What's financeable
LPG, diesel and electric counterbalance forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, walkie stackers, pallet movers and telehandlers — plus batteries and chargers for electric fleets, which can be a surprisingly large slice of the invoice. Single units from ~$15,000 to multi-unit fleet deals.
Electric fleet transitions
Warehouses switching from LPG to lithium electric often finance the whole transition — units, batteries, charging infrastructure — in one facility. Structure matters: batteries have different useful lives than trucks, and some lenders will split the term accordingly.
Watch-outs in the used market
- Hour-meter integrity. Used forklift hours are notoriously optimistic. Lenders may require an inspection; you should want one anyway.
- Ex-rental stock. Fine machines, hard lives. Price accordingly and check service history.
- Battery condition on electrics. A tired battery can be a third of replacement cost — have it load-tested before you commit.
Terms are typically 2–5 years, chattel mortgage or finance lease, with low doc widely available given modest ticket sizes. Rent-to-own arrangements from dealers can be refinanced into ownership if you're partway in and tired of rental economics.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to rent or finance a forklift?
For short or uncertain needs, rent. For any machine you'll run 2+ years, finance is usually far cheaper — rental rates price in the dealer's risk and margin. Many operators refinance out of long-running rentals.
Can chargers and batteries be included?
Yes, batteries and charging infrastructure are routinely financed with electric units — flag it upfront so the term can be structured sensibly.
What term suits a forklift?
2–5 years depending on age and duty cycle. High-duty DC machines suit shorter terms; lightly used units in clean environments can justify 5.
Get a free truck & equipment finance quote
Takes 60 seconds. No credit check to enquire. A licensed broker compares lenders and calls you back — usually same business day.