Grab lorry finance
A grab lorry is two assets on one chassis, and the crane is underwritten on its own merits alongside the truck it is mounted on.
Whole-of-market — 60+ lenders searched, including
Can you finance a grab lorry?
Yes. A grab lorry funds as a commercial vehicle with the loader crane treated as integral equipment, usually on hire purchase. New and used both fund, and used grab lorries hold value strongly because muck-away and aggregate operators buy them all year round. The detail people miss is the crane paperwork: funders want evidence the crane was professionally installed and that it has a current thorough examination record under LOLER. A grab with no inspection history is a harder proposition than the same truck with a folder of certificates.
Used kit: Yes — used grab lorries fund well into their eighth or ninth year, provided the crane has a documented thorough examination history.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
What would a grab lorry 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
Funders like grab lorries because the second-hand market is genuinely hungry — an operator can sell one quickly and the crane adds rather than subtracts from value, unlike most specialist bodywork. Crane brand carries real weight: Palfinger, Hiab, Epsilon and Atlas units have recognised residual value and a service network. Installation quality is scrutinised because a badly mounted crane compromises the chassis. The operator side follows tipper logic — owner-drivers underwritten personally on credit and haulage relationships, fleets on accounts and disc margin. Where applications fall down is a crane bought and fitted second-hand by an unapproved installer, or a truck bought privately with no way to verify who mounted what.
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 |
|---|---|
| Scania P410 8x4 grab | Eight-wheel grab for muck away |
| DAF CF 400 8x4 grab | Grab lorry on a proven chassis |
| Volvo FMX 420 grab | Strong chassis for heavy grab duty |
| MAN TGS 35.430 grab | Eight-legger with rear-mounted crane |
| Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3243 grab | Construction chassis with grab gear |
| Palfinger Epsilon Q Series | Timber and waste grab crane |
| HIAB X-HiPro loader crane | Loader crane for grab and lift work |
| Fassi F275A grab crane | Mid-range crane for aggregate loading |
| Thompson grab body | Reinforced steel body for grab work |
| Hyva tipping gear | Hydraulics to match crane duty cycles |
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
Who buys one
Muck-away hauliers and waste carriers who need to load themselves rather than wait on a site machine. Often bought by operators who have been paying for a digger and banksman on every job and worked out that self-loading removes a cost and a delay. Also groundworks firms taking on their own spoil removal instead of subcontracting it. A few are skip operators diversifying into loose muck collection, where a grab earns better per load.
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.
Grab lorry finance questions
Can I add a grab crane to a truck I already finance?
Sometimes, but it needs arranging rather than assuming. Adding equipment to a vehicle already under a funder’s title changes the asset they hold security over. Some funders will fund the crane as a separate facility; others prefer to refinance the whole vehicle as a combined asset. Speak to us before the installer books the work in.
Does the crane need a LOLER inspection for finance?
Funders expect a current thorough examination record, yes. It is a legal requirement for lifting equipment in use, and it also tells the funder the crane has been maintained. On a used purchase, ask the seller for the inspection certificates before you commit — a missing record can hold up a deal that is otherwise straightforward.
Is a grab lorry harder to fund than a plain tipper?
Not usually harder, just assessed on two things instead of one. The crane broadens the vehicle’s usefulness and its resale market, which funders view positively. What adds friction is poor documentation — an unknown crane brand, no installation paperwork, or no examination history. A recognised crane with a clean file is often easier than a plain tipper with a repaired body.
What size grab do I need for muck-away work?
That is a spec question rather than a finance one, but it affects the deal. Reach and lifting moment determine what jobs you can take, and an undersized crane limits the work the truck can win. Buy for the contracts you are actually chasing — funders occasionally query a spec that looks mismatched to the described work.
Can I finance a second-hand grab lorry bought privately?
It is possible but harder. Funders prefer a trade or dealer sale because title, HPI status and history are verifiable. A private purchase can still be funded where the vehicle checks out and the crane has certificates, but expect more questions and an inspection. Buying through a recognised dealer removes most of that friction.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
Also in HGV and truck finance
- HGV tractor unit finance
- Rigid truck finance
- 7.5 tonne truck finance
- 18 tonne truck finance
- 26 tonne truck finance
- Tipper truck finance
- Hook loader finance
- Skip loader finance
- Curtainsider truck finance
- Curtainside trailer finance
- Flatbed truck finance
- Dropside truck finance
- Box truck finance
- Refrigerated truck finance
- Refrigerated trailer finance
- Car transporter finance
- Recovery truck finance
- Beavertail truck finance
- Low loader finance
- Concrete mixer truck finance
- Tanker finance
- Bulk tipper trailer finance
- Walking floor trailer finance
- Double deck trailer finance
- Crane lorry finance
- Road sweeper finance
- Refuse truck finance
- Livestock lorry finance
- Electric truck finance
See everything we fund in HGV and truck finance →
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.