WHO THIS IS FOR

Skid Steer Finance Built for Australian Operators

Skid Steers owner-operators, subcontractors and small-fleet operators across Australia are knocked back by banks, stalled in single-lender queues, and locked into single products by dealer finance. Whether you run civil contractor materials handling, residential builder site prep, landscape grading and yard work, demolition site cleanup, pallet and bin lifting on construction sites, hire-out skid steers on day-rate contracts to civil contractors, council and government subcontract work, or owner-driver tradie work.

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

  • Upgrading ageing skid steers or trailers Replace before maintenance costs outpace what a newer asset would be worth. Trade-in and replacement structured in one application.
  • Securing a new freight 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.

HOW THE PROCESS WORKS

How Skid Steer Finance Works in Australia

A simple, secure online application, with honest advice from a Australia 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 business and the skid steer you are financing through our secure online form.

02
Group (4)

Speak With a Skid Steer Finance Specialist

An Australia-based skid steer 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 business 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 Skid Steer Operators

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

"Landscape sub-contract for a new estate kicked off Monday and we needed a tracked skid steer on site Sunday. Cody had us settled with the dealer's nominated lender by Friday close."

Hannah, Owner-Operator
Landscape contractor

"Residential builder framework underwrote two new skid steers for site prep across multiple builds. Equifund put it with a lender that scored on the builder framework as the asset case."

Wes, Director
Residential site-prep

"Concrete sub-contract for slab prep on residential subdivisions kept us steady year-round. They matched us with a lender that scored on the active sub-contract pipeline."

Phil, Site Manager
Concrete sub-contractor

"Demo compact skid steer on a fit-out job for a fortnight. Tighter access, better visibility. Jake had us approved that week and the demo stayed on site."

Adam, Owner-Operator
Fit-out contractor

"Ex-fleet skid steer at a major company sell-down, clean book, low hours. Equifund pre-approved us before the auction so the bid stood up under pressure."

Murray, Owner
Trade contractor

"Landscape sub-contract for a new estate kicked off Monday and we needed a tracked skid steer on site Sunday. Cody had us settled with the dealer's nominated lender by Friday close."

Hannah, Owner-Operator
Landscape contractor

"Residential builder framework underwrote two new skid steers for site prep across multiple builds. Equifund put it with a lender that scored on the builder framework as the asset case."

Wes, Director
Residential site-prep

"Concrete sub-contract for slab prep on residential subdivisions kept us steady year-round. They matched us with a lender that scored on the active sub-contract pipeline."

Phil, Site Manager
Concrete sub-contractor

"Demo compact skid steer on a fit-out job for a fortnight. Tighter access, better visibility. Jake had us approved that week and the demo stayed on site."

Adam, Owner-Operator
Fit-out contractor

"Ex-fleet skid steer at a major company sell-down, clean book, low hours. Equifund pre-approved us before the auction so the bid stood up under pressure."

Murray, Owner
Trade contractor

"First time on a council subcontract for park and verge maintenance. Three-year contract underwrote a new skid steer. John structured a chattel mortgage to align with the contract's first renewal."

Jess, Director
Council subcontract

"Trade business expanding into civil maintenance on a council framework. Terry matched us with a lender that scored on the council contract and the active trade job book together."

Steve, Operations Manager
Civil maintenance

"Owner-operator on residential demolition cleanup, regular work from a builder network. Jason structured the loan with a balloon to match income cycle cycles between jobs."

Lou, Owner-Operator
Demolition cleanup

"Hire-out skid steer fleet to landscape and trade contractors. Day-rate hire revenue didn't fit standard finance templates. They put us with a lender that structured the loan to the hire cycle."

Dan, Yard Manager
Hire-out fleet

"Established trade business expanding into small civil work. Equifund found a lender that scored on the active job book and approved a new skid steer on the contract case."

Tom-no-wait Charlie, Owner
Trade contractor

"First time on a council subcontract for park and verge maintenance. Three-year contract underwrote a new skid steer. John structured a chattel mortgage to align with the contract's first renewal."

Jess, Director
Council subcontract

"Trade business expanding into civil maintenance on a council framework. Terry matched us with a lender that scored on the council contract and the active trade job book together."

Steve, Operations Manager
Civil maintenance

"Owner-operator on residential demolition cleanup, regular work from a builder network. Jason structured the loan with a balloon to match income cycle cycles between jobs."

Lou, Owner-Operator
Demolition cleanup

"Hire-out skid steer fleet to landscape and trade contractors. Day-rate hire revenue didn't fit standard finance templates. They put us with a lender that structured the loan to the hire cycle."

Dan, Yard Manager
Hire-out fleet

"Established trade business expanding into small civil work. Equifund found a lender that scored on the active job book and approved a new skid steer on the contract case."

