How do you finance a bucket truck?
You finance a bucket truck with an equipment finance agreement or a lease, new or used, from a dealer, an auction or another contractor. Bucket truck financing starts at our usual $15,000 minimum, and a new truck’s price climbs with working height. Here’s what trucks cost at each height, what that comes to each month, and what to check on a used one.
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How does bucket truck financing work?
We pay the dealer or seller, and your business pays a fixed amount each month with the truck as collateral. Most deals go on an equipment finance agreement, or EFA: the truck’s yours from day one, and the lien comes off once it’s paid. Terms run 24 to 84 months. A lease goes 24 to 60 months, with a $1, 10% or fair market value buyout at the end. Planning to run the truck until it’s worn out? I’d go with the EFA.
A bucket truck bought complete on one invoice goes on one agreement with one payment. Soft costs like delivery or an extended warranty can ride along too, usually around 20% of the equipment amount, depending on credit and collateral.
Tree crews, sign and lighting companies, and line and telecom contractors all run these trucks, and the financing works the same for each. See our underground utility equipment financing page for what a utility crew buys alongside one, and our commercial truck financing page for vocational and utility trucks.
The application starts with a soft credit inquiry, and you’ll typically hear back within 1 to 2 business hours. Qualifying files up to $500,000 can be decided on the application alone. Clean ones can be approved in as little as 30 minutes, with funding in as little as 24 to 48 hours once the documents are signed.
How much does a new bucket truck cost?
In the public purchase records we found, a new bucket truck ran from $148,000 with a 40-foot boom to $337,438 at 65 feet, and a 100-foot unit was priced at $609,330. Cities and utilities publish what they pay, so these are the clearest new prices we could find.
| Working height | Truck | Public buyer and date | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40-foot boom | 2026 bucket truck, chassis not stated | Bryan, Ohio, May 2026 | $148,000 (the other bid was $207,045) |
| 46 feet | Altec AT41M on a 2026 Ford F-600 4x4 | Little Rock, Arkansas, December 2025 agenda | Up to $203,638 |
| 60 feet | Altec TA60 4x2 | Burnet, Texas, September 2025 agenda | $263,847 with delivery |
| 65-foot truck, as the agenda lists it | Terex truck for a city forestry division | Savannah, Georgia, April 2026 agenda | $337,438 |
| 100 feet | Altec AH100, insulated | Duncan, Oklahoma, September 2024 | $609,330 new on the city’s contract |
Public purchase records, checked November 5, 2026, not appraisals or offers. Agenda items are staff requests, so a final price can differ, and your quote can land higher or lower than a public buyer’s.
Compare working height, since model names can fool you. An Altec AT41M reaches about 46 feet, not 41. Working height runs about five feet above the platform.
The chassis matters too. The 2016 F-550 in the used table below is rated at 18,000 pounds GVWR, under the 26,001 pounds where a Class B CDL comes in. The 33,000-pound F-750 in that table needs that license, so think about who’ll drive before you pick a truck.
How much does a used bucket truck cost?
The used bucket trucks we could verify asked $20,995 to $70,000. Age and condition can outweigh height here, which is how a 60-foot truck ends up listed below a 45-foot one.
| Working height | Truck | Miles and hours, per the seller | Asking price | Listed in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 feet, non-insulated | 2012 Ram 4500, Versalift TEL-29 | About 78,000 miles; 14,156 engine hours; 1,325 PTO hours | $25,000 | Craigville, IN |
| 36 feet | 2012 Ford F-450, Altec AT200A | 171,000 miles | $20,995 | East Dundee, IL |
| 45 feet | 2016 Ford F-550 4x4, Altec AT40G | 77,000 miles | $54,995 | East Dundee, IL |
| 45 feet, insulated | 2021 Ford F-550 4x4, Altec AT40G | About 141,000 miles; 6,123 engine hours | $70,000 | Craigville, IN |
| 60 feet, rated 46 kV and below | 2017 International 4300, Altec AA55-MH | About 103,000 miles; 9,838 engine hours; 4,208 PTO hours | $55,000 | Craigville, IN |
| 60 feet, rated 46 kV and below | 2008 Ford F-750, Altec AM55, sold as is | About 122,000 miles; 15,277 engine hours; 1,572 PTO hours | $30,000 | Craigville, IN |
Listed asking prices we found, checked November 5, 2026, not appraisals or offers. Miles, hours and ratings are the sellers’ own words, which we haven’t verified, and any of these trucks may be gone. Five West has no affiliation with these sellers.
A used 45-foot truck here asks about a quarter to a third of the new 46-foot price above. At the top end, Duncan approved $346,174 in 2024 for a 2018 100-foot demonstrator with 11,900 miles, against that $609,330 new price.
Shopping for a forestry rig? Our tree care equipment guide has more on those trucks, plus chippers and grinders.
What’s the monthly payment on a bucket truck?
For an established business with nothing down, these examples run from about $668 to $7,005 a month. Every $10,000 you finance adds about $208 a month over 60 months.
| Example | Price | 36 months | 60 months | 84 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Used 36-foot Ford F-450 (2012) | $20,995 | About $668 | Depends on the truck | Depends on the truck |
| Used 60-foot International (2017) | $55,000 | About $1,749 | About $1,142 | Depends on the truck |
| Used 45-foot Ford F-550 (2021) | $70,000 | About $2,226 | About $1,453 | Depends on the truck |
| New truck with a 40-foot boom | $148,000 | – | About $3,072 | About $2,381 |
| New 60-foot Altec TA60 | $263,847 | – | About $5,477 | About $4,245 |
| New 65-foot forestry truck | $337,438 | – | About $7,005 | About $5,429 |
Estimated examples for an established business only, with no money down, on an equipment finance agreement. Older equipment typically gets a shorter term, so the terms shown may not be available on every truck. Actual payments depend on credit, the equipment and the term. Not an offer.
