Independent ranking
Best UK business loans for transport and logistics with Time Finance
Independent UK lender rankings matched to your file. Soft credit search only, post-decline routes included; typical decision times vary by product and lender and are stated in the ranking below.
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Time Finance names transport as one of its three core sector specialisms (alongside manufacturing and hospitality), and Close Brothers separately names transport and motor trade among its own specialisms, so the two overlap on exactly the vehicle and haulage profile this listicle covers. Our transport sector guide already names Aldermore and Time Finance directly as the specialists comfortable with vehicle classes mainstream banks avoid, and Paragon Bank carries the same transport specialism within its asset-finance book. This FundBiz ranking assesses 4 UK lenders for "best uk business loans for transport and logistics with time finance", weighting primarily on vehicle and hgv asset-finance specialism (30%), contract-revenue working-capital fit (20%), eligibility breadth (20%) (see the full weighted criteria below). Scores are our own desk-research assessment built from the FCA Register, Companies House filings and each lender's published product criteria, not customer reviews and not paid placement. Inclusion is never paid for: FundBiz is paid by lenders on completed funding, not for a verdict, and commission never changes a position. Match against the panel in two minutes with a soft search only.
Source: FundBiz methodology, last reviewed 2026-08-03. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).
Founder & Managing Director, Muswell Rose, FundBiz
Adam is the founder and managing director of Muswell Rose and a founder of Best Business Loans Ltd, the company behind FundBiz. His background runs through commercial finance, mortgages and fintech, including as managing director of an invoice finance business. He oversees FundBiz's specialty finance comparison and the logic behind how businesses are matched to lenders.
Last reviewed: 3 August 2026
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Asset finance, invoice finance, vehicle finance · £10k to £2m · 2 to 5 business days
Named sector specialism in transport, manufacturing and hospitality, used for SIC-led routing.
Read full Time Finance review → -
Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans · £25k to £25m+ · 5 to 14 business days
Named sector specialisms in print, transport, manufacturing and motor trade.
Read full Close Brothers review → -
Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages · £25k to £5m · 5 to 10 business days
Named directly on our transport sector guide for vehicle classes mainstream banks decline.
Read full Aldermore review → -
Asset finance + commercial property + development finance · £25k to £25m · 5 to 15 business days
Sector specialism in transport, manufacturing and care within its asset-finance book.
Read full Paragon Bank review →
Side-by-side comparison
| Lender | Typical rate | Ticket | Decision | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time Finance | Bespoke | £10k to £2m | 2 to 5 business days | Named sector specialism in transport, manufacturing and hospitality, used for... |
| Close Brothers | Bespoke, quoted at offer | £25k to £25m+ | 5 to 14 business days | Named sector specialisms in print, transport, manufacturing and motor trade. |
| Aldermore | From 7.5% APR equivalent | £25k to £5m | 5 to 10 business days | Named directly on our transport sector guide for vehicle classes mainstream... |
| Paragon Bank | Bespoke | £25k to £25m | 5 to 15 business days | Sector specialism in transport, manufacturing and care within its asset-finance... |
What is the best business loan for a UK transport or logistics company?
Time Finance names transport among its three core sector specialisms. Close Brothers separately names transport and motor trade, Paragon Bank names transport and care, and Aldermore is named directly on our transport sector guide for vehicle classes mainstream banks avoid.
How is a UK HGV or van fleet usually financed?
Vehicle asset finance (hire purchase or lease) against the vehicle itself, so ageing stock and driver-shortage exposure weigh less heavily than they would on an unsecured loan. Asset refinance can also release equity from vehicles a fleet already owns outright.
What rate should a transport business expect?
Aldermore prices from 7.5% APR equivalent. Time Finance, Close Brothers and Paragon Bank all quote bespoke, case by case, since pricing depends heavily on vehicle age, contract security and fleet size.
How fast can a transport business get a decision?
Time Finance typically decides in 2 to 5 business days, the fastest of this panel. Aldermore takes 5 to 10 business days, Close Brothers 5 to 14 business days, and Paragon Bank 5 to 15 business days.
What stops a transport business getting finance?
Operator-licence concerns, weak resale valuations on aged vehicles, and heavy reliance on a single contract are the most common reasons a lender declines. A clean licence and a diversified contract book improve the odds materially.
How we ranked these
We weight vehicle and hgv asset-finance specialism (30%), contract-revenue working-capital fit (20%), eligibility breadth (20%), decision speed (15%), post-decline acceptance (15%). Rankings reflect our published editorial methodology, not any commercial arrangement. See our /methodology/ for the full basis.
Methodology weights
Weights specific to "Best UK business loans for transport and logistics with Time Finance":
- Vehicle and HGV asset-finance specialism30%
- Contract-revenue working-capital fit20%
- Eligibility breadth20%
- Decision speed15%
- Post-decline acceptance15%
Read the full methodology for how we score and rank every lender on the FundBiz panel.
Also considered
- Haydock Finance (hard-asset HGV and plant specialist)
Not for
Operators with active operator-licence concerns; single-contract concentration risk.
Check eligibility in two minutes
Tell us ticket size, trading history and sector. We match you against the FundBiz specialty panel and surface the lenders most likely to approve your file, including post-decline routes. Limited companies, LLPs and partnerships of 4+.
Open the eligibility checker →Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director, Best Business Loans Ltd. Last reviewed: 2026-08-03. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).