How do you finance a skid steer or compact track loader?
Most skid steers and track loaders are financed the same way: a fixed monthly payment over two to seven years, with the machine as the collateral. Size, age, hours and the seller change the details. Below are 2026 prices, example payments, terms for used machines, and what can go on one agreement.
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How does skid steer financing work?
The funder pays the dealer or seller, and your business pays the funder back in fixed monthly payments. An equipment finance agreement, or EFA, is the skid steer loan most people picture. The loader is yours on day one, and the funder keeps a lien until it’s paid off. An EFA runs 24 to 84 months, and a lease runs 24 to 60. At the end you buy the loader for $1 or for 10% of its original cost, or, on a fair market value lease, buy it at market value or hand it back.
For a first answer, we usually need just the dealer quote, listing or auction lot number, plus the serial number and hours. Most people hear back within 1 to 2 business hours. It starts with a soft credit inquiry. Qualifying deals up to $500,000 need no tax returns or financial statements, and on a standard deal, funding follows 24 to 48 hours after you sign. We’re based in Tempe, Arizona, and fund nationwide.
How hard is it to finance a skid steer? For an established business, usually not very. Credit around 600 or better, two or more years in business and a brand with dealer support all help. So do the hour meter reading, service records and, on an older machine, money down. Our landscaping equipment financing page has the full program. You’ll usually need to insure the loader and name the funder as loss payee before funding.
How much does a skid steer or track loader cost in 2026?
Most new skid steers list between about $51,600 and $117,800, and new track loaders between about $64,200 and $143,600. A stand-on mini track loader in the 1,000-pound class starts around $41,800.
| Machine and size | Example models | New, suggested or list price | Used, listed asking prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small skid steer, about 1,950 to 2,300 lb | Kubota SSV65; Bobcat S590 and S64-2; Deere 318 and 320 P-Tier | $51,613 to $62,918 | $24,900 to $48,611 (Kubota SSV65, Bobcat S590 to S64, 2016 to 2023) |
| Mid-size skid steer, about 2,400 to 2,900 lb | Kubota SSV75; Deere 324 P-Tier; Bobcat S66-2 and S76-2 | $59,139 to $74,944 | Mostly $27,000 to $53,430 (Kubota SSV75, Bobcat S66, 2019 to 2023) |
| Large skid steer, about 2,950 to 4,000 lb | Bobcat S86-2; Deere 330 and 334 P-Tier | $89,327 to $117,805 | $38,000 to $77,128 (Bobcat S850, S770 and S86, 2017 to 2025) |
| Small track loader, about 1,500 to 2,450 lb | Bobcat T450, T595 and T64-2; Kubota SVL65-2; Deere 317 P-Tier | $64,245 to $74,735 | $26,500 to $61,900 (Bobcat T590, T450 and T64, Kubota SVL65-2, 2018 to 2025) |
| Mid-size track loader, about 2,350 to 3,100 lb | Bobcat T66-2 and T76-2; Kubota SVL75-3 | $75,366 to $98,822 | $29,000 to $73,500 (Kubota SVL75-2 and SVL75-3, Cat 259D3, 2017 to 2025) |
| Large track loader, about 3,150 to 4,025 lb | Kubota SVL97-2 and SVL110-3; Bobcat T770 and T86-2; Deere 331, 333 and 335 P-Tier | $85,481 to $143,639 | $35,000 to $89,500 (Bobcat T770, Cat 299D3, Kubota SVL97-2, Takeuchi TL12V2, 2019 to 2024) |
| Stand-on mini track loader, about 1,000 to 1,200 lb | Bobcat MT100 and MT120; Kubota SCL1000; Toro Dingo TX 1000 | $41,784 to $47,747 | $29,900 to $44,641 (Kubota SCL1000, Toro Dingo TX 1000, 2021 to 2025) |
Sizes are rated operating capacity. New: Bobcat suggested list prices, Kubota MSRPs and John Deere base list prices from a state contract sheet dated March 2026, and the price on Toro’s website, for base machines before freight, options or discounts. Used: a sample of Construction Equipment Guide listings, mostly from Northeast and Mid-Atlantic dealers. These are listed asking prices, not appraisals or offers. Checked October 2026.
Is a compact track loader harder to finance than a skid steer?