Tom-no-wait Charlie, Owner
Trade contractor
SPECIALIST VS BANK

Specialist vs Major Bank Skid Steer Finance

Side-by-side on the criteria that decide whether a Australia skid steer deal settles or stalls.

Criterion Equifund Specialist Major Bank
Income type Reads freight invoices, contractor payments and BAS PAYG salary preferred, freight income often discounted
Lender access Panel of 80+ Australian lenders matched to your file One bank, one credit template
Pre-approval speed Typically inside 24 hours 5 to 10 business days on average
Documentation Low-doc options available for established operators Full financials usually required
Deposit $0 deposit available for prime applications Deposit typically required
Industry expertise Australia-based transport finance specialists Generic commercial credit team
FAQ

Common Skid Steer Finance Questions

Straight answers to the questions Australian transport operators ask most.

What types of skid steers can I finance in Australia?

We finance prime movers, rigid skid steers, tippers, refrigerated units, B-doubles, trailers and specialty skid steers across all major makes including Kenworth, Volvo, Mack, Iveco, Hino, MAN, Isuzu and Scania. New, used, demonstrator, dealer or private sale.

How long does skid steer finance take to settle?

Pre-approval is typically inside 24 hours once you submit the form. Settlement timing then depends on the lender and asset details, with many Australian deals settling within a week of pre-approval.

Do I need to own property to qualify?

No. Many of our lenders score the deal on freight income and asset value rather than requiring property security. Non-property owners regularly settle skid steer finance through Equifund.

Do I need a deposit?

Not always. $0 deposit is available for prime applications, especially for established operators with active freight contracts. Other deals may require a deposit depending on the asset, the lender and the loan term.

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

Yes. We finance dealer purchases, private sales, auctions and end-of-lease buyouts. The skid steer just needs to meet the lender's age and condition requirements.

Can I refinance an existing skid steer loan?

Yes. Many Australian operators refinance to access a better rate, restructure repayments around their income cycle, release equity from the asset, or consolidate multiple skid steer loans into one facility.

Which lenders does Equifund work with?

We have a panel of 80+ Australian lenders spanning major banks, specialist asset financiers and non-bank lenders that specifically understand freight income and transport assets. Your specialist matches your file to the right lender for the deal.

Can I finance multiple skid steers in one application?

Yes. We regularly settle multi-skid steer deals for Australian fleets, often splitting the package across more than one lender to fit each asset's spec and your overall structure.

Do you finance trailers and equipment as well as skid steers?

Yes. Prime movers, trailers, refrigerated units and combinations are all on the panel. Trailer security can be structured independently of skid steer finance if that better suits the deal.

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

A chattel mortgage gives you immediate ownership of the skid steer while the lender holds it as security. You claim GST upfront and depreciate the skid steer for tax. It is the most common structure for established Australian owner-operators. A finance lease keeps the skid steer on the lender's books with set monthly payments and an optional residual paid at the end of the term. Useful for fleet operators managing repayments against vehicle turnover. Your Australia-based skid steer finance specialist will recommend the structure that suits your business and tax position. Read the full chattel mortgage vs finance lease comparison.

What is freight income recognition?

Freight income recognition is how a specialist lender reads income from freight invoices, contractor payments and transport activity rather than treating only PAYG salary as income. Bank credit templates often miss this. Specialist lenders price freight income accurately, which is why established Australian owner-operators frequently get approved on deals that mainstream banks decline.

What is low-doc skid steer finance?

Low-doc skid steer finance is approval on a reduced documentation set, usually a Director declaration plus business activity statements or recent bank statements, rather than full financials. It is faster to process and common for established small-fleet operators in Australia who would rather not produce two years of full tax returns for a single asset purchase.

What is pre-approval in skid steer finance?

Pre-approval is a conditional finance approval issued before you commit to a skid steer. It sets the maximum loan amount, indicative rate, term and repayment structure so you can negotiate with dealers, private sellers or auction houses on solid ground. Equifund pre-approvals are typically issued within 24 hours of form submission.

What is an Australian Credit Licence (ACL)?

An Australian Credit Licence (ACL) is a licence issued by ASIC permitting a business to engage in credit activities under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act. Equifund holds Australian Credit Licence 389328. Working with an ACL holder is a baseline regulatory protection for the borrower and a baseline trust signal for any Australian finance provider.

Can you finance Bobcat-style skid steers and tracked skid steers for civil and trade work?

Yes. New, demo and used skid steers (wheeled and tracked) from Bobcat, Cat, JCB, Kubota and CASE for civil, construction, landscaping and demolition work are routinely financed through specialist lenders on our panel.

Can you finance skid steers on contract income rather than property security?

Yes. Lenders on our panel score skid steers on contract income, BAS and active civil and landscape contracts. The skid steer itself secures the loan.

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skid steer finance specialists

Apply for Your Skid Steer Finance

Three quick steps. A skid steer finance specialist gets back to you the same business day.

Pre-approval in 24 hours
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