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Telescopic Forklift Finance

Spread the cost of telescopic forklifts from £48,000 to £78,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance – compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a telescopic forklift?

Yes, telescopic forklifts 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 £48,000 to £78,000, and most deals are written over 24–60 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

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Typical Cost

£48k – £78k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Same-day for < £75k

Rates From

5.0% APR

What would a telescopic forklift cost per month?

£60,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

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

Pre-filled with a typical telescopic forklift price. Indicative only, not a quote.

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Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
From 5.4% APR
Term
24–60 months
Deposit
10–20%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Construction and agricultural businesses wanting to own the telehandler outright

Finance Lease

Rate
From 5.0% APR
Term
24–60 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return, refinance the balloon, or buy at the end
Best for
Tax-efficient, and can include buckets, forks, or a jib attachment on the same agreement

Contract Hire

Rate
From 5.7% APR
Term
24–48 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at the end
Best for
Firms wanting a modern telehandler with servicing and attachments managed for them

Representative example

On a purchase price of £60,000: a 10% deposit of £6,000, then 48 monthly payments of £1,266 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £66,768, 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
JCB 540-140 Telehandler £55,000 – £75,000 4t Telehandler
Manitou MLT 741 Telehandler £50,000 – £70,000 Agricultural/Construction Telehandler
Merlo Panoramic P40.17 £58,000 – £78,000 Heavy-Duty Telehandler
Bobcat TL30.70 Telehandler £48,000 – £65,000 Compact Telehandler

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Tax benefits

Telescopic forklifts qualify as plant and machinery, so the Annual Investment Allowance lets you deduct the full cost, including standard attachments bought at the same time, from taxable profits in year one, up to £1,000,000. VAT on hire purchase is generally due upfront; on finance lease or contract hire it's charged on the rentals instead and recovered as you pay, which suits a machine that's often specified with several attachments adding meaningfully to the total invoice value.

Market context

Telescopic forklifts, or telehandlers, are bought by construction contractors, agricultural businesses, and plant hire firms needing to lift materials to height and reach over obstacles that a standard counterbalance forklift can't manage. Many are specified with interchangeable attachments (pallet forks, buckets, a jib, or a man-cage) that extend the machine's use across different tasks on the same site or farm, and these are commonly financed alongside the machine itself. Replacement and buy-versus-hire decisions often turn on how continuous the workload is: a business with year-round need typically buys or finances, while seasonal or one-off jobs lean towards short-term plant hire instead.

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.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I finance a used telescopic forklift?
Yes. Most lenders will finance a used telescopic forklift up to around 8 years old at the start of the agreement, and some will go older case by case. Rates on used equipment typically run 0.5–1% higher than new because residual values are less certain. An independent inspection or valuation is common for older or higher-value vehicles before the lender confirms terms.
What deposit do I need for telescopic forklift finance?
For hire purchase, most lenders ask for 10–20% deposit. Finance lease and contract hire agreements often need no deposit at all, since the lender keeps an interest in the telescopic forklift throughout the term. Putting down a larger deposit reduces your monthly payments and can unlock a better rate, but it isn't compulsory on most deals; it's a trade-off between cash flow today and the total cost of the agreement.
How quickly can I get telescopic forklift finance approved?
Straightforward applications for a telescopic forklift under £75k are commonly approved within 24–48 hours, and same-day decisions are possible once paperwork (bank statements, accounts, proof of ID) is in. Larger or more complex deals, multiple units, or first-time applicants without a strong trading history usually take longer, sometimes 5–7 working days, while the lender reviews the business case and, for higher-value assets, arranges an inspection.
Do I need to have been trading for a minimum period?
Most mainstream lenders look for 2+ years of trading history before offering standard rates and terms on telescopic forklift finance. Newer businesses aren't automatically excluded, but they may be asked for a personal guarantee from a director, additional security, a higher deposit, or a shorter term to offset the extra risk. Start-ups sometimes do better going through a broker who can match them to a lender that specialises in newer businesses.
Can attachments like buckets or a jib be included in the finance?
Yes, attachments bought alongside the telehandler on the same invoice are normally included in the finance agreement without any extra process, which is the most common way businesses specify a telehandler for varied site or farm work. If you're adding attachments to a telehandler you already own or finance separately at a later date, most lenders can still arrange this, either as a top-up to the existing agreement or as a small standalone finance deal.

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