Construction plant and machinery finance
Excavators, dumpers, telehandlers and rollers are the deepest asset class on our panel: 33 of the 38 asset finance lenders fund construction plant. The questions that narrow the list are whether the machine is new or used, who is selling it, and whether you want to spread the VAT.
We introduce limited companies and LLPs to the lenders whose plant criteria fit the machine, the seller and your accounts. Free to you, and nothing goes anywhere without your say-so.
The plant panel in numbers
Distinct lenders on our panel with a live product for each situation.
33
of 38 asset finance lenders fund construction plant and machinery
15
will fund machinery over ten years old
10
will fund a private-seller or auction purchase
25
offer VAT deferral on the purchase
14
accept business adverse credit on asset finance
19
will consider a business that made a loss last year
Counts are distinct lenders on our panel with at least one live product matching the criterion, checked September 2026. Panel composition changes over time, and meeting a criterion is not an offer: every case is subject to the lender's own checks.
Where plant deals are decided
New, used or refinance
New from a dealer opens the whole panel. Used narrows it by age; auction and private sales narrow it further and need speed. Refinance of plant you already own is its own product and depends on clear title.
The machine
Mainstream brands with a liquid used market finance easily. Specialist attachments, heavily modified kit or machines with no serial history are harder, because the lender is underwriting resale.
Term versus working life
The agreement has to end before the machine is worn out. Lenders set a maximum age at end of term, and hours matter as much as years on plant.
Your accounts and order book
Filed accounts and recent bank statements, plus evidence of the work the machine will do. A framework place or a signed contract moves a marginal case over the line.
A note on who we take on
We currently work with UK limited companies and LLPs only, for business and commercial purposes. We complete non-regulated introductions and are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.
The panel behind this page
Plant cases go to the 33 lenders on our asset finance panel of 38 that fund construction plant, part of 200+ lenders across all products. That range matters more than any single rate: the lender that suits a five-year-old limited company with clean accounts is rarely the one that suits a seasonal business or a director with a past blip, and a broker with a shallow panel has to force your case into whichever box it holds.
Names you may recognise on the panel
Examples from our panel as at September 2026, not an endorsement of any lender and not the full list. We check criteria first and put your case only to lenders whose requirements you fit. The full panel by product is in our lender directory, and how we choose is set out on our how we work page.
Frequently asked questions
How many lenders finance construction plant?▼
33 of the 38 asset finance lenders on our panel have a live product for construction plant and machinery, the deepest asset class on the panel. Figures checked September 2026; panel composition changes over time.
Can I finance used plant, or plant bought at auction?▼
Used is the norm in plant. The two things that narrow the field are age and seller: 15 lenders will fund machinery over ten years old, and 10 will fund a purchase from a private seller, which is how most auction and site-to-site sales are treated. Auction purchases also need the money quickly, so tell us the sale date and we go to the lenders that can complete inside it.
Can I raise money against plant I already own?▼
Yes. Asset refinance (sale and hire-purchase back) releases cash from unencumbered plant: the lender buys the machine at an agreed valuation and you hire it back over a term. It is a common way for a contractor to fund a deposit on a bigger job or to consolidate expensive short-term borrowing. The valuation is on the plant, not the order book, so a fleet with clear titles is the main requirement.
Is the VAT paid up front on a hire purchase?▼
Normally yes, on the day the agreement starts. 25 lenders on our panel offer VAT deferral, funding the VAT until your return recovers it, which on a £120,000 excavator keeps £24,000 in the business for a quarter. A finance lease spreads the VAT across the rentals instead, at the cost of never owning the machine.
What do lenders check for a contractor?▼
Filed accounts, the last few months of bank statements, the order book or framework position, and for the machine itself the make, model, hours and serial number. Plant with a strong resale market (the mainstream excavator, telehandler and dumper brands) is easier than bespoke or attachment-heavy kit. Adverse credit is not automatically fatal on asset finance because the lender holds the machine.
Is plant finance regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority?▼
Hire purchase, leasing and refinance to a limited company or LLP for business use are generally unregulated. Finance to a sole trader can be different. CapExpand introduces limited companies and LLPs on a non-regulated basis and is not an FCA-authorised firm.
Related guides
Important information
CapExpand Ltd is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and can only complete non-regulated introductions. We work with UK limited companies and LLPs only, for business and commercial purposes. We are not a lender and we do not provide financial, tax or legal advice. We work with a panel of lenders whose particulars are available on request, and we receive commission from the lender if a deal completes, at no cost to you. All lending is subject to status, valuation where applicable and the lender's own checks.
Machine ages, seller types and VAT treatment are general descriptions; each lender applies its own limits. Speak to your accountant about the VAT and capital allowance position on a specific purchase.
Registered office: Pure Offices, Lake View Drive, Annesley, Nottingham, NG15 0DT. Company No. 14433858.
Tell us about the machine
Make, model, age and hours, the price, who is selling it and when you need it. We come back with the lenders whose plant criteria fit.