13 tonne excavator finance
Thirteen tonnes is the workhorse size for UK civils, big enough for deep drainage and bulk dig, small enough to move on a standard low loader.
Not picked a machine yet? See used plant from UK dealers, priced per month, on Plant Monthly.
- FCA regulatedAppointed Representative, FRN 1031964
- 60+ lendersWhole-of-market panel, not one bank
- 5.0 from 19 Google reviews
- No credit checkEnquiring leaves no mark on your file
Yes, and it is one of the most comfortable sizes to place. A 13 tonne tracked excavator is prime hard security: the class is in constant demand, values are well documented, and a funder taking one back can move it quickly. Both new and used qualify, with reduced tail swing variants commanding the strongest interest because they suit constrained urban sites. The catch is transport and weight rather than credit, once you factor in a hitch, a full bucket set and a quick coupler, a nominal 13 tonne machine can push past what your existing trailer is plated for, and funders will not fund a trailer upgrade as an afterthought.
Who finances this
Civils subcontractors and drainage specialists who have outgrown a midi, along with muck-away and demolition enabling works firms who need reach and tear-out power without stepping into a 20 tonne machine. The trigger is usually a specific contract: a Section 278 highways job, a deep attenuation scheme, or a main contractor asking whether you can self-deliver the bulk dig. Plant hire companies buy this size to feed housebuilder sites.
How lenders see it
At this size the funder starts underwriting the business as much as the machine. Resale depth remains excellent and export demand is strong for the major marques, so security is not usually the issue. Expect bank-owned lessors and the larger independents to compete, with captive finance from the manufacturer often sharpest on new stock. Declines here tend to come from serviceability rather than character: a balance sheet that will not carry another agreement, heavy existing plant commitments, or a sudden jump in machine size with no matching jump in contract value. Show the contract or framework behind the purchase and the application changes tone. Hire fleets are judged on utilisation rates and the average age of the fleet, owner-operators on the strength of the work in hand.
Buying used
Yes. Used 13 tonne machines are funded regularly; expect more scrutiny of hours and undercarriage condition once a machine is past about eight years.
Also in plant and construction equipment finance
See everything we fund in plant and construction equipment finance →
Stage payments and retention
Flowzo funds the gap created by stage payments, long terms and retention, the cash flow problem the plant itself does not solve.
Buying plant at auction? We can give you an indicative decision before you bid, and we list every UK machinery auctioneer and livestock mart.
Machines we have funded
| JCB 131 X | 13 tonne tracked excavator |
|---|---|
| JCB 140X | 14 tonne site excavator |
| Hitachi ZX135US-7 | 13 tonne short tail excavator |
| CAT 313 | 13 tonne excavator for general earthworks |
| CAT 315 | 15 tonne general purpose excavator |
| Komatsu PC138US-11 | 13 tonne short tail swing machine |
| Volvo ECR145EL | 14 tonne reduced swing excavator |
| Develon DX140LCR-7 | 14 tonne reduced radius excavator |
| Takeuchi TB2150 | 15 tonne tracked excavator |
| Hyundai HX130A LCR | 13 tonne reduced radius machine |
What a 13 tonne excavator actually costs to buy
Prices for a 13 tonne excavator advertised by UK suppliers run from £14,950 to £72,500 (checked 28 October 2026). VAT bases differ between these listings and are stated against each figure.
Boom configuration beats age: a 2022 ZX130 on a 13m river-reach boom asks £72,500 at 4,400 hours, above any standard machine listed. Short-tail bodies (PC138US) and hydraulic quick-hitch plus hammer pipework are the other price shelves, not year.
| Machine | Asking price | Seen at |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Hitachi ZX130 LC-3, 9,855 hrs, 2 buckets, steel tracks | £14,950 | farmmachinerylocator.co.uk |
| 2015 Hitachi ZX130 LCN-5, 10,700 hrs, quick hitch, 1 bucket | £25,000 +VAT | farmmachinerylocator.co.uk |
| 2018 Hitachi ZX130 LCN-6, 7,670 hrs, hammer lines, good undercarriage | £34,500 +VAT | farmmachinerylocator.co.uk |
| 2022 Komatsu PC138US-11 short-tail, 7,801 hrs, full service history | £35,000 | ridgwayrentals.com |
| 2020 Hitachi ZX130 LCN-6, 7,200 hrs, aux hydraulics, quick attach | £39,950 +VAT | farmmachinerylocator.co.uk |
| 2022 Komatsu PC138US-11 short-tail, 2,736 hrs, full service history, warranty | £48,500 | ridgwayrentals.com |
| 2023 JCB 140x LC, 1,700 hrs, ex-rental fleet with warranty | £60,000 | ridgwayrentals.com |
| 2022 Hitachi ZX130 long reach, 13m river reach, 4,400 hrs, Stage V, 700mm pads | £72,500 | farmmachinerylocator.co.uk |
Prices checked 28 October 2026 on ridgwayrentals.com, farmmachinerylocator.co.uk. These are asking prices observed on dealer and marketplace listings, shown as examples. They are not a quote or an offer of finance, and they move with the market. Check the current advert before budgeting.
