WHO THIS IS FOR

Excavator Finance Built for Australian Operators

Australia owner-operators, subcontractors and small-fleet operators are knocked back by banks, stalled in single-lender queues, and locked into single products by dealer finance. Whether you run NSW Big Build civil subbie work on Sydney Metro West or Aerotropolis, VIC Big Build packages on North East Link or West Gate Tunnel, QLD Cross River Rail or 2032 Olympic infrastructure, WA METRONET or Pilbara mining sustaining-capex, SA AUKUS submarine precinct civil at Osborne, Tasmanian Bridgewater Bridge or West Coast mining, NT Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct or Inpex sustaining capex, or ACT Light Rail Stage 2 and Molonglo Valley growth, plus outer-suburb subdivision earthworks across the growth corridors of every capital and compact-class excavator work for landscapers, plumbers and small civil operators nationwide, Equifund matches your application to the lenders that read project income, head-contract value and earthmoving asset residual the right way.

Your application goes to specialist earthmoving and civil-asset lenders who assess project income, asset value and trading history directly, in one structured submission with no multi-lender credit hits.

  • Upgrading ageing excavators or earthmoving fleet Replace before maintenance costs outpace what a newer asset would be worth. Trade-in and replacement structured in one application.
  • Securing a new project contract Quote the work confident your pre-approval is locked in and the asset will be on site for day one.
  • Buying used, dealer or private sale Auction, dealer and private deals other lenders walk away from. We settle direct to the seller and handle the paperwork end to end.
  • Refinancing existing equipment loans Lower monthly repayments, restructure balloons before they're due, or consolidate multiple loans into one repayment.

SPECIALIST vs BANK vs DEALER

Equifund vs Bank vs Dealer Finance

How excavator finance compares across the three places ABN holders can fund an excavator.

Equifund, commercial finance specialistMajor bankDealer finance
Who they lend toEstablished ABN holders, sole traders to fleets, assessed on the business and the asset.Prefers strong financials or PAYG strength, often backed by property.Whoever is buying that brand at the desk, on a take-it-or-leave-it offer.
Income assessedProject, site-contract and BAS income. Low-doc for established ABNs, no full tax returns.Full financials and tax returns usually required.Limited, tied to the sale, not your wider business.
Lender choice80+ Australian lenders matched to your deal.One bank, one credit template.One or two aligned financiers only.
Rate & structureMarket-tested rate, with balloon and 3 to 7 year terms and extra repayments.Standard products with limited flexibility.Rate loaded with dealer margin, and high balloons that flatter the monthly but cost more.
Used, private & auctionNew, used, ex-fleet, private-sale and auction all financed.Restrictive on used, private and auction buys.Usually the dealer's own stock only.
Deposit & security$0 deposit for prime applications, secured on the excavator, not your home.Deposit and often property security required.Varies, frequently bundled with add-ons.
Pre-approval speedTypically inside 24 to 48 hours.5 to 10 business days on average.Fast at the desk, but the offer is fixed.
HOW THE PROCESS WORKS

How Excavator Finance Works in Australia

A simple, secure online application, with honest advice from an Australia-based specialist you can trust.
No pressure. No hit to your credit score.

01
Group (3)

Complete the Form in 60 Seconds

Tell us about your earthmoving operation and the excavator you are financing through our secure online form.

02
Group (4)

Speak With an Excavator Finance Specialist

An Australia-based excavator finance specialist reviews your situation and walks you through the documents needed for the lender match.

03
Frame (9)

Get Pre-Approved Over the Phone

You'll have a clear pre-approval often within 1 business day, with rate, term and repayment structure tailored to how your project income actually flows.

04
Group (5)

Settle the Loan
and Take Delivery

Your specialist sources the strongest matched offer and coordinates settlement with the dealer, private seller or auction house.

Get My Pre-Approval
60 second form. No impact on your credit score.
RECENT SETTLEMENTS

Real Results for Australian Earthmoving Operators

Australia excavator finance settled across 80+ Australian lenders, from owner-operators to mid-size fleets. ACL 389328.

"Aerotropolis precinct civil at Bringelly pays on milestone progress claims tied to head-contractor land releases. Bank wanted three years of trading history before the first 30-tonne machine. Specialist lender structured repayments around the milestone calendar."

Aerotropolis precinct civil subbie
Western Sydney, NSW

"Cross River Rail subcontract earthworks pays on progress claims tied to tunnel and station packages. Bank wanted three years of trading history. Specialist lender structured repayments around the milestone calendar, and we have been on three packages since."

Cross River Rail civil subbie
Inner Brisbane, QLD

"Pilbara iron-ore sustaining-capex feed work is steady when you have the gear. A 50-tonne Komatsu PC500 for the haul-road maintenance contract, but the bank wanted the property folio. Specialist lender funded the deal on the head-contractor PO, machine on site in four weeks."

Pilbara mine-services subbie
Pilbara region, WA

"AUKUS submarine precinct civil works at Osborne are tied to long defence schedules with controlled-access security requirements. A 30-tonne CAT 330, but the bank wanted three years of trading history. Specialist lender structured repayments around the head-contractor milestone calendar."

