
Earthmoving and plant
Telehandler finance from 48+ Australian lenders.
A telehandler does the work of a forklift, a small crane and a work platform. We structure the finance around how many of those jobs it will actually be doing.



One broker from your first call through to funding.
See which telehandler 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.
Access to 21+ telehandler finance lenders
Lenders on our panel that fund telehandler finance.
At a glance
Telehandler finance: the numbers that matter.
- Typical price
- $45,000 – $350,000
- Terms
- Up to 72 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 12 years
In plain English
What is telehandler finance?
Telehandler finance is funding for a telescopic handler — a machine that lifts, reaches and places loads at height — secured against the machine. Telehandlers are standard on Australian construction sites and increasingly on farms, and lenders treat them as mainstream plant with reliable resale.
On a residential or commercial build the telehandler is the machine that keeps everyone else working: loading bricks to the second floor, placing trusses, moving pallets across soft ground and lifting plant into position. On farms the same machine handles bales, silage, fertiliser bags and general yard work, which is why agricultural models with different attachment carriers have become common.
Because telehandlers earn across so many tasks, the buy-versus-hire calculation usually favours ownership once a business is using one more than a couple of days a week. Financing with a chattel mortgage keeps the asset on your books and the interest and depreciation deductible. Where a machine is bought for a single project, a shorter term or an operating lease avoids owning an asset you no longer need at the end.
How lenders assess telehandler finance
Telehandlers are readily financed by most panel lenders with no deposit for established businesses. Valuation considers hours, boom and chain condition, and whether the machine is a fixed-frame construction unit or a rotating model, which narrows the buyer pool. Attachments such as jibs, work platforms and bucket carriages should be listed on the invoice to be included in the funding. Agricultural telehandlers may be assessed under a lender’s agricultural policy, which can allow seasonal or annual repayments instead of monthly.
New or used
New machines sell strongly to hire fleets; used units under 5,000 hours coming out of those fleets are a common and well-priced buy.
Before you buy
- Check boom wear pads and the extension chains — replacement is a workshop job that can take the machine off site for a week.
- Confirm the load chart at your typical reach and height, not just maximum capacity at the ground.
- If you plan to use a work platform, make sure the machine is rated and plated for personnel lifting in your state.
Commonly financed
- JCB 540-170 and 531-70
- Manitou MT 1440 and MLT 737
- Merlo P40.17
- Genie GTH-4018
- Caterpillar TH357



A clear next step
How to finance a telehandler.
Our AI helps check lender fit across 48+ lenders. Your broker reviews the options and explains what they mean for you.
- 01
Confirm the asset
Dealer or private sale, new or used, price and age of the asset.
- 02
Structure the loan
Term, deposit and balloon matched to cash flow and asset life.
- 03
Settle and collect
Lender pays the supplier directly; you take delivery.
- 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 telehandler repayments.
Adjust the price, rate, term and balloon to see the repayment and the total cost over the term.
- Number of repayments
- 60
- Balloon at end of term
- $39,600
- Total interest (est.)
- $56,048
- Total repaid (est.)
- $254,048
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.
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Ways to finance a telehandler
Key terms
What is telehandler finance?
Telehandler finance is a secured loan or lease used to buy a telescopic handler, with the machine as security. Terms usually run 48 to 72 months and attachments can generally be included when they appear on the same purchase invoice.
Is a telehandler classed as plant or a vehicle?
Most lenders treat telehandlers as plant and equipment rather than vehicles, even where the machine is registered for road use. That generally means it is assessed under equipment finance policy, with hours and condition weighted more heavily than kilometres.
Can I finance a telehandler with attachments?
Yes. Forks, buckets, jibs, work platforms and rotator heads can be financed with the telehandler when quoted together, so the whole working machine settles on one contract. Attachments are what make a telehandler versatile across building, farm and hire work, so include them in the quote.
Are telehandlers good security for lenders?
Yes. Telehandlers from Manitou, JCB, Merlo, Genie, JLG and Dieci have strong resale markets in construction, agriculture and hire, so lenders finance them with no deposit for established businesses and offer terms up to six years on new machines. Used machines under about 10 years and 6,000 hours finance on similar terms.
Can a farm finance a telehandler?
Yes. Telehandlers are increasingly the do-everything machine on farms for bale handling, grain and sheds, and agricultural lenders finance them with seasonal repayment structures matched to harvest or livestock sale income. Ask your broker for a seasonal or annual repayment profile if cash flow is lumpy.
Do I need a licence or ticket to finance a telehandler?
The lender does not require one, but operators need the appropriate high-risk work licence for telehandlers over three tonnes or with a work platform, and a gold card or equivalent training for smaller units. Insurance under the finance contract is required from settlement, so arrange it before delivery.
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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