Engine Crane Finance

Spread the cost of a workshop engine crane from £300 to £3,500 with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance, compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a engine crane?

Yes, engine cranes are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £300 to £3,500, and most deals are written over 12–36 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

Typical Cost

£300 – £4k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Often bundled with wider tooling finance

Rates From

6.3% APR

What would a engine crane cost per month?

Engine Crane price (ex VAT) £1,200

Deposit 10%

Agreement term 60 months

Annual interest rate 9%

Balloon payment £0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical engine crane price. Indicative only, not a quote.

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate: From 6.8% APR
Term: 12–36 months
Deposit: 10–20%
Ownership: Yours at the end
Best for: Workshops wanting to own the crane outright

Finance Lease

Rate: From 6.3% APR
Term: 12–36 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for: Tax efficient; claim payments against profit

Operating Lease

Rate: From 7.0% APR
Term: 12–24 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return at end
Best for: Suits bundling with a wider tooling package

Representative example

On a purchase price of £1,200: a 10% deposit of £120, then 48 monthly payments of £25 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £1,320, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification	Guide price	Type
1 Tonne Folding Engine Crane	£300 – £700	Folding Engine Crane
2 Tonne Hydraulic Engine Crane	£900 – £1,800	Standard Engine Crane
Engine Crane with Load Leveller Attachment	£1,800 – £3,200	Engine Crane with Load Leveller

Tax benefits

An engine crane is moveable plant and machinery and generally qualifies for Annual Investment Allowance, letting the cost be deducted from taxable profits in the year of purchase. Given the relatively low unit cost, many workshops buy engine cranes outright or bundle them into a wider tooling finance package rather than financing one alone.

Market context

Independent garages, engine reconditioning specialists and motorsport workshops are the main buyers. Folding cranes are popular where floor space is at a premium, since the legs and boom collapse for storage between jobs, while fixed-frame cranes suit workshops with a dedicated engine bay. A load leveller attachment lets a technician tilt the engine during removal or refitting without repositioning the whole crane. Replacement is generally driven by hydraulic ram wear and the periodic thorough examination required under LOLER for lifting equipment.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get finance for a single engine crane?

Given the relatively low cost of an engine crane, many lenders prefer to include it as part of a wider workshop tooling agreement rather than financing it as a standalone item, though standalone HP is available from some providers. If you are buying several smaller tools alongside the crane, bundling them onto one invoice and one agreement is usually the simplest route.

Folding or fixed-frame engine crane, which should I choose?

A folding crane collapses for storage, which suits workshops with limited floor space or that only need the crane occasionally. A fixed-frame crane stays assembled and ready to use, which suits workshops doing regular engine work where the time saved not folding and unfolding it matters. Both are rated by maximum lifting capacity, so match that to the heaviest engine or gearbox you expect to lift.

What does a load leveller attachment do?

A load leveller lets a technician tilt the engine or gearbox being lifted without repositioning the whole crane, which makes it easier to angle a unit in or out of a tight engine bay. It is a useful add-on for workshops doing frequent engine removal work, though not essential for occasional use.

Does an engine crane need regular inspection?

Yes. As lifting equipment, an engine crane needs a thorough examination at a set interval under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER), carried out by a competent person. This is a legal requirement on the operator rather than something checked by a lender, and it is worth budgeting for as an ongoing running cost.

How quickly can I get engine crane finance?

Most applications are approved within 24 to 48 hours once a supplier quote is available. For lower-value items like this, it is often quickest and most cost-effective to combine the crane with other workshop tooling on a single supplier invoice and agreement.