8 min read. April 14, 2022 – by Joe Camberato
Commercial vehicle loans, also known as commercial auto loans, are a financing solution that allow you to buy the vehicles you need to run your business. Out of all the commercial auto funding products on the market, SBA commercial vehicle loans tend to feature the most favorable rates and terms.
If you’re looking to take advantage of the opportunities SBA commercial vehicle loans can offer, it’s helpful to have a basic understanding of how this financing works and what you’ll need to qualify.
A commercial vehicle loan is a type of financing that’s used to purchase vehicles for your business. Funds can help you buy a new automobile, used vehicle, or make upgrades and repairs on existing machinery.
Commercial vehicle loans fall under the larger umbrella of equipment financing. With equipment financing, your loan is secured by the underlying asset you are purchasing. For example, if you’re hoping to buy a car, the lender will hold onto the title of your vehicle until you pay off your debt in full.
If for some reason you’re unable to make your payments or you fall significantly behind your payment cycle, the lender has the right to seize your vehicle in order to recover their losses.
Most commercial vehicle loans feature monthly installments paid back over a set period of time that incorporates a portion of the principal amount plus interest.
You can use a commercial vehicle loan to buy a new vehicle, buy a used vehicle, or make repairs on an existing vehicle. These can include cars, trucks, vans, and more.
Whether you need a car to meet with clients or a truck to make deliveries – commercial vehicle loans give you the opportunity to own the vehicle outright. This enables you to use your vehicle for business purposes accordingly.
Leasing a vehicle typically has a lower upfront cost than commercial vehicle financing. However, leasing becomes more expensive with time and can feature restrictions on vehicle use.
Financing on the other hand allows you to build equity in an asset. Your business can use the vehicle as you see fit and save on the long run.
SBA loans have some of the highest funding amounts and lowest interest rates on the market – making them a popular choice for commercial vehicle loans.
It’s important to note that there’s no such thing as a SBA commercial vehicle loan in and of itself. Instead, you’ll need to apply for SBA financing, and if you qualify, you can use the proceeds the same way you would with a standard commercial vehicle loan.
The SBA does maintain strict qualifications for who can apply for SBA commercial vehicle loans. You’ll need to meet credit score and revenue requirements. But most importantly, you’ll need to meet the SBA’s size standards for what constitutes a small business.
The requirements for SBA commercial vehicle loans are the same standard requirements you’ll find when you apply for any type of SBA financing.
When you apply for the financing, the SBA lender you are working with will look into various areas and characteristics of your business. They’ll review your business’s income, your operating location, as well as the character of owners involved . At a minimum, your business will need to meet the following requirements to qualify for SBA commercial vehicle loans.
In some cases, you may be able to find exceptions to these requirements. For example, there are occasions when a for-profit subsidiary of a non-profit organization may be eligible for an SBA loan. Also, business owners enrolled in a repayment plan for federal tax debt or federal student loans may still qualify for funding.
Most importantly, the SBA will also want to make sure your cash flow is strong enough to repay the loan. Your business should be able to demonstrate positive cash flow for at least two years. Although collateral is typically required for SBA financing, you should be able to use the vehicle you are trying to finance to meet these requirements.
Generally speaking, the average interest rate on commercial vehicle loans is between 4% to 12%. The exact amount you’ll pay will depend on your financial credentials, such as your credit score, business’s revenue, debt-to-income ratio, your down payment amount, and more.
There can also be many variations depending on the lender you choose to work with.
Banks tend to have the lowest interest rates – between 4% to 8%. However, banks also have some of the lowest approval rates on the market, and it can be exceptionally difficult to secure financing from this type of lender.
SBA loans are another ideal financing solution with low interest rates – between 3.25% to 7%. While SBA loans also have strict requirements, you may find a faster, more straightforward application process if you work with an online accredited SBA lender, like National Business Capital.
Most commercial vehicle loans have repayment terms ranging from 1 to 10 years. In some cases, SBA commercial vehicle loans with repayment periods as high as 25 years may be available. However, the actual terms you’ll qualify for can depend on many different factors.
Your funding amount, credit score, business revenue, and more will all play a role in determining the tenure on your commercial vehicle loan.
Loans with longer repayment terms typically feature lower monthly payments than loans with shorter repayment terms. This can be helpful if your business’s cash flow is limited. However, interest rates and other expenses can quickly add up.
You’ll be in debt for numerous years and the amount of interest you’ll pay over the lifeline of the loan is higher with a longer repayment period vs. a shorter repayment period. If you can afford to make higher monthly payments, a shorter term loan may be a better idea since it’ll help you save over the long run.
Yes, you may be able to get a commercial vehicle loan without a guarantor or a personal guarantee. However, it’s not always the easiest to accomplish.
A guarantor is a person who agrees to be held liable for a loan if the borrower is unable to repay their debt. Guarantors serve as a secondary form of repayment and provide lenders with additional security. Guarantors are common on leases, student loans, auto loans, and occasionally business loans.
