Dozer Finance for Earthmoving Operators

Chattel mortgage: you own the dozer, claim depreciation and GST, and the lender holds security over the asset. Finance lease: the lender owns the dozer and you make rental payments; GST is claimed on each payment. Most owner-operators run chattel mortgage for the depreciation benefit. Both available across the specialist panel.

Tax treatment depends on the structure you choose and current ATO rules. For FY26, the small business instant asset write-off threshold is $20,000 per asset for businesses under $10M turnover. Larger dozer purchases generally fall under standard depreciation. For specific advice on your situation, consult your accountant.

Contract income recognition is how a specialist lender reads income from head-contractor purchase orders, ongoing civil contracts and project agreements rather than treating only PAYG salary as income. It matters for owner-operators and contractors whose income comes from civil contracts, not a fortnightly pay slip.

Low-doc dozer finance is asset finance approved on a reduced document set, typically BAS, bank statements and the contract or quote, rather than full financials and tax returns. Best suited to established operators with an active ABN, contract income and trading history who don't have current-year financials prepared.

An Australian Credit Licence (ACL) is the ASIC authorisation required to engage in regulated credit activities in Australia. Equifund operates under ACL 389328. This means we are bound by responsible lending obligations and the National Consumer Credit Protection Act when arranging finance.

Hire purchase lets you use the dozer while the lender retains ownership until the final payment is made, at which point title transfers to your business. GST is spread across the payments rather than claimed upfront, which suits operators who prefer not to claim the full GST at purchase. Tax treatment depends on your circumstances, so confirm the detail with your accountant.

Balloon and residual payments are available on most dozer finance structures and lower the monthly repayment by deferring part of the amount to the end of the term. The trade-off is a larger final payment, which can be refinanced, paid out, or settled by selling the machine. The right size depends on how long you intend to keep the dozer and its expected resale value.

No, you do not need to own property to qualify. Equifund's specialist lender panel includes options that assess on the dozer asset, your contract income and trading history rather than requiring property as security. This matters most for owner-operators, civil subbies and family businesses that don't want to lock the property folio.

$0 deposit is available for prime applications, especially established operators with active contracts or head-contractor agreements. New ABNs typically need some contribution, but $0 deposit on the right deal is common for ongoing operators with verifiable revenue.

Yes, a used dozer or ex-fleet machine can be financed. Used dozers (including ex-fleet, ex-mining and end-of-life-cycle units), private sale, dealer auction and demonstrator purchases are all financeable through the specialist asset lenders we work with. Major banks typically have age cut-offs; specialist lenders look at machine condition, hours and service history rather than calendar age alone.

Yes, an existing dozer loan can be refinanced. Refinance is common when an existing deal was settled at high rates, has an unfavourable structure (balloons, restrictive covenants), or is consolidating multiple machines into one master facility. We compare your current setup against the specialist panel and present options.

You can get pre-approved before you find a dozer, and most operators do. Pre-approval gives you a clear budget, an indicative repayment structure and a contract window to buy inside, so you can negotiate at a dealer, private sale or auction with finance already organised. Pre-approval is a credit decision, not a guarantee. Final approval is subject to the chosen machine meeting the lender's asset criteria.

A dozer finance application usually needs your ABN and business details, recent BAS or bank statements, and the quote, invoice or auction listing for the machine. Established operators with contract income can often be assessed on that reduced document set rather than full financials and tax returns. The lender may request extra documents depending on the size and structure of the deal.