Yes, you can hire a car or van from DriveOn if you're self-employed. You don't need payslips or a finished set of accounts the way a finance lender demands. We own the vehicles and run our own checks in-house, so we work out whether the monthly payment is affordable from what you can actually show us: recent bank statements and the income coming in. Sole traders, freelancers, contractors, CIS subcontractors, company directors and brand-new businesses all hire from us.
Being self-employed shouldn't shut you out of a decent car or van, but the finance system is built around employed people with a payslip every month. Miss that box and a computer says no, even when your income is perfectly healthy. DriveOn works differently. You're hiring the vehicle from us on fixed 6–24 month terms, not borrowing to buy it, so we can weigh up your real situation instead of a fixed lending template. This page is about proving your income when you work for yourself. If it's your credit history that's the worry, our bad credit car hire page deals with that side.
Can I hire a car if I'm self-employed?
Yes, and it's one of the main reasons people come to us. Sole trader, freelancer invoicing a few clients, or a director drawing dividends — we hire to you the same as anyone else. The question we're answering isn't whether your accounts tick a lender's boxes; it's whether you can comfortably cover the monthly payment. We keep more than 100 cars and vans, so there's usually something that fits both the job and the budget. Have a look through the cars we've got in stock and note the ones you like for when you enquire.
What do I need to prove my income?
Nothing as strict as a mortgage or a finance application. Usually a few months of business or personal bank statements is enough to show money coming in and that the payment fits. If your income moves around from month to month, that's normal for self-employment and we're used to it — an average across a few months tells us what we need. Alongside that, we'll want the basics anyone needs to hire:
- A valid UK driving licence
- Proof of your current address
- Recent bank statements showing your income
- Fully comprehensive insurance before you drive away
My business is new and I don't have full accounts — can I still hire?
Often, yes. A finance lender typically wants one to two years of filed accounts, which rules out anyone who's just started. We don't work to that. If you've been trading a few months and can show the work is coming in, we can look at it. New ventures, a side business going full-time, someone who's just gone limited — all fine to enquire. We'd rather see recent bank statements than wait for a year-end that's still months away.
Can a sole trader hire a van for work?
Yes. Sole traders hire vans from us all the time — tradespeople, couriers, mobile mechanics, anyone who needs a work vehicle without buying one outright. The van goes out on the same fixed 6 to 24 month terms as our cars, and you can use it for the job and for personal driving. Browse the vans in stock to see what suits your trade. A van you use for work can usually be treated as a business expense too, though how that works depends on your situation, so check with your accountant. If you need more than one vehicle or want to run a fleet, our business hire page is set up for that.
How is this different from car finance?
With finance you take out a credit agreement and buy the vehicle over three or four years, and the lender leans hard on payslips, accounts and your credit score to decide. With DriveOn you're hiring it: a fixed monthly payment, drive it for your agreed term, then hand it back. No credit agreement in your name, no balloon payment, nothing to sell on at the end. Because it's a hire, we can say yes to plenty of self-employed people a finance company turns away. Here's the short version:
Car finance (PCP or HP)
- Wants payslips you can't provide
- Often needs one to two years of accounts
- A credit agreement in your name
- New or variable income counts against you
Hiring with DriveOn
- No payslips needed
- Recent bank statements are enough
- A rental, not a credit agreement
- Affordability matters more than your profile
If you want to understand the arrangement before you enquire, our guide on how it works walks through it step by step.
Can you deliver?
Yes. We're based in Shrewsbury and deliver across the UK, so you don't have to be local to hire from us. Delivery is charged at £1.50 per mile exc VAT from Shrewsbury, with home or work delivery available, or you're welcome to collect the vehicle from us. Tell us where you are when you enquire and we'll sort the details.