No. Both finance the same way and fall under our construction equipment financing program. Two things differ:
- Price. Bobcat’s T76-2 track loader lists at $98,822, about $23,900 more than the S76-2 skid steer at $74,944. For an established business at an assumed 9% over 60 months, that adds about $496 a month.
- Wear. Tracks and undercarriage parts wear out, and they’re expensive to replace. On a used track loader, send photos of them with the listing.
On either machine, the hours and service records matter more than the model year.
What’s the monthly payment on a skid steer?
For an established business at an assumed 9% with nothing down, these examples run about $950 to $2,700 a month:
| Example | Price | Term | Monthly payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Used small skid steer, 2020 | $38,000 | 48 months | About $946 |
| New stand-on mini track loader | $44,000 | 48 months | About $1,095 |
| Used large track loader, 2022 | $55,000 | 60 months | About $1,142 |
| New mid-size skid steer | $66,000 | 60 months | About $1,370 |
| New mid-size track loader | $80,000 | 60 or 84 months | About $1,661 or $1,287 |
| New track loader with a root grapple, an auger and a trailer | $96,000 | 60 months | About $1,993 |
| New large track loader | $125,000 | 84 months | About $2,011 |
| Used high-flow track loader with a new 60-inch mulcher head | $130,000 | 60 months | About $2,699 |
Examples for established businesses only: an assumed 9%, nothing down, payments in arrears, and round example prices drawn from the ranges above. Terms over 60 months apply to EFAs. Illustrative, not an offer.
The longer term on that $80,000 loader saves about $374 a month and costs about $8,500 more by the end.
Can the payment follow your season? On many programs, yes. The first payment can be pushed out, and payments can be lighter or skipped in the slow months. For a mowing crew, that’s winter. For a snow contractor, it’s summer. Tell us when your money comes in, and the schedule is built around it.
How long can you finance a skid steer?
New loaders get the longest terms: up to 84 months on an EFA and 60 on a lease. A used one is financed so it’s about ten years old or newer at the last payment:
| Model year, buying in late 2026 | Longest term that usually fits |
|---|---|
| New, or 2023 and newer | Up to 84 months on an EFA, or 60 on a lease |
| 2021 | About 60 months |
| 2019 | About 36 months |
| 2018 | About 24 months |
Approximate. High hours, missing service records or rough condition can shorten the term.
A shorter term can turn the cheaper machine into the bigger payment. Two Takeuchi TL12V2 track loaders listed in October 2026 show it. A 2021 at $54,500 fits about 60 months, roughly $1,131 a month for an established business at an assumed 9%. A 2019 at $39,000 gets about 36 months, roughly $1,240. The cheaper loader costs about $109 more each month.
Can you finance a skid steer mulcher, grapple or trailer too?
Yes. Buckets, grapples, augers, tillers, a mulcher head and the trailer can go on one agreement with the loader, even when the brands differ. Here are October 2026 list prices from SkidSteers.com, an online attachment seller:
- Forestry drum mulcher: $55,239 for a 60-inch Blue Diamond head that needs 35 to 52 gallons a minute of high flow
- Root grapple: about $3,300 to $7,700
- Auger drive: about $3,000 to $6,100, plus the bit
- Rototiller: about $6,100
So how much is a skid steer with a mulcher? Put that head on a new large track loader and the list prices add up to roughly $141,000 to $199,000. The loader also needs high-flow hydraulics, which base prices don’t always include. Before you rule it out, I’d price a used high-flow loader with a new head. That’s the $130,000 package in the payment table.
Mulcher teeth and grapple tines wear quickly. I’d rather see a head paid off well before it’s worn out, so on a big package, ask about a shorter term for it. Attachments under our usual $15,000 minimum are normally financed with a machine on the same contract.
What’s the best way to finance a used skid steer?
An EFA through a lender that handles used and private-party deals. Expect 10% to 15% down on a used machine from a dealer and 15% to 25% from a private seller, with a rate roughly one to three points above the same machine bought new.
On a private sale, we run a lien search on the seller’s exact legal name and pay the seller directly. A bigger machine may also need an inspection or appraisal. Our guides to buying equipment on Facebook Marketplace and private-party equipment purchases cover lien checks, inspections and the scams to watch for.
Buy a loader like that 2021 TL12V2 from another contractor for $54,500 with 20% down, and you’d finance $43,600. That’s about $905 a month over 60 months for an established business at an assumed 9%.
