Earthmoving and plant

Roller finance from 48+ Australian lenders.

Rollers work in short bursts and last a long time. We match the term to the machine’s real working life rather than defaulting to the shortest option.

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One broker from your first call through to funding.

See which roller finance options fit your business.

Tell us what you are buying. A Lyft Money broker compares 48+ lenders and explains the rate, balloon, fees and total cost before you decide.

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Access to 21+ roller finance lenders

Lenders on our panel that fund roller finance.

  • Banjo Loans
  • Dynamoney
  • Finance One Commercial
  • ScotPac
  • FlexiCommercial
  • Shift
  • Judo Bank
  • Earlypay
  • Angle Asset Finance
  • Automotive Financial Services
  • Azora
  • Firstmac
  • Liberty
  • Metro Finance
  • Morris Finance
  • Pepper Money
  • Quest Finance
  • Resimac
  • Selfco
  • Maple Commercial Finance
  • Branded Financial Services

At a glance

Roller finance: the numbers that matter.

Typical price
$30,000 – $350,000
Terms
Up to 84 months
Indicative rates
6.9% – 14.5% p.a.
Typical speed
24–48 hours for low-doc up to $150k; longer for full-doc
Usual structure
Chattel mortgage
Useful life
About 15 years

In plain English

What is roller finance?

Roller finance is funding for a compaction roller — smooth drum, padfoot, multi-tyred or combination — secured against the machine. Rollers are essential on road, subdivision and pavement work in Australia, and because they accumulate hours slowly they often stay financeable and saleable well past ten years of age.

Compaction is the step that determines whether a pavement lasts or fails, so most civil contractors end up owning at least one roller rather than hiring every time. The class you buy follows the work: a 1 to 3 tonne tandem for driveways and footpaths, an 11 to 14 tonne smooth drum for subdivision roads, a padfoot for bulk earthworks, and a multi-tyred roller for asphalt sealing.

Rollers are unusual among earthmoving assets because low annual hours mean a machine bought used often has most of its life ahead of it. That supports longer finance terms and gentler repayments. If you already own a roller outright, a sale and leaseback can free the equity for working capital while you keep using the machine, though your broker should compare that against simpler options first.

How lenders assess roller finance

Lenders like rollers because they clock few hours and hold value. A 12-year-old machine with 3,000 hours is often treated more favourably than a 6-year-old excavator with 9,000. Drum condition, vibration bearings and the ADT or exciter system are the valuation points. Small walk-behind and trench rollers can fall below a lender’s minimum funding amount and may need to be bundled with other equipment on the one contract. Ex-hire units are accepted with service records, and private sales require PPSR clearance.

New or used

Used rollers are abundant and financeable because hours are typically low relative to age; new purchases are common in the small walk-behind and 1 to 3 tonne classes.

Before you buy

  • Test the vibration in both amplitudes for the full warm-up cycle — exciter bearing failure is expensive and does not always show cold.
  • Check drum shell thickness and look for cracking or repair welds, particularly on ex-quarry padfoot machines.
  • Confirm the machine has a current compaction plate or test data if you need it for council or RMS-style compliance work.

Commonly financed

  • Caterpillar CS56 and CS68
  • Bomag BW211 and BW120
  • Dynapac CA2500
  • Ammann ARX26
  • Wacker Neuson RTLx
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Stefan Siciliano, Lyft Money co-founder, taking a client call in the Parramatta office
Stefan · Co-founder
Anthony Di Martino, senior broker, walking a client through their finance options
Anthony · Senior Broker
Kris, Lyft Money co-founder, comparing lender quotes at his desk
Kris · Co-founder

A clear next step

How to finance a roller.

Our AI helps check lender fit across 48+ lenders. Your broker reviews the options and explains what they mean for you.

  1. 01

    Confirm the asset

    Dealer or private sale, new or used, price and age of the asset.

  2. 02

    Structure the loan

    Term, deposit and balloon matched to cash flow and asset life.

  3. 03

    Settle and collect

    Lender pays the supplier directly; you take delivery.

Documents lenders commonly ask for:
  • ID and ABN
  • Invoice or quote for the asset
  • Bank statements or financials depending on amount

The lender makes the final credit decision. Available options depend on your business and the lender’s assessment.

Before you make a decision

Estimate your roller repayments.

Adjust the price, rate, term and balloon to see the repayment and the total cost over the term.