How finance works on a 13 tonne excavator
The prices above are what a seller is asking. What a funder will actually do with the purchase is a separate question, and it is the one that decides whether the deal happens.
| Question | Typical answer |
|---|---|
| Term available | 12 to 72 months. Most agreements sit between 24 and 60 months; anything shorter or longer needs a funder check before you rely on it. |
| Age of the asset | There is no single cut-off. It depends on the asset class, and condition, hours and resale value are underwritten rather than the year alone. Tell us the age and we will say before you commit. |
| Buying from a private seller | Often possible, but case by case. It needs a funder who will write it, an inspection and proof of ownership, so say whether the seller is a dealer or a private seller when you enquire. |
| Deposit | Frequently nil where the credit profile is standard. Where it is not, typically 10–20%, nearer 20% if a default is recent. |
| VAT on the purchase | Both approaches exist, depending on the funder. The agreement is commonly written on the ex-VAT price with the VAT paid upfront and reclaimed, though some funders will include the VAT in the agreement. |
General guidance from our own funder panel as at 31 October 2026, not a quote and not an offer of finance. All finance is subject to status and to the funder's own criteria.
Can I get a 13 tonne excavator on finance against a contract?
Often yes. A signed subcontract or framework order does not replace credit underwriting, but it materially strengthens a marginal case by showing where the repayments come from. Send the order value, the duration and the main contractor’s name with the application rather than waiting to be asked for them.
How many hours is too many on a used 13 tonne digger?
There is no single cut-off. Funders look at hours against age and against condition, so a well-maintained machine with high hours and a full service history can be an easier proposition than a neglected low-hour one. Undercarriage condition tends to drive the valuation more than the hour meter does.
Can I refinance an excavator I already own outright?
Yes. Refinancing releases capital against a machine you own free of finance, which can fund a deposit elsewhere or simply restore working capital. The funder values the machine, takes title and repays you the agreed sum. Age and condition drive how much is available, so send photographs and the service record.
Does the type of work affect the finance?
It can. Demolition, quarry and recycling applications are harder on a machine than housebuilding groundworks, and some funders price or structure differently as a result. Being upfront about the application is better than being vague, because an inspection at the end of the agreement will reveal it anyway.
Can two machines go on one agreement?
They can, but it is often better to keep them separate. Separate agreements let you settle or refinance one machine without disturbing the other, and they make part exchanging simpler later. Where the machines are bought together from one supplier, a single agreement can reduce paperwork. We will suggest which suits.
Still choosing the machine? Plant Monthly is a UK marketplace of used plant machinery from dealers, with a monthly finance price on every listing.
Browse used plant on Plant MonthlyTell us what you need
About a minute of plain questions, and no documents to dig out.
Prime is established and profitable with clean credit. Specialist covers newer businesses and credit that needs explaining, the asset carries part of the risk, so finance is often available where an unsecured loan is not.
Illustrative only, not a quote, a flat rate is not an APR, so the APR on a given agreement will be higher. VAT and fees excluded.
Start my enquiryNo credit check, and enquiring leaves no mark on your credit file. Finance is subject to status. We are a credit broker, not a lender.
Only pricing it up?
An enquiry is a conversation, not an application. Nothing runs against your file until you tell us to go ahead.
No credit check to enquire
Your credit scoreUntouched
Conor reads every enquiry himself. We will call you within 24 business hours, and it will be the person who actually arranges the finance, not a call centre, and not a form that disappears.
A real person on your side
One adviser from your first enquiry to the money in your account. No call centres.
Your adviser
Conor HullMon to Fri, 9am–6pm
5.0 from 19 Google reviews
Thinking about 13 tonne excavator finance?
A few questions, and we will tell you what the panel can do. No obligation, and no call centres.
