Figures have shown that commercial vehicle finance lending rose during the first quarter of 2011.
The Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) said that finance granted for commercial vehicles rose 32% compared to the same three-month period last year.
During the quarter finance firms lent more than £1 billion for the leasing or hire purchase of around 20,000 new vans, trucks and lorries - suggesting there were plenty of van insurance policies taken out.
Finance for business equipment, plant and machinery and IT equipment was also on the rise - and total asset finance was up 8% over the three months.
Julian Rose, head of asset finance at the FLA, said: "Many of the small businesses that provide the services that keep our homes and offices going are replacing their old vehicles with more suitable and more environmentally-friendly models; our evidence shows that small businesses like plumbers, builders and delivery companies are turning to asset finance rather than paying upfront."
© Press Association 2011
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