Estimated monthly repayment
$3,429.73
Number of repayments
60
Balloon at end of term
$38,000
Total interest (est.)
$53,784
Total repaid (est.)
$243,784

This calculator is a guide only. It uses simplified assumptions, excludes fees and charges unless stated, and is not an offer or quote. Actual repayments are confirmed by the lender in its loan contract.

From Lyft Money clients

Clear advice.
People who stay in touch.

Rated 5.0 from 340 Google reviews across the types of finance we arrange. Read them on Google.

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He explained all the financing options clearly
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helped out my business
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Ways to finance a roller

Key terms

What is roller finance?

Roller finance is a secured loan or lease used to buy a compaction roller, with the machine as security. Terms usually run 48 to 84 months and the funds are paid to the dealer, auction house or private seller on settlement.

Why do lenders accept older rollers?

Rollers accumulate engine hours slowly and have few wearing components compared with excavators or loaders. A 12-year-old roller with low hours can have a decade of service left, so lenders assess hours and drum condition more heavily than calendar age.

Straight answers

Roller finance FAQs.

Have a question?

Talk to us: 1800 005 938

Browse all questions →

Can I finance a roller for civil or asphalt work with no deposit?

Usually, yes, for established businesses buying a late-model roller from a recognised brand. Lenders know the resale market for smooth drum, padfoot and tandem rollers and treat them as strong security. Older machines, start-ups and very large rollers may need a deposit or financials.

Can a hire company finance a fleet of rollers?

Yes. Rollers are a staple of plant hire, and lenders fund fleets through a master facility or a series of contracts at fleet pricing. Hire income and utilisation data support the application, and a broker can spread the fleet across lenders to keep each lender’s exposure comfortable.

How do lenders treat used rollers?

Used rollers under about 10 years and 5,000 hours are financed on terms close to new. Lenders look at drum condition, vibration system service history and hours. Auction and private purchases are accepted with a PPSR clearance and inspection, and pre-approval lets you bid at auction with confidence.

How long should I finance a roller for?

Rollers have long, low-stress lives, so five to seven years is common on new machines and three to five on used. A balloon of 20 to 30 per cent suits businesses that update machines regularly; a straight term suits those who run a roller for its full life.

Do I need a deposit for equipment finance?

Often no deposit is required, particularly for established businesses buying standard assets from a dealer. A deposit is more likely where the business is new, the asset is older or specialised, the credit profile is weaker, or the amount is large relative to turnover. Deposits typically range from around 10% to 30% in those cases. Putting money in reduces the amount financed and can improve the terms offered, but it is not always necessary.

What fees are normally charged on equipment finance?

The common ones are an establishment or documentation fee charged at settlement, a monthly account-keeping fee, and a PPSR registration fee for recording the lender's interest in the asset. A brokerage fee may also apply, which we disclose to you in writing before anything is submitted. Some agreements include an early termination or break cost. Fees vary by lender and are typically a modest part of total cost compared with the interest, but they should still be compared.

How large a balloon can I set?

Lenders publish maximum residual or balloon percentages that fall as the term lengthens, because the asset is worth less at the end of a longer term. For a vehicle, a common pattern is up to roughly 50% on a two-year term, reducing to around 20% to 30% on a five-year term. The ATO also sets minimum residual values for finance leases. A larger balloon lowers monthly repayments but increases total interest and leaves a lump sum to deal with at the end.

Is hire purchase still used in Australia?

It is far less common than it once was. Under hire purchase the financier owns the asset and you hire it, with ownership transferring automatically after the final instalment. Since the GST changes that made chattel mortgage more attractive for businesses accounting on a cash basis, most equipment lending is written as a chattel mortgage or lease instead. Some lenders still offer commercial hire purchase, and your accountant can advise whether it suits your circumstances.

What is PPSR registration and why does the lender do it?

The Personal Property Securities Register is the national register of security interests in personal property, including vehicles and equipment. When a lender finances an asset, it registers its interest so the security is publicly recorded and its priority is protected if the asset is sold or the business fails. It also means a buyer searching the register will see the finance. The registration is released once the contract is paid out, and a small registration fee is usually passed on to you.

How does a balloon payment work on a chattel mortgage?

A balloon is a lump sum left to pay at the end of a chattel mortgage, which lowers the regular repayments during the term. For example, a 30 per cent balloon on a $100,000 vehicle leaves $30,000 to pay at the end, so the monthly amount is calculated on $70,000 plus interest on the full balance. Balloons are commonly set between 0 and 40 per cent depending on the asset and term, and at the end you can pay it out, refinance it or sell the asset to clear it. A balloon reduces monthly cost but increases total interest, so your broker shows both figures side by side.

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