Lendus.

Skid Steer Finance

Skid steer loaders cost from around £30,000 to £75,000 new, and most UK contractors finance them to keep cash available for attachments and running costs.

Can you finance a skid steer?

Yes, skid steers 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 £30,000 to £75,000, and most deals are written over 12-84 months with a deposit of around 10-20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

200+ UK lenders
2-minute application
No credit check to apply
FCA-regulated brokers

Typical Cost

£30k – £75k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Same-day for straightforward deals

Rates From

4.5% - 8.4% per annum

What would a skid steer cost per month?

£48,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

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

Pre-filled with a typical skid steer price. Indicative only, not a quote.

Compare skid steer finance rates from 200+ lenders

Check Eligibility

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
4.9% - 7.9% per annum
Term
12-84 months
Deposit
10-20%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Businesses that want to keep a skid steer and its attachments available every day

Finance Lease

Rate
4.5% - 7.4% per annum
Term
12-84 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Businesses that want lower upfront cost while building an attachment collection; payments are usually deductible as an operating expense

Operating Lease

Rate
5.4% - 8.4% per annum
Term
24-60 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at end
Best for
Businesses that want to keep the skid steer off balance sheet and upgrade regularly

Representative example

On a purchase price of £48,000: a 10% deposit of £4,800, then 48 monthly payments of £1,013 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £53,424, 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
Bobcat S650 £38,000 - £50,000 Skid Steer Loader
Caterpillar 226D £35,000 - £48,000 Skid Steer Loader
JCB 3TS-8T £45,000 - £60,000 Skid Steer Loader
Bobcat T770 £55,000 - £75,000 Compact Track Loader

Ready to compare skid steer finance? 2 minutes, no credit check.

Check Eligibility

Tax benefits

A skid steer is treated as plant and machinery for tax purposes, so it qualifies for the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting a business deduct the full cost from taxable profits in the year of purchase, up to the current £1,000,000 annual limit. Companies buying new, unused equipment may also qualify for full expensing, a 100% first-year deduction against Corporation Tax. These allowances apply where you own the asset, so they are available under a Hire Purchase agreement. Under a Finance Lease or Operating Lease you do not own the skid steer outright, so allowances are not claimed directly; instead the payments are generally deducted as a business expense against profits. Always confirm treatment with your accountant before committing to a structure.

Market context

Skid steers and compact track loaders are popular with landscapers, groundworkers and demolition contractors because a single carrier can run dozens of different attachments, from buckets to breakers to forestry mulchers. Many buyers finance the base machine and then buy attachments separately as work demands, spreading investment over time rather than committing everything upfront. Replacement tends to follow hydraulic pump and drivetrain wear rather than a set schedule, and tracked models generally hold value better than wheeled ones in the used market because tracks handle rough ground with less strain on the chassis.

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.

Compare rates from 200+ lenders, takes 2 minutes.

Check Eligibility

Frequently asked questions

Can I finance a used skid steer?
Yes. Used skid steers are widely available and lenders will finance machines up to around 8-10 years old with a standard hydraulic and drivetrain check. Tracked models tend to hold value slightly better than wheeled machines, which can translate into marginally better used-finance terms. Whatever the age of the skid steer, a clear paper trail showing how it has been maintained and used will always work in your favour when negotiating price and terms.
What term suits a skid steer's working life?
3 to 5 years is common, reflecting how hard these machines are typically worked across multiple attachments and applications. Businesses running a skid steer as their primary machine day in, day out often choose the shorter end of that range. Getting the term broadly right for a skid steer matters more than chasing the lowest possible monthly payment, since a mismatch either strains cashflow early on or leaves you paying for a machine that has already become expensive to keep running.
Is a skid steer eligible for Annual Investment Allowance?
Yes, a skid steer is plant and machinery and qualifies for AIA up to the current annual limit under Hire Purchase. Attachments bought alongside it, such as buckets or breakers, also generally qualify. Leased machines don't attract AIA, but payments are usually deductible as a business expense. It is worth confirming the treatment with your accountant at the point of purchase, since claiming the allowance in the year you buy the skid steer rather than spreading relief over several years can make a real difference to that year's tax bill.
What happens at the end of the agreement?
HP gives you ownership once fully paid. Finance Lease usually offers a balloon payment, continued rental, or return. Operating Lease is return-only, which suits contractors who like to move to a newer machine as attachment technology and emissions standards evolve. Which option suits best usually comes down to whether you expect to keep using this exact skid steer for years to come, or whether you are likely to want a newer or different-specification machine within a few years.
Do I need a deposit?
Hire Purchase typically needs 10-20% down. Finance Lease and Operating Lease usually require none. Many contractors keep the deposit low on the base machine so more cash is available to buy attachments separately. If cash is tight when the skid steer is needed, ask the lender whether the deposit can be reduced in exchange for a marginally higher rate; this is often negotiable, particularly for an established trading business.

Related equipment finance

More construction & plant finance

See how lenders treat construction & plant assets

Guides and resources

Ready to finance your skid steer?

Compare rates from 200+ lenders. No credit check.

Check Eligibility →
Check Eligibility, 2 min, no credit check