The best vans for business leasing: how to choose the right one

The monthly cost of a leased transport vehicle is not only determined by the price. The residual value, size and how well the vehicle suits the job play at least as much of a role.

If you choose the right type, you won't pay for space you never use. Here's how you think.

Summary

• Choose a small van if you mostly run tools and smaller materials.
• Choose a mid-size van if you need space for building boards and shelving.
• Choose a large van only if you load volume or pallet every week.
• Choose a pickup truck if you pull heavy trailers or drive a lot on gravel roads and off-road.
• Choose a popular model. It often holds its value better, and that lowers the leasing fee.
• Expect to pay between SEK 4,000 and SEK 7,000 per month. excluding VAT for a standard used transport vehicle, without increased initial rent.

What job, what car?

Tap on the car type to see examples of models.

You are…	Look at
Electrician, plumber or service	Small vanFor example, Volkswagen Caddy, Ford Transit Connect, Toyota Proace City, Citroën Berlingo and Renault Kangoo.
Carpenter, painter or floor layer	Mid-size vanFor example, Volkswagen Transporter, Ford Transit Custom, Mercedes-Benz Vito, Toyota Proace and Renault Trafic.
Construction, moving or bidding	Large vanFor example, Volkswagen Crafter, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Renault Master, Ford Transit and Fiat Ducato.
Land, forest or facility	PickupFor example, Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Volkswagen Amarok, Isuzu D-max and Mitsubishi L200.
Drive mostly short distances in the city	Electric vanFor example Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo, Ford E-Transit Custom, Mercedes-Benz eVito, Renault Kangoo E-Tech and Toyota Proace Electric.

Will a small van fit?

Small vans are often built on the same basis as a passenger car. They are easy to park, comfortable to drive and use less fuel than larger ones.

Volkswagen Caddy is one of the most common transport vehicles in Sweden, approximately every tenth used transport vehicle sold is a Caddy. That makes it easy to find, easy to service and easy to resell.

The cargo space is enough for tools, spare parts and small materials. If you need more, many models are available in a longer version.

Who is a small van suitable for?

Electricians, HVAC fitters and service technicians who drive a lot but load little.

Advantages of a small van

• Lowest monthly cost
• Easy to park in town
• Economical in operation
• Large selection on the second-hand market

Disadvantages of small van

• Short loading length, entire building boards rarely fit
• Lower maximum load
• Crowded with full shelving

Will a medium-sized van fit?

Medium-sized vans, such as Volkswagen Transporter and Ford Transit Custom, are the workhorses of craftsmen. It is also the largest group among used transport vehicles.

In the long version, they often accommodate entire building boards., and there is plenty of space for shelving and tool boxes.

They are also comfortable on long distances and can usually tow a trailer.

Who is a mid-size van suitable for?

Carpenters, painters, floor layers and others who need space for both materials and tools.

Advantages of a mid-size van

• Space for records and decor
• Comfortable on long journeys
• Usually handles towing
• Largest selection of all sizes

Disadvantages of mid-size vans

• Higher monthly cost than a small
• More difficult to park in the city
• The height can stop in parking garages

Do you need a large van?

Large vans, such as Volkswagen Crafter and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, often have standing room in the cargo area and can accommodate several pallets. They are built for the person who fills the car every day.

Check the total weight before leasing. Above 3,500 kg, a C1 driving license is required, and many large vans are available in both versions.

A large van costs more in both leasing and fuel, so it only pays off if you actually use the volume.

Who is a large van suitable for?

Construction companies, moving companies, courier companies and anyone who transports large volumes or pallets.

Advantages of a large van

• Often standing height in the cargo area
• Accommodates pallets and large volumes
• High maximum load

Disadvantages of large van

• Maximum monthly cost
• May require C1 driving license
• Unwieldy in cramped urban environments

When is pickup the right choice?

A pickup truck is built for gravel roads, cold weather and heavy hauling. Most have four-wheel drive, and many can tow up to 3.5 tons.

If you tow a machine trailer or drive to construction sites far from the asphalt, the pickup truck is hard to beat. Just keep in mind that your driving license should be sufficient for the trailer, for heavy trailers a BE license is often required.

The cargo area is open. If you need to keep tools dry and locked, the bed needs a cover.

Who is a pickup truck suitable for?

Land and construction companies, forestry companies, agriculture and anyone who drives a lot on gravel roads.

