Skid Steer Finance
Flexible finance for skid steers and compact track loaders across Australia
Whether you are buying your first skid steer or adding to an existing fleet, Sierra Finance gives you access to 50+ lenders with fast approvals and finance structures that match the way your business actually earns.
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How Skid Steer Finance Works
Most skid steer buyers finance through a chattel mortgage. You take ownership of the machine from day one, claim depreciation and GST on the purchase, and make fixed repayments over the term. For most operators this is the cleanest structure because you own the asset outright and the tax benefits apply upfront.
Finance lease is an alternative where the lender retains ownership and you make rental payments. This suits operators who prefer to upgrade machines on a regular cycle or want lower monthly outgoings without committing to long term ownership.
Terms typically run 3 to 5 years. Seven year terms are available but less common on skid steers because of how quickly they accumulate hours. The key decision is whether to include a balloon (residual) payment at the end of the term. A balloon reduces your monthly repayments but leaves a lump sum owing when the term finishes. On excavators and bulldozers, balloons work well because those machines hold their value over time.Skid steers depreciate faster, especially compact track loaders where undercarriage wear is a significant maintenance cost. A 30% balloon on a skid steer could leave you owing more than the machine is worth in five years. We structure every deal based on the specific machine and its realistic resale value so you are not caught out at the end of the term.
What You Can Finance
We finance every type of skid steer and compact loader on the Australian market. Wheeled skid steers, compact track loaders, and mini loaders from all major manufacturers including Bobcat, Caterpillar, Kubota, John Deere, Case, New Holland, Takeuchi, and Wacker Neuson.
New machines from authorised dealers, used machines from dealers or private sellers, ex hire fleet units, and machines purchased at auction are all financeable. The used market for skid steers is active and a large portion of the deals we arrange involve private sales between operators. Private sales change the lender conversation because there is no dealer invoice and no warranty, so lender selection matters. Some mainstream lenders will not finance a private sale skid steer below a certain value. Specialist lenders are more flexible and assess the machine on condition and hours rather than the purchase channel.
Age limits vary by lender. Most mainstream lenders cap the asset at 15 years old at end of term. Specialist lenders go further, particularly if the machine has been well maintained and the hours are reasonable for its age. Hours matter more on skid steers than on larger yellow goods because these machines run hard. A 10 year old excavator sitting on 5,000 hours is a different proposition to a 10 year old skid steer sitting on 8,000 hours. We match the lender to the machine's actual condition, not just its build date.
Attachments including buckets, augers, forks, trenchers, mulchers, sweepers, and hydraulic breakers can usually be bundled into the same finance facility as the machine. Where a large attachment package pushes the total deal above the machine's standalone security value, we may recommend financing the attachments separately or putting a deposit on that component to keep the loan to value ratio comfortable for the lender.
Most deals fall between $30,000 and $120,000 depending on whether the machine is new or used, wheeled or tracked, and how many attachments are included.
Who Skid Steer Finance Is For
Skid steers are one of the most common first machines for owner operators starting a business. A landscaper going from manual work to machine work. A handyman scaling into small civil jobs. A concreter adding site prep capability to win bigger contracts. If this is your first machine and your ABN is less than two years old, the finance conversation is different from an established operator adding to a fleet, and we structure these deals every week.
New ABN holders with limited trading history can access skid steer finance through lenders that assess the deal on a combination of industry experience, the asset itself, and supporting documentation like a letter from a head contractor or evidence of upcoming work. Some lenders require 12 months of BAS lodgements while others will work with 6 months of bank statements and an ABN registration. Low doc pathways are available for operators who do not have current financials prepared.
Established operators buying a second or third machine are a straightforward approval in most cases. Landscapers, civil subcontractors, demolition operators, concreters, pool builders, farmers using a skid steer as a secondary machine, and hire companies replenishing fleet all sit comfortably within standard lender criteria.
If your bank has declined a skid steer purchase because the machine is too old, the sale is private, or your trading history is too short, a broker opens up lenders the bank does not offer. The same deal one lender declines can be approved by another with different appetite for the same asset class. That is where the value of 50+ lenders on our panel becomes practical rather than just a number. For operators who are also looking at machinery finance for excavators or other yellow goods, we can structure multiple assets across the same or different lenders to get the best result on each file.
Why Use a Broker for Skid Steer Finance
Skid steers sit in a unique spot in the lender market. They are small enough that some operators consider paying cash, but large enough that financing preserves working capital for the materials, fuel, and wages that actually generate revenue.
The challenge is that not every lender treats skid steers the same way. Some are conservative on age because of the depreciation curve. Others are comfortable with older machines if the hours and condition add up. Some will bundle a full attachment package into the facility while others cap attachment value at a percentage of the machine. Some have specific appetite for new ABN operators buying their first machine while others want two years of trading history as a minimum.
A broker who arranges skid steer finance regularly knows which lenders fit which deal. That means you are not submitting applications to lenders who will decline based on criteria that should have been identified before the application was lodged. Every unnecessary credit enquiry on your file makes the next application harder, and on a deal this size, getting the lender match right first time is the difference between a smooth settlement and a frustrating process.
We handle the full process from application through to settlement, including sourcing valuations on private sale machines, coordinating with dealers, and managing the paperwork. On a skid steer deal the machine is often needed on site within days. Speed matters, and a broker who knows the panel moves faster than going direct to a lender you have no existing relationship with.
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Getting Skid Steer Finance
Step 1: Tell us what you are buying
Get in touch with the details of the skid steer you are looking at. Whether it is new or used, dealer or private sale, and any attachments you want included. If you are still deciding, we can provide a pre approval so you know your budget before you commit to a machine.
Step 2: We match you to the right lender
Based on the machine, your business profile, and how the deal is structured, we identify the best lender from our panel of 50+ options. You get a clear breakdown of repayments, term, and any deposit required before anything is submitted.
Step 3: Approval and settlement
Once you are happy with the structure, we lodge the application and manage the process through to settlement. Most skid steer deals settle within 3 to 5 business days of a complete application. For straightforward deals with an established operator and a dealer purchase, same week settlement is common.
Skid Steer Finance FAQs
Get a free skid steer finance quote.
Tell us what you are buying and we will come back to you with the best structure from our panel of 50+ lenders.