Bidding at an auction? Get us the lot number, serial and hours ahead of the sale, and we can work out the payment before the bidding opens.
Is it cheaper to rent or finance a skid steer?
If you’d rent more than three or four days a month, financing usually costs less. DOZR, an equipment rental marketplace, showed these Phoenix averages in October 2026:
| Phoenix, October 2026 | Skid steer | Compact track loader |
|---|---|---|
| Average rental per day | $350 | $512 |
| Per week | $1,004 | $1,571 |
| Per month | $2,438 | $3,341 |
| Example payment on a new machine | About $1,370 ($66,000, 60 months) | About $1,661 ($80,000, 60 months) |
| Rental days that equal one payment | About 4 | About 3 |
Rental figures are DOZR’s averages across rental companies in Phoenix and vary by market. Payments are examples for established businesses at an assumed 9%, nothing down.
Owning adds insurance, maintenance and hauling, so the real break-even is a little higher. Rentals cap hours, too: DOZR’s include 8 a day, 40 a week and 160 per four weeks. Renting still makes sense for a one-off job, a big machine you need twice a year, or a size you want to try first. If I were renting a loader most weeks, though, I’d be pricing a payment.
Can a new business finance its first skid steer?
Yes, though the file looks different. Under a year in business, you’re underwritten as a startup, which usually means:
- Personal credit of 700 or better.
- Experience doing the work, such as years running equipment for a landscaping, excavation or tree company.
- A down payment.
- Working capital left over after the purchase, to cover fuel, insurance and a slow month.
With one to two years behind you, there are fewer programs, but it’s still workable. Every payment in this post assumes an established business; a startup’s numbers come from its own file. For the full picture, see our guide to startup equipment financing. If I were starting out, I’d buy the loader the work calls for, not the biggest one on the lot, and keep enough cash for the first slow season.
Frequently asked questions
How long can you finance a used skid steer?
Usually until the machine is about ten years old at the last payment. Bought in late 2026, a 2021 machine fits about 60 months and a 2019 about 36. A new skid steer can go up to 84 months on an equipment finance agreement or 60 on a lease. High hours or missing service records can shorten the term.
What credit score do you need to finance a skid steer?
For an established business, many programs start at about 600, and having two or more years in business widens the choice of programs. Under a year in business, the deal is treated as a startup, and those programs typically want a 700+ personal score, experience in the trade and cash left over after the purchase. The score is one piece; the machine, the down payment and cash flow matter too.
Can you finance skid steer attachments and a trailer with the loader?
Yes. Buckets, grapples, augers, tillers, a mulcher head and the trailer can go on one agreement with the loader, even when the brands differ. Attachments under the usual $15,000 minimum are normally financed with a machine on the same contract.
Can you finance a high-hour skid steer?
Often, yes, though high hours, missing service records or rough condition can shorten the term. Send the hour meter reading and any service records with the listing; on a skid steer or a track loader they matter more than the model year. Expect 10% to 15% down from a dealer and 15% to 25% from a private seller.
How much does it cost to finance a skid steer?
It depends on the price, the term, any money down and your rate. As an example for an established business, a $66,000 skid steer at an assumed 9% over 60 months with nothing down is about $1,370 a month, and the interest comes to about $16,200 over the term. A longer term lowers the payment and raises the total.
Can you finance a skid steer bought from a private seller or at auction?
Yes. On a private sale, the lender checks for liens using the seller’s legal name, may want a bigger machine inspected or appraised, and pays the seller directly. Plan on 15% to 25% down. For an auction, have the lot number, serial and hours ready before you bid so the payment is worked out ahead of time.
Does Section 179 apply to a financed skid steer?
In most cases. Financing a loader on an equipment finance agreement or a $1 buyout lease doesn’t change the deduction, as long as the machine is in service by December 31. The 2026 Section 179 cap is $2,560,000, and it starts shrinking once total equipment purchases pass $4,090,000. Bonus depreciation is 100% for property acquired after January 19, 2025. Your CPA should confirm how it applies to you.
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This article is general information about financing skid steers, compact track loaders and their attachments, not tax, legal, or accounting advice or a commitment to finance. Prices shown are manufacturer suggested or list prices, retail list prices and listed asking prices, not appraisals or offers. Rental rates are marketplace averages and vary by location. Tax and accounting treatment depends on your contract and your business; confirm with your CPA. All financing is subject to credit approval and underwriting.