Aside from a guarantor, a lender may require a personal guarantee from you, the business owner, in exchange for a commercial vehicle loan. A personal guarantee is a legal agreement giving a lender the right to seize your personal assets in case your business is unable to repay the loan.
Personal guarantees enable lenders to go after any asset you own, like your personal residence, savings account, investment account, or more.
Lenders tend to favor loans backed by a guarantor or a personal guarantee, since they offer added assurance that funds will be repaid. Unfortunately, this can pose greater risks for borrowers.
You can get a commercial vehicle loan without a guarantor or a personal guarantee, but you’ll need to have good credit and strong financials. Sometimes, you may even be required to make a significant down payment.
Much will also depend on the type of lender you work with. For example, banks are more likely to reject applicants without a guarantor or a personal guarantee. But you’ll find more flexibility when you work with online lenders.
Yes! SBA loans, and SBA commercial vehicle loans for that matter, are incredibly flexible financing products. You can use SBA financing to buy a used vehicle. You can also use this financing to cover a majority of business expenses including equipment purchases, real-estate purchases, working capital needs, marketing initiatives, business development, and more.
That said, there may be some restrictions on using SBA commercial vehicle loans on used vehicles. For example, your lender may have limitations on the car make or mileage. You may also need approval for the car dealership you are working with, since lenders will want to verify their reliability.
Overall, as long as the used car or truck you are looking to finance with a SBA commercial vehicle loan is in good standing, you should run into few objections. At the same time, you can also use a SBA commercial vehicle loan to:
Banks are oftentimes the first choice for business owners when they’re looking for financing. If you’re able to get commercial vehicle financing from a bank, you’ll benefit from low interest rates and favorable terms. Here are some of the top banks for commercial vehicle loans.
U.S. Bank: Offers commercial vehicle loans up to $500,000 with some no-down payments options. However, most loan terms cap at 60 months and you’ll need to meet with someone in-person to learn about specific requirements for applying.
Wells Fargo: Offers commercial truck loans with competitive interest rates and flexible repayment terms. However, there is no online application so you’ll need to apply in-person to learn about the rates you could qualify for.
PNC Bank: Offers commercial vehicle loans for both new and used vehicles at competitive rates. Funding amounts and repayment terms typically cap at $250,000 and 72 months.
While competitive interest rates are a plus, banks and credit unions have some of the strictest requirements that can exclude many business owners from financing. You’ll need to have strong credit, strong revenue, extensive business history, and be able to provide a sizable down payment or at least a personal guarantee.
If you’re looking for more flexible financing solutions with faster processing times, you may be better off working with an online lender or fintech company.
Most commercial vehicle loans are structured as term loans. However, you may be able to find commercial vehicle loans that function as other loan types, such as a line of credit.
Term loans deliver a lump sum capital infusion that’s repaid with regular payments over time. Term loans are ideal when you know the exact cost of a particular project, which makes them a great choice for financing assets like real estate or commercial vehicles.
Term loans can also be used to finance operating expenses or projects that require hiring new employees, acquiring another business, refinancing, and more.
When it comes to a SBA commercial vehicle loan, your top choices will typically be the popular SBA 7(a) loan or the SBA 504 loan. It is possible to obtain SBA 7(a) financing in the form of a line of credit, however, 504 loans are usually structured as term loans.
Term loans are typically the best choice for financing fixed assets. However, if you’re looking to make repairs or upgrades to an existing vehicle fleet, you may find more flexibility with a line of credit.
Contact the financing advisors at National Business Capital at (877) 482-3008, available 24/7, and ask them how they can help you obtain commercial vehicle loans for your business, or get started on National’s 1-minute, 1-page application online to get approved in less than 24 hours.
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National Business Capital helps entrepreneurs secure quick and fair financing to save time and cultivate sustainable growth.
Our stress-free online platform is designed for simplicity and speed, helping business owners go from application to approval in a matter of hours. And while we remain a leader in the Fintech industry, our clients agree it’s our personalized service and award-winning team that sets us apart.
From SBA loans to lines of credit, to equipment financing, and more, business owners can access all the different financing programs available to them in one place. Through our streamlined process, we have helped clients secure $2 billion in financing since 2007, and, more importantly, we’ve helped entrepreneurs save a tremendous amount of time and grow faster.
Joseph Camberato, CEO of National Business Capital, developed a passion for business at a young age. Joe started his company in 2007 in his spare bedroom and has grown to secure over $1 Billion dollars in financing for small business owners nationwide. National’s team has an amazing culture and has been name the #1 Top Workplace on Long Island 3 years in a row and counting. Joe is a trusted financial expert who’s published more than 2,000 articles in the last 3 years. His articles have generated over 5 million page views and has been featured on blogs such as Google News, Yahoo, CNBC, Forbes Magazine, etc. His passion has also inspired him to build the "GrowByJoe” YouTube channel where he shares his insights into small business trends and tips for growth. Joe also holds a seat on Forbes Finance Council and is an active member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO), a global leadership community.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/growbyjoe/