AUKUS precinct civil subbie
Osborne, SA

"Quad-axle dog feeding aggregate to the North East Link sites is solid work if you have the gear. A 30-tonne Hitachi, but the bank wanted the property folio as security. Splitting across two specialist lenders, the machine was on site in four weeks."

Big Build civil subbie
Northern Melbourne, VIC

"Bowen Basin coal-feed contract needed a late-model used CAT 336. The dealer's structure was going to eat the margin. The lender that took the head-contractor agreement as the asset case kept the property folio clear, and we have been able to bid on a second mine package this year."

Mine-feed operator
Bowen Basin, QLD

"Middle Arm precinct civil works are tied to long Federal-funded gas and critical-minerals packages. A 30-tonne CAT 330, but the bank wanted three years of trading history. Specialist lender structured repayments around the milestone calendar."

Middle Arm precinct civil subbie
Darwin Harbour, NT

"METRONET station precinct civil packages need plant on site against fast-tracked station-opening dates. A 30-tonne CAT 330, but the bank wanted three years of trading history. Specialist lender structured repayments around the milestone calendar."

METRONET civil subbie
Perth Metro, WA

"Bridgewater Bridge replacement civil packages need plant on site against fast-tracked completion dates. A 30-tonne CAT 330, but the bank wanted three years of trading history. Specialist lender structured repayments around the milestone calendar."

Bridgewater Bridge civil subbie
Bridgewater, TAS

"Needed a new Kubota U35 to keep up with three pool-build contracts across the southern corridor. Bank wanted personal property security for a $65k asset. Specialist lender priced the deal on the asset and trading history. Machine was on site the following week."

Mini-excavator pool builder
Greater Adelaide, SA

"Aerotropolis precinct civil at Bringelly pays on milestone progress claims tied to head-contractor land releases. Bank wanted three years of trading history before the first 30-tonne machine. Specialist lender structured repayments around the milestone calendar."

Aerotropolis precinct civil subbie
Western Sydney, NSW

"Cross River Rail subcontract earthworks pays on progress claims tied to tunnel and station packages. Bank wanted three years of trading history. Specialist lender structured repayments around the milestone calendar, and we have been on three packages since."

Cross River Rail civil subbie
Inner Brisbane, QLD

"Pilbara iron-ore sustaining-capex feed work is steady when you have the gear. A 50-tonne Komatsu PC500 for the haul-road maintenance contract, but the bank wanted the property folio. Specialist lender funded the deal on the head-contractor PO, machine on site in four weeks."

Pilbara mine-services subbie
Pilbara region, WA

"AUKUS submarine precinct civil works at Osborne are tied to long defence schedules with controlled-access security requirements. A 30-tonne CAT 330, but the bank wanted three years of trading history. Specialist lender structured repayments around the head-contractor milestone calendar."

AUKUS precinct civil subbie
Osborne, SA

"Quad-axle dog feeding aggregate to the North East Link sites is solid work if you have the gear. A 30-tonne Hitachi, but the bank wanted the property folio as security. Splitting across two specialist lenders, the machine was on site in four weeks."

Big Build civil subbie
Northern Melbourne, VIC

"Bowen Basin coal-feed contract needed a late-model used CAT 336. The dealer's structure was going to eat the margin. The lender that took the head-contractor agreement as the asset case kept the property folio clear, and we have been able to bid on a second mine package this year."

Mine-feed operator
Bowen Basin, QLD

"Middle Arm precinct civil works are tied to long Federal-funded gas and critical-minerals packages. A 30-tonne CAT 330, but the bank wanted three years of trading history. Specialist lender structured repayments around the milestone calendar."

Middle Arm precinct civil subbie
Darwin Harbour, NT

"METRONET station precinct civil packages need plant on site against fast-tracked station-opening dates. A 30-tonne CAT 330, but the bank wanted three years of trading history. Specialist lender structured repayments around the milestone calendar."

METRONET civil subbie
Perth Metro, WA

"Bridgewater Bridge replacement civil packages need plant on site against fast-tracked completion dates. A 30-tonne CAT 330, but the bank wanted three years of trading history. Specialist lender structured repayments around the milestone calendar."

Bridgewater Bridge civil subbie
Bridgewater, TAS

"Needed a new Kubota U35 to keep up with three pool-build contracts across the southern corridor. Bank wanted personal property security for a $65k asset. Specialist lender priced the deal on the asset and trading history. Machine was on site the following week."

Mini-excavator pool builder
Greater Adelaide, SA
FAQ

Common Excavator Finance Questions

Straight answers to the questions Australia earthmoving operators ask most.

What types of excavators can I finance in Australia?

We finance excavators across every class: mini (under 6t), compact (6-10t), midi (10-20t), standard (20-30t), large (30-50t) and oversize/mining-class (50t+). Plus the broader earthmoving fleet, dozers, wheel loaders, skid steers, backhoes, telehandlers, dump trucks and attachments. All major makes including Caterpillar, Komatsu, Hitachi, Kobelco, Volvo, Kubota, Sany, Doosan, Sumitomo and Yanmar. New, used, demonstrator, dealer or private sale.

