Recovery trucks earn on call-out contracts, and funders weigh the recovery equipment and the club or police contract as heavily as the chassis.
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Yes. A recovery truck funds as a commercial vehicle with the recovery body — tilt and slide, spec lift or underlift — treated as specialist equipment mounted to the chassis. Used recovery trucks fund reasonably well because the trade buys them consistently. The point that shapes most applications is contract evidence: recovery income is call-out based, so funders want to understand where the work comes from, whether that is a motoring club, police contract, insurer panel or a dealer group. An operator with panel work behind them is a far easier proposition than one starting cold.
Used kit: Yes — used recovery trucks fund well, often to around ten years, with the recovery gear condition and winch service record leading the assessment.
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Business asset finance is quoted on a flat rate, so that is what this shows — with the equivalent APR underneath, because the two are not the same number. A quick guide only; your actual rate depends on the asset, term, deposit and lender.
Representative example: on Hire Purchase, borrowing £25,000 over 48 months at a 6.0% flat rate (equivalent to 11.5% APR representative), you would repay around £646 a month; total amount repayable approximately £31,000, of which £6,000 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. CW Asset Finance is an Appointed Representative of Rural Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 630701).
Recovery is a sector funders either understand well or avoid. Those who do it weekly look first at the body: a tilt and slide or spec lift from a recognised builder has an active second-hand market among other recovery firms, while a heavily customised or home-built conversion does not. Chassis underneath are usually common and unremarkable. On the operator side, the questions are about income source and continuity — club, insurer and police panel work is contracted and recurring, whereas pure roadside trade is lumpy. Funders check the O-licence position where the vehicle is over 3.5 tonnes, and check that the business holds the right recovery operator accreditations where a contract requires them. New starts with no panel work and no trade background are the common decline.
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 |
|---|---|
| Iveco Eurocargo 75E tilt and slide | Single car recovery truck for roadside work |
| DAF LF 180 recovery | Seven and a half tonne slidebed recovery |
| MAN TGL 12.250 recovery | Twelve tonne recovery with spec lift |
| Scania P360 heavy recovery | Heavy underlift for HGV recovery |
| Isuzu Forward N75 slidebed | Compact recovery truck for garages |
| Mercedes-Benz Atego 1524 recovery | Two-car slide and tilt body |
| Volvo FM 460 heavy recovery | Heavy wrecker for motorway contracts |
| Iveco Daily 7.2t recovery | Light recovery for cars and vans |
| Boniface heavy underlift | British-built recovery underlift gear |
| Roger Dyson recovery body | Slidebed body with spec lift |
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Independent recovery operators, garages adding their own collection capability, and firms picking up motoring club or police contracts. The trigger is usually a contract award that requires a minimum vehicle standard and response time, or a garage tired of paying third parties to collect the cars it is about to repair. Others are trade operators serving accident management companies, where response times and vehicle presentation are written into the agreement.
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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.
Yes, but it is harder as a new operator. Club, insurer and police panel work gives funders a recurring income picture they can underwrite against. Without it, the application rests on trading history, personal covenant and any garage or trade relationships you can evidence. Established operators without panel work are funded regularly on accounts alone.
Different jobs. A tilt and slide carries the casualty on the bed, which suits damaged and non-rolling vehicles and looks better for dealer and club work. A spec lift tows with the wheels lifted and is quicker for roadside breakdowns. Many operators end up with both. Funders are comfortable with either from a recognised builder.
Over 3.5 tonnes used in connection with a business, generally yes, though recovery has specific considerations and some exemptions exist depending on use. Your transport manager or the Traffic Commissioner guidance will confirm the position. Funders will ask, because licensing determines whether the vehicle can legally do the work it is bought for.
Yes, and trade-to-trade sales are common in recovery. Funders want clear title, an HPI check and ideally an inspection of the recovery gear — winch, ramps and hydraulics in particular. A vehicle sold with its service records and a documented winch inspection is straightforward. One with neither takes longer and may value lower.
Yes, though the panel narrows further because heavy underlift units are expensive and the buyer pool is small. Funders who write these want to see that the operator already runs light recovery successfully and has the work to justify the step up. Heavy recovery as a first purchase is rarely funded without substantial trading history.
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