Yes — you can usually lease a car or van with bad credit. All credit is considered, though it is considered, not guaranteed, and checks still apply. Because DriveOn owns its vehicles and runs its own in-house checks, a low score does not decide the outcome on its own. Making an enquiry won't affect your credit score, so there is no downside to finding out where you stand.
If you have searched this question, you have probably been turned down somewhere, or you are bracing to be. This guide explains what bad-credit leasing really is, how it is judged, and how to give yourself the best shot — without the sales gloss. When you are ready to see real vehicles and costs, the bad credit car & van leasing page is where to go next.
Can you lease a car or van with bad credit?
In most cases, yes. Traditional car finance leans heavily on your credit score, which is why a rough history so often means a flat no. Short-term leasing with an owner-operator like DriveOn works differently. You are paying to use the vehicle for a fixed term, so the question is less "what is your score" and more "can you comfortably afford the monthly payment". That shift is exactly why people who have been refused finance still get a yes here.
It is not automatic, and nobody honest will promise you it is. But with more than 100 cars and vans on the fleet, there is usually a vehicle that fits both what you need and what you can spend.
How does bad-credit leasing actually work?
The steps are simple, and there is no credit agreement to sign because you are leasing, not borrowing:
- You tell us what you are after — an enquiry only, with no impact on your credit file.
- We talk through the vehicles that fit and give you a realistic monthly cost.
- If you want to go ahead, we run our own check and confirm the vehicle and term.
- You pay a £500, non-refundable, credited in full to your initial payment, which comes off your first payment rather than being an extra charge.
- You drive the vehicle for your fixed 6 to 24 month term, then hand it back — nothing to sell, no balloon payment.
If you want the full walkthrough, our how leasing works guide covers every step.
What counts as bad credit?
"Bad credit" is a broad label, and plenty of people who assume they have it are in better shape than they think. It usually covers one or more of these:
- Missed or late payments on past accounts
- Defaults or a County Court Judgment (CCJ)
- A recent finance or loan refusal
- A past IVA, bankruptcy, or debt management plan
Separately, if you have never had credit at all — new to the UK, or simply never borrowed — that is a thin file rather than a bad one. Our non-status vehicle leasing page is written for exactly that situation.
Will it affect my credit score to apply?
No. This is the part most people get wrong. An enquiry is a conversation, not a credit application, so it leaves no footprint on your file and cannot move your score. You can ask questions, get a rough idea of the monthly cost, and change your mind, all with zero impact. A full check only happens later, once you have decided you actually want to go ahead — so there is nothing to lose by simply asking.
What do lenders check vs what DriveOn checks?
This is the heart of why a refusal elsewhere does not carry across to us. A finance lender is deciding whether to hand you a credit agreement. DriveOn is deciding whether to lease you one of its own vehicles. Different question, different answer.
A finance lender weighs
- Your credit score and full history
- A hard search that shows on your file
- Total borrowing you already hold
- Whether to lend you the value of the car
DriveOn weighs
- Whether the monthly payment is affordable for you now
- Your recent situation, not old history
- A valid UK licence and proof of address
- Whether the vehicle and term genuinely suit you
Self-employed or with an income that varies? That is not a barrier either — our self-employed car and van hire page explains how we look at it.
How do I improve my chances?
You do not need a perfect file to get a yes, but a few simple things stack the odds in your favour:
- Be honest about your situation — context on a default or CCJ helps us, it does not hurt you.
- Pick a vehicle whose monthly payment sits comfortably inside your budget.
- Have the basics ready: UK licence, proof of address, and proof of income.
- Get on the electoral roll and keep recent payments on time where you can.
Delivery is nationwide too, charged at £1.50 per mile exc VAT from Shrewsbury, so you do not have to be local to lease from us. When you are ready, tell us where you are and we will take it from there.