How long does Australia excavator finance take to settle?

Pre-approval typically comes back inside a business day when your application is complete. Settlement happens once you have signed contracts and any final lender conditions are met. Specialist asset lenders move faster than major banks on earthmoving deals because they assess the machine and contract income directly rather than waiting on property valuations.

Do I need to own property to qualify?

No. Equifund's specialist lender panel includes options that assess on the asset, your earthmoving project income and trading history rather than requiring property as security. This matters most for owner-operators, civil subbies and family earthmoving operations who don't want to lock the property folio.

Do I need a deposit?

$0 deposit is available for prime applications, especially established operators with active site contracts or quarry/Big Build subcontract work. New ABNs typically need some contribution, but $0 deposit on the right deal is common for ongoing operators with verifiable project income.

Can I finance a used excavator, private sale, or auction purchase?

Yes, used (including ex-fleet, ex-mining and end-of-cycle machines), private sale and auction purchases are all financeable through the specialist asset lenders we work with. Major banks typically have age cut-offs that knock out older machines; specialist lenders look at the asset condition and hour-meter rather than calendar age alone.

Can I refinance an existing excavator loan?

Yes. 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 facility. We compare your current setup against the specialist panel and present options.

Which lenders does Equifund work with?

A panel of 80+ Australian lenders spanning major banks, specialist asset financiers and non-bank lenders that specifically understand earthmoving project income, site contracts and the residual value of excavators across the class range.

Can I finance multiple excavators in one application?

Yes. Fleet deals, two or three machines for a single contract, or a staged purchase across a 12-month pipeline, are common. The lender panel includes options that split fleet deals across facilities or fund them under one master agreement, depending on your structure.

Can I finance excavator attachments and tilt trays?

Yes. Attachments (buckets, hammers, augers, grapples, tilt-hitches, mulching heads, grading beams), low loaders and tilt trays are all financeable, either bundled with the excavator purchase or as standalone asset deals.

What's the difference between chattel mortgage and finance lease for excavators?

Chattel mortgage: you own the excavator, claim depreciation and GST, and the lender holds security over the asset. Finance lease: the lender owns the machine and you make rental payments; GST is claimed on each payment. Most owner-operators run chattel mortgage for the depreciation; fleet operators sometimes mix lease for cash flow reasons. Both are available across the specialist panel.

What is project income recognition?

Project income recognition is how a specialist lender reads income from civil contracts, site-based progress claims, quarry production agreements and earthmoving project activity rather than treating only PAYG salary as income. It matters for established operators whose income comes from contracted site work, not a fortnightly pay slip.

What is low-doc excavator finance?

Low-doc excavator 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, trading history and verifiable project income who don't have current-year financials prepared.

What is pre-approval in excavator finance?

Pre-approval is a conditional credit decision from a specialist lender before you commit to a specific machine. It gives you a confirmed budget, repayment estimate and a contract window to find the right asset. Pre-approval is a credit decision, not a guarantee, final approval is subject to the chosen excavator meeting the lender's asset criteria.

What is an Australian Credit Licence (ACL)?

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.

I work on Big Build infrastructure or 2032 Olympic packages. Can you finance plant for subcontractors anywhere in Australia?

Yes. NSW Big Build (Sydney Metro West, Aerotropolis, M6, M12, Pacific Highway), VIC Big Build (North East Link, West Gate Tunnel, Suburban Rail Loop), QLD Cross River Rail and 2032 Olympic infrastructure pipeline, WA METRONET, SA AUKUS submarine precinct at Osborne, TAS Bridgewater Bridge and NT Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct are all strong asset cases for specialist lenders. Contract value, head-contractor relationship and asset condition are weighted directly. We have funded excavators, dozers, wheel loaders, tippers and bulk earthworks fleets for tier-1 and tier-2 subbies across the national infrastructure pipeline.

I run a mining or quarry operation. How do you assess production income across Australia?

Mining and quarry production income, whether iron-ore in the Pilbara, coal in the Bowen Basin or Hunter Valley, gold in the Goldfields, copper at Roxby Downs, lithium in WA, or quarry production across every state, is read from head-contractor purchase orders, mine-site supply agreements and ongoing site contracts rather than monthly PAYG. Specialist lenders on the panel understand the production cycles, sustaining-capex feeder contracts and mine-site rehabilitation work, and structure repayments around the contract calendar.

BEYOND EXCAVATORS

Other Equipment We Finance

Equifund finances every major commercial asset class for prime ABN profiles, from utes and trailers to excavators, tractors and yellow goods, backed by 80+ lenders.

Equifund finance specialist on call
Australia-based excavator finance specialists

Apply for Your Excavator Finance

Three quick steps. An Australia-based excavator finance specialist gets back to you the same business day.

Fast pre-approval
80+ lender panel
Equifund
Business Details
Equifund
Contact Information
Equifund
Asset Information