The Quote Builder shows an estimated payment on your truck with no credit pull.
Does work slow down in winter, or does storm season bring in most of your money? Many programs can push the first payment out or lighten the slow months, so ask before you sign. And if the truck is for a contract you’ve already won, say so on the application. Those are strong files.
Bucket trucks are also on the vehicle list in our Section 179 work truck guide. Your CPA can confirm how it applies to you.
Can you finance a used bucket truck?
Yes. We finance used bucket trucks from dealers, auctions and other contractors. There is no age limit, though older equipment can be tougher to get done. Older equipment also typically gets a shorter term. Five West doesn’t set a maximum hour reading, so hours, condition and records decide the term.
Buying from another tree company or line contractor moves at the same pace as a dealer deal. We run the lien search and pay the seller directly, and if the seller still owes on the truck, we pay off their lender at closing so the lien is released. With good credit, you usually don’t need a down payment, even on a private sale. An attorney can look over the bill of sale.
An older truck can land near our usual $15,000 minimum, and that minimum counts on the whole bundle. A chipper or trailer can go on the same agreement to get you there.
What should you check on a used bucket truck?
Start with the boom. ANSI/SAIA A92.2 is the standard for vehicle-mounted aerial devices, and OSHA’s construction rule on aerial lifts ties its electrical tests to an older edition. Here’s what I’d ask a seller for:
- Whether it’s insulated. Not all of them are. The 34-foot Ram above is sold as non-insulated, which may suit a sign crew but won’t suit one near energized lines. Insulated trucks carry a rating, often Category C, 46 kV and below. Ask the manufacturer what your work calls for.
- The latest dielectric test, if the boom is insulated. It’s the first report I’d want to see. A Terex Utilities engineer writes in EC&M that without a periodic test in the past 12 months, a unit can no longer be considered insulated. It should be tested again after repairs to the insulated sections or contact with a live line.
- Inspection records under ANSI A92.2. A 2020 Incident Prevention review of the 2015 edition says inspection and maintenance records have to be kept for five years, so ask for all of them. That covers the periodic inspections a qualified mechanic does, not the daily checks. No records? Have a qualified technician go over the truck before you sign.
- The 15-year structural inspection. Per a Terex advisory, the 2021 edition requires a major structural inspection after 15 years and every 10 after that, whatever the build date, with a load test at one and a half times rated capacity. A 2011 truck is at that mark now, so ask for the report or price the inspection into your offer.
- Boom hours. Most trucks run the boom off the engine through a PTO, so miles alone won’t show how hard a truck has worked. A 2016 service truck in a Pasadena utility report from November 2025 had 41,000 miles and an idle-hour equivalent of 205,995 miles. Ask for PTO hours and engine hours separately.
- The truck under the boom. Look for hydraulic leaks, rust, cracks and bent frame members, and get the chassis service records too.
Once you buy the truck, this is on you. Terex’s advisory says owners have to meet the current standard’s responsibilities no matter how old the truck is.
Send whatever reports you have with your application. The quote or listing, the VIN and the mileage are usually all a first response needs, and the reports help when we set the term.
Can a startup finance a bucket truck?
Yes, selectively. A business under a year old is underwritten as a startup. Programs typically look for 700+ personal credit, real experience in the work and cash left over after the purchase, and startups usually put some money down.
Experience you can prove counts for a lot: years on a line crew, climbing for a tree company or running sign installs. Between one and two years in business, the field narrows, but it’s still workable on many deals. The payment examples above are for established businesses only. Our startup financing guide covers what programs look for.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a bucket truck payment?
For an established business with nothing down, a used truck listed at $55,000 comes to about $1,142 a month over 60 months, and a new one at $203,638 about $4,227 a month over 60 months. Each $10,000 financed adds about $208 a month over 60 months. These are estimates, not quotes.
How long can you finance a bucket truck?
Equipment finance agreements run 24 to 84 months and leases run 24 to 60. A new truck can go up to 84 months on an equipment finance agreement. Older equipment typically gets a shorter term, and hours, condition and records decide it.
What credit score do you need for bucket truck financing?
Many programs start around a 600 FICO for established businesses, and startups typically need 700 or better. The whole file matters more than the score alone.
Do you need a down payment on a bucket truck?
With good credit, you usually don’t need a down payment, even on a used truck or a private sale. Startups usually put some money down.
Is there an age limit on a used bucket truck?
There is no age limit, though older equipment can be tougher to get done. Five West also doesn’t set a maximum hour reading, so ask the seller for PTO hours, engine hours and the inspection reports.
How often does an insulated bucket truck need a dielectric test?
Usually once a year. A Terex Utilities engineer writes that most machines need the test every year, and that a unit with no periodic test in the past 12 months can no longer be considered insulated.
Have a bucket truck picked out?
Send the quote or listing with one short application. One funding professional stays with your file through funding, and if it isn’t ready, we’ll say so.
This article is general information about financing bucket trucks, not tax, legal or accounting advice or a commitment to finance. Prices shown are listed asking prices and public purchase figures from public pages on the date checked, not appraisals or offers. Safety standards and inspection rules can change, so confirm them with the manufacturer and the current standard before you buy. Example payments are estimates for an established business with no money down; actual terms and payments depend on credit approval, the equipment and the structure. All financing is subject to credit approval and underwriting.