Handling equipment refinance
Warehouses accumulate handling equipment the way workshops accumulate tools, and once it is paid for the value simply sits there depreciating quietly.
Whole-of-market — 60+ lenders searched, including
Can you finance a handling equipment re?
Yes, forklifts and other handling equipment owned outright can be refinanced to release cash. The funder sets a value based on what the trucks would realise second hand, buys them, and hires them straight back to the operator. They stay in the building and keep moving stock. The requirement is clear title with no outstanding agreement and no rental contract behind them. Counterbalance and reach trucks from mainstream manufacturers hold trade value well, so they release more than niche or heavily customised handling equipment with a smaller resale audience.
Used kit: Yes — older trucks still release value provided hours are reasonable and batteries are sound, though the advance falls away on very high-hour units.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
What would a handling equipment re cost per month?
Asset finance is quoted on a flat rate, so that is what the buttons show, with the equivalent APR beside it. Your exact rate depends on the asset, the term, the deposit and the lender.
Prime is an established, profitable business with clean credit. Specialist covers newer businesses and credit that needs explaining — the asset itself carries part of the risk, which is why finance is often available where an unsecured loan is not.
Representative example: on Hire Purchase, borrowing £25,000 over 48 months at a 5.15% flat rate (equivalent to 9.9% APR representative), you would repay around £628 a month; total amount repayable approximately £30,150, of which £5,150 is the cost of finance. This calculator is for illustration only — it is not a quote or an offer of finance, and the rate and repayments you are offered will depend on the asset, term, deposit and your circumstances. CW Asset Finance is a credit broker, not a lender, and may receive a commission from the lender that funds your agreement. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval.
Rates shown are indicative flat rates with the equivalent APR alongside — the two are not the same number. Indicative only and does not constitute a quote or an offer of finance. Subject to status and lender approval.
How lenders treat it
Handling equipment refinances cleanly because there is a busy national trade in used trucks and disposal is simple. Funders look at hour meters first, since a truck running double shifts ages far faster than the year of manufacture suggests, then at battery condition on electric units, which can be a significant part of the value on its own. Attachments such as clamps and rotators are assessed separately and usually valued conservatively. Title evidence means invoices and serial numbers for every unit, and any truck currently on short-term rental is excluded because you do not own it. As always, the funder will ask why the cash is needed, and the answer needs to describe growth or investment rather than a hole. Disposal has accounting implications your accountant should confirm.
Makes and models we fund
Examples of the machines we are asked to fund. This is not an exhaustive list — if what you are buying is not here, it does not mean we cannot fund it. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.
| Machine | What it is |
|---|---|
| Toyota Tonero counterbalance forklift | Yard forklift owned outright |
| Linde E20 electric forklift | Electric counterbalance forklift |
| Jungheinrich ETV 216 reach truck | Warehouse reach truck |
| Crown ESR reach truck | Narrow aisle reach truck |
| Still RX60 electric forklift | Electric warehouse forklift |
| Hyster H2.5FT forklift | Diesel counterbalance forklift |
| JCB 535-95 telehandler | Yard telehandler owned outright |
| Combilift C4000 multidirectional truck | Long load handling forklift |
| Manitou MT 625 telehandler | Compact telescopic handler |
| Toyota BT Levio powered pallet truck | Powered pallet truck fleet |
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Who buys one
Often a third party logistics or wholesale operation that bought its truck fleet outright rather than renting, and now needs funds to fit out an additional bay, install racking or take on a short-notice contract. The trucks are fully owned, they have years of service left, and the capital in them is the cheapest money available.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
How it is treated for tax
Bought on hire purchase, business plant and machinery normally qualifies for capital allowances on the full cost even though you pay for it monthly, which is a large part of why hire purchase is the common structure. On a finance lease you generally set the rentals against profit instead. The rules change between budgets and your position depends on how you trade, so treat this as the direction of travel and get your accountant to confirm the detail before you commit.
Handling equipment refinance questions
Are hours more important than the age of the truck?
Generally yes. A six-year-old truck that has done light single-shift work can value better than a three-year-old truck worked around the clock. Funders look at the hour meter, the service record and the state of the mast before they look at the registration year.
Do batteries and chargers count towards the value?
On electric trucks, very much so. A tired battery can knock a substantial slice off what a truck is worth in the trade, and a recently replaced one helps. Chargers are usually treated as part of the package rather than valued separately.
Can telehandlers be included alongside forklifts?
Yes, and they often value well because they appeal to construction and agriculture buyers as well as warehousing. They are evidenced the same way, with an invoice and a serial or PIN plate for each machine.
What if a truck is on a maintenance contract?
That is fine and usually helps, because documented servicing supports the valuation. What matters is whether the truck itself is owned. A maintenance agreement is a service, not a finance agreement, so it does not block a refinance.
Will someone come to the warehouse to look at the trucks?
Quite possibly. Inspections are common on handling equipment because condition varies so widely with use. The visit is brief and the trucks stay where they are; the inspector is confirming existence, hours and condition, nothing more.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
Also in asset refinance and sale and leaseback
- Plant refinance
- Production equipment refinance
- Commercial vehicle refinance
- Agricultural machinery refinance
- Mixed asset portfolio refinance
- Sale and leaseback
- Capital release
- HGV fleet refinance
- Machine tool refinance
- Hire fleet refinance
- Equity release on plant
- Refinance to fund growth
- Refinance for a VAT bill
See everything we fund in asset refinance and sale and leaseback →
Not an offer of finance. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval.
Get your quote
Tell us what you’re looking to fund and Conor will come back to you personally — usually the same day.
Prefer to talk? Call 0333 772 4864 · serving Leeds, York, Harrogate, Wakefield, Selby, Tadcaster & across North & West Yorkshire.