly what the business is signing.
4. Free UK delivery. Your new car is delivered to your door, or your driver's, at no extra cost.
5. Hand it back at the end. Return the car within the agreed mileage and fair wear and tear - no balloon payment, no resale risk - and we line the renewal up before the term ends.

Helping a company director choose a tax-efficient electric car

A company director wanted a premium electric car through their limited company but was unsure whether business leasing, personal leasing or another funding route made most sense. They wanted something comfortable, high-specification and suitable for both business and personal use, whilst keeping monthly costs predictable.

We talked through their vehicle needs, annual mileage, charging plans, desired specification and timescale, and explained the key leasing points to discuss with their accountant, including VAT treatment and benefit-in-kind considerations. Once the brief was clear, we compared suitable electric car lease options from our funder panel and helped the director choose a vehicle that fitted their needs and budget. The result: a clear, confident decision without having to search the market alone.

Best suited to: company directors considering an electric car through a limited company. Speak to a business leasing specialist on 01752 429950.

Helping a growing SME take control of its company vehicles

A Plymouth-based SME came to us with a small but growing fleet of cars and vans. Their vehicles had been arranged at different times, through different suppliers, with no clear renewal plan in place. The directors wanted more control over monthly costs, cleaner renewal dates and a better way to plan future vehicle changes.

We reviewed their current vehicles, contract end dates, mileage, driver needs and likely replacement timings, then compared suitable business lease options across our panel of funders and helped them build a more structured plan for the next stage of their fleet. The result: a clearer vehicle strategy, fewer last-minute decisions and a single point of contact for future renewals.

Best suited to: SMEs with three or more vehicles. Book a free fleet review.

Helping a sole trader replace an ageing vehicle

A sole trader contacted us because their current vehicle was becoming unreliable and no longer suited the image they wanted to present to customers. They needed a new vehicle for business use but wanted to understand whether business leasing was available to them and what information a funder would need.

We explained how business leasing can work for sole traders, subject to status and funder approval, then helped them narrow the search by monthly budget, mileage, vehicle type, contract length and delivery timescale. After comparing available options, we helped them move forward with a suitable lease quotation and kept them updated through the order process. The result: a simpler route into a newer vehicle, with one person guiding them from enquiry to delivery.

Best suited to: sole traders who want a newer car without buying outright. Check your business leasing options.

Who can take out a business car lease?

Business contract hire is available to limited companies, LLPs, partnerships and sole traders. Funders take different views of trading history and company age, which is one reason we broker across a panel of more than 20 - newer businesses are matched to funders comfortable with them. All leasing is subject to status.

What does a business car lease include?

Your fixed monthly rental covers the use of the car for an agreed term and mileage, with road tax included for the term and free UK delivery. Optional maintenance packages can be added to fix servicing costs too. Insurance is arranged separately. We set out clear written options showing the monthly rental, initial rental, contract term, mileage and any applicable fees before the business commits.

Can my business reclaim VAT on a car lease?

VAT-registered businesses can typically reclaim 50% of the VAT on the finance rental, or up to 100% where the car is used solely for business, depending on circumstances. If you add a maintenance package, the VAT treatment on that element can differ. We are leasing specialists rather than tax advisers, so confirm your own position with your accountant.

Are business car lease payments tax-deductible?

Lease rentals are typically an allowable business expense against taxable profits, with the exact treatment depending on the car's CO2 emissions. Your accountant can confirm how a specific car would be treated for your business - and we will provide the written figures they need to do that quickly.

How much is company-car tax on a leased business car?

If a company car is available for private use, benefit-in-kind tax applies whether the car is leased or owned, and the rate depends on the car's emissions. A fully electric company car is taxed at 4% of list price in 2026/27, rising to 5% in 2027/28 and 7% in 2028/29, against up to 37% for an equivalent petrol or diesel. Rates are set by HMRC and subject to change.

Is it better to lease a car through my business or personally?

It depends on the car and how it will be used. A business lease usually makes the strongest case on a low-emission car: with a fully electric car, benefit-in-kind is just 4% of list price in 2026/27, the business can typically reclaim half the VAT on the finance rental and the rentals are typically an allowable expense. On a higher-emission car, where benefit-in-kind can reach 37%, leasing personally - with no company-car tax to pay - can work out better overall. We arrange business and personal leasing under one roof and will run both sets of figures for you, and your accountant can confirm the tax position for your circumstances.

How quickly can a business lease car be delivered?

We check live stock and factory-order timescales the same day you enquire, so you know what is realistically drivable now and what needs ordering. In-stock cars can be arranged quickly; factory orders take longer and we give you the honest lead time up front. Every car comes with free UK delivery to your door.

What happens at the end of a business car lease?

You hand the car back within the agreed mileage and fair wear and tear - there is no balloon payment and no resale risk, so the business is never exposed to the used-car market. If the vehicle is still needed, we line up the replacement before the term ends, and for multi-vehicle fleets we consolidate renewals so they are managed properly.