MRI scanner finance
Large imaging is closer to a construction project than an equipment purchase, and the funding has to be built to match.
Whole-of-market — 60+ lenders searched, including
Can you finance an MRI scanner?
Yes, but MRI is funded as a project rather than as a machine. The scanner is one line on a budget that also includes the RF cage, magnetic shielding, the chiller and plant, floor loading and craneage, and the building work to get it into the room. Only the scanner itself is strong security; everything else is soft cost. Used and relocated systems are fundable through specialist suppliers. The point people underestimate is time — siting surveys, planning and manufacturer lead times mean funding needs to be structured well before the machine is ready.
Used kit: Yes — refurbished and relocated systems are a normal part of this market, commonly up to around ten years old where the manufacturer or a specialist will contract to maintain them.
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What would an MRI scanner 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
Very few funders write MRI, and those that do behave like project financiers rather than equipment lenders. They will look at the referral pipeline, contracted NHS or insurer volumes, the site, the lease or freehold, and the manufacturer service agreement, because a scanner without a maintenance contract is a liability rather than an asset. The magnet has real international resale value and can be de-installed, but doing so is expensive and specialist, so recovery is discounted heavily. Mobile trailer-mounted systems are often easier to secure against than a fixed install precisely because they move. Declines come from unproven demand, sites without planning consent, applicants with no imaging track record, and projects where the works materially exceed the equipment value.
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 |
|---|---|
| Siemens Healthineers MAGNETOM Sola | Wide-bore magnetic resonance imaging system |
| Siemens Healthineers MAGNETOM Free.Max | Compact imaging system with reduced siting needs |
| GE HealthCare SIGNA Voyager | Wide-bore imaging system for clinics |
| GE HealthCare SIGNA Artist | Imaging system with digital coil technology |
| Philips Ingenia Ambition | Imaging system with sealed magnet design |
| Philips Ingenia Elition | Premium imaging system for busy units |
| Canon Vantage Orian | Wide-bore imaging system for clinics |
| Canon Vantage Galan 3T | High-field imaging system for imaging centres |
| Esaote O-scan | Compact extremity imaging unit |
| Esaote S-scan | Open imaging unit for limbs and joints |
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Who buys one
Independent imaging providers opening a new centre or replacing a system that is no longer supported, private hospitals adding capacity, and consultant-led clinics in orthopaedics or musculoskeletal medicine wanting their own scanning rather than referring out. Mobile imaging operators buying trailer-mounted systems are a separate category with a different asset profile, since the unit travels. Occupational health and sports medicine groups adding musculoskeletal scanning are an emerging group.
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.
MRI scanner finance questions
Can the RF cage and plant room be funded with the scanner?
A proportion can, but not usually all of it. Shielding, chillers, floor strengthening and craneage are soft costs the funder cannot lift out and resell. On large projects it is common to fund the scanner conventionally and arrange the works separately, which we would map out before approaching anyone.
Is a refurbished MRI harder to finance than new?
Not necessarily, and refurbished systems are an established part of this market. What funders insist on is a maintenance contract from the manufacturer or a credible specialist. An unsupported magnet is the problem, not the age, because nobody wants to own a scanner that cannot be serviced.
How far ahead should we arrange funding?
Earlier than most people think. Siting surveys, planning consent, structural work and manufacturer lead times all run in parallel, and the funder will want to see the site secured. Starting the conversation at the feasibility stage avoids discovering late that the structure needs changing. It also gives time to compare funders, as very few will write imaging of this size.
Do we need contracted volumes before a lender will look at it?
It helps enormously. A referral pipeline, insurer recognition or an NHS subcontract gives an underwriter something concrete to assess. A speculative centre in an area with existing capacity is a much harder proposition and will attract questions about demand you should be ready to answer.
Is a mobile MRI trailer assessed differently?
Yes, and sometimes more favourably. A trailer-mounted system can be moved and sold as a unit, which makes it better security than a fixed install. The trade-off is that funders will want to know where it is based, how it is insured on the road and who your host sites are.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
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Not an offer of finance. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval.
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