Advantages of pickup trucks

• Four-wheel drive and high ground clearance
• High towing weight
• Withstands tough roads and winter
• Space for co-workers in the cab

Disadvantages of pickup trucks

• Open cargo area without cover
• Higher consumption than a van
• Smaller cargo volume

How much does it cost to lease a used car to the company?

For a standard used transport vehicle, the leasing fee usually ends up being 4,000 to 7,000 SEK per month excluding VAT. This applies to cars for approximately SEK 220,000 to 380,000 excluding VAT, with a 3-year lease, 55 % residual value and no increased first rent.

If you pay 20 % of the car's price as an increased first rent, the same cars will cost approximately 2,600 to 4,600 SEK per month. This means you pay more at the beginning and less each month.

Calculation example: A transport vehicle for 223,200 SEK excluding VAT costs 4,091 SEK per month without increased initial rent. With 44,640 SEK in initial rent, it becomes 2,679 SEK per month. Set-up fee and air freight fee are added.

How VAT affects the cost

The amounts above are exclusive of VAT. How much of the VAT the company gets back depends on how the car is built.

A pickup truck or a truck with a flatbed, where the cab is a separate part, is not considered a passenger car under the VAT Act. If it is registered as a truck, the company is usually allowed to deduct the full VAT on the leasing fee.

However, a van weighing no more than 3,500 kg is considered a passenger car in the VAT Act, unless the driver's cab is a completely separate body part. A partition is not enough, so for most vans the company is only allowed to deduct half the VAT on the leasing fee.

A van with a fee of 4,000 SEK excluding VAT therefore costs the company approximately 4,500 SEK per month. The deduction also requires that the car is driven more than 1000 km per year in the business. If the total weight is over 3,500 kg, the restriction does not apply.

The Simplification Council has proposed that all light trucks should be fully VAT deductible, but the proposal has not become law. Check with your accounting consultant what applies to your particular vehicle.

Do you have a car to trade in?

The value of a trade-in can be used as an increased first rent. This will lower your monthly fee without you having to take money out of your pocket.

Consider VAT here too. If the company was allowed to deduct VAT when the old car was purchased, you should charge VAT when it is exchanged, and then one fifth of the trade-in value is VAT that goes to the Swedish Tax Agency. If you were not allowed to deduct VAT when purchasing, no VAT is charged.

En bil som företaget leasar i dag ägs av finansbolaget. Den kan därför inte bytas in rakt av, utan lämnas tillbaka eller löses ut enligt avtalet.

The residual value determines the monthly fee.

När du leasar betalar du i grunden för hur mycket bilen tappar i värde under perioden, plus ränta. En bil som håller värdet bra ger därför lägre månadsavgift.

Populära modeller är lättare att sälja vidare och brukar hålla värdet bättre än ovanliga. Det är ett av skälen till att samma bilar dyker upp i nästan alla hantverkares firmor.

Hos oss väljer du en leasingperiod på 1 till 3 år, förhöjd första hyra från 0 kr och restvärde från 20 %. Du räknar på det direkt på varje bil under corporate leasing of used transport vehicles.

How to choose the right one: four questions

1. Vad lastar du en vanlig vecka?
   Verktyg och smådelar: liten skåpbil. Skivor och inredning: mellanstor. Pall och stora volymer: stor.
2. Drar du släp eller kör i terräng?
   Ja: titta på en pickup eller en skåpbil med fyrhjulsdrift. Nej: tvåhjulsdrift räcker oftast.
3. Hur långt kör du per dag?
   Korta sträckor med laddning på jobbet: en eldriven skåpbil kan bli billigast. Långt eller med tung last: diesel.
4. Hur ofta vill du byta bil?
   Byter du ofta: välj en populär modell och en kortare leasingperiod. Behåller du länge: överväg att köpa.

Popular vans to lease

Populära små skåpbilar är Volkswagen Caddy, Ford Transit Connect och Toyota Proace City.

Populära mellanstora skåpbilar är Volkswagen Transporter, Ford Transit Custom och Mercedes-Benz Vito.

Populära stora skåpbilar är Volkswagen Crafter, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter och Renault Master.

Populära pickuper är Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger och Volkswagen Amarok.

Vill du räkna på en bil? Se alla begagnade transportbilar för företag, eller bara skåpbilar and pickuper.