Roll-on/Roll-off Container Finance

Spread the cost of a roll-on/roll-off container fleet from £5,000 to £80,000 with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance

Can you finance a roll-on/roll-off container?

Yes, roll-on/roll-off containers 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 £5,000 to £80,000, and most deals are written over 12–60 months with a deposit of around 15–25%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

Typical Cost

£5k – £80k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Usually financed as a mixed fleet order

Rates From

5.5% APR

What would a roll-on/roll-off container cost per month?

Roll-on/Roll-off Container price (ex VAT) £30,000

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 roll-on/roll-off container price. Indicative only, not a quote.

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate: From 6.0% APR
Term: 12–60 months
Deposit: 15–25%
Ownership: Yours at the end
Best for: Operators wanting to own the fleet outright

Finance Lease

Rate: From 5.5% APR
Term: 12–60 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for: Tax efficient; claim payments against profit

Operating Lease

Rate: From 6.3% APR
Term: 24–48 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return at end
Best for: Suits operators renewing fleet stock on a cycle

Representative example

On a purchase price of £30,000: a 10% deposit of £3,000, then 48 monthly payments of £633 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £33,384, 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
20 Yard Open RoRo Container	£1,800 – £2,800 each	20 Yard Open Container
40 Yard Open RoRo Container	£2,800 – £4,200 each	40 Yard Open Container
Compactor-Compatible RoRo Container	£4,000 – £6,500 each	Compactor-Compatible Container

Tax benefits

Roll-on/roll-off containers bought for a hire or collection fleet are plant and machinery for capital allowances and generally qualify for Annual Investment Allowance, letting the cost be deducted from taxable profits in the year of purchase, subject to your total qualifying spend for the year. Confirm current treatment with your accountant before finalising the finance structure.

Market context

Waste management and skip hire operators running hook-loader lorries, alongside industrial and construction sites hiring one in for a defined project, are the main buyers. Container specification, open, enclosed or compactor-compatible, needs to match the hook-loader lorry that will handle it and any static compactor it will be paired with, so compatibility is worth confirming before ordering rather than after delivery. A waste carrier licence and, for specific or hazardous waste streams, additional permitting apply to the operator rather than the container itself. Replacement is generally driven by corrosion, floor wear and denting from repeated loading and transport.

Frequently asked questions

Open, enclosed or compactor-compatible RoRo container, which do I need?

An open container suits general waste and bulky material collected without compression. An enclosed container reduces windblown litter and weather exposure, which some sites and local authorities require. A compactor-compatible container is built to fit directly onto a static compactor, letting waste be compressed straight into it rather than loaded loose. The right choice depends on the material stream and whether the container will be paired with a compactor.

Does a RoRo container need to match my hook-loader lorry?

Yes, roll-on/roll-off containers are built to a specification that must match the hook or chain mechanism on the lorry that will lift them, so confirm compatibility between the container and your lorry, or the lorry you plan to hire, before ordering. Getting this wrong means a container that cannot actually be collected by your fleet.

Can I finance a single container or does it need to be a fleet order?

Operators typically finance a fleet of containers together to match the scale of their hook-loader operation, since a single container has a relatively low unit cost, though smaller orders are available. If you are running a project needing just one or two containers, a shorter-term agreement or outright purchase may suit better than a full fleet finance arrangement.

What licensing applies to running RoRo containers?

Operating a waste collection business using RoRo containers requires a registered waste carrier licence, and specific or hazardous waste streams may need additional permitting depending on what the container is used to collect. These are operational and regulatory requirements set by the relevant authorities rather than by any lender, so check current requirements before starting or expanding operations.

How quickly can I get RoRo container finance?

Most applications are approved within 24 to 48 hours once a supplier quote for the fleet order is available. A specialist broker comparing quotes across multiple lenders can usually confirm which product and rate best fits your circumstances within the same working day.