Directional drill financing for underground utility work.

Horizontal directional drills, vacuum excavators and hydrovac trucks, trenchers and rock saws, vibratory plows, mud mixing and recycling systems, drill rods, reamers and tooling, locating and guidance systems, compact utility loaders, mini excavators, and the trailers and support trucks that move them, new or used, titled or non-titled, from a $15,000 usual minimum to $5 million and above.

Yes, from a dealer, an auction or another contractor, including the private-party deals most lenders will not touch. Age is underwritten at the end of the term, not at purchase: the rig should be about ten years old or newer when the last payment is made, so an older rig is written on a shorter term. Hours, rod inventory and a documented service history matter as much as the model year.

A private-party purchase adds a lien search, an inspection or appraisal on larger rigs, and funds paid directly to the seller, with 15% to 25% down typical. Our private-party purchase guide covers what to verify before you pay.

It depends on the size of the rig and what comes with it. In listed inventory, a compact rig with roughly 20,000 to 30,000 lb of pullback runs about $250,000 to $290,000 new and $100,000 to $220,000 used; a mid-size rig of about 60,000 lb runs about $520,000 to $600,000 new and $310,000 to $450,000 used; and a maxi rig of about 100,000 lb runs about $900,000 to $1.2 million new and $400,000 to $700,000 used.

Those are asking prices, not quotes or appraisals, and the rods, tooling, mud system and locator that come with a rig can move the number a lot. The Quote Builder shows an estimated payment on your own numbers with no credit pull.

Yes. Trailer-mounted vacuum excavators are financed like any other equipment. Truck-mounted hydrovacs are titled vehicles: the chassis and the vacuum body go on one agreement, and the value reflects both the truck’s miles and the body’s hours. In listed inventory, a hydrovac truck runs about $350,000 to $600,000 new and $80,000 to $350,000 used. Hydrovacs lose value faster than drills, so an older truck is usually written on a shorter term.

Yes. Drill rods, reamers, bits and the mud system usually go on the same agreement as the rig, so the whole package carries one payment. A mud recycling system can also be financed on its own. Smaller tooling orders are easiest to finance as part of a rig or a larger purchase.

Many established-business programs start around 600 FICO, and two or more years in business opens the broadest set of programs and the best pricing. Between one and two years narrows the field but stays workable; under one year the file is underwritten as a startup, which typically means 700+ personal credit, relevant industry experience, and working capital left after the purchase. Contractors adding a rig for work they have already won, such as an awarded bid or a master service agreement, are among the strongest files we see.

The score alone rarely decides it: cash flow, the equipment, and money down all move the answer. Full detail is in the qualification guidelines and the credit score guide.

Yes. An equipment leaseback turns a paid-off drill, hydrovac or trencher into working capital while it stays on the job: you pledge equipment your business owns free and clear, a lien is filed against it, and the lien is released once the balance is paid. Terms run up to 60 months with no early payoff penalty on most approvals, and leasebacks need 600+ FICO and two or more years in business. Our HDD rig and hydrovac leaseback guide covers how utility equipment gets appraised.

Most applications get a first response within 1 to 2 business hours, with same-day options on qualified files and approvals in as little as 30 minutes on clean application-only files. Funding follows in as little as 24 to 48 hours once documents are signed.

Application-only decisions, with no tax returns or financial statements, are available up to $500,000 on qualifying files; above that, expect a full financial package. The application starts with a soft credit inquiry, which does not affect your score. A quote, listing, or auction lot number with serial and hours is usually all a first response needs.

Usually, yes. For 2026 the Section 179 limit is $2,560,000 of qualifying equipment, phasing out above $4,090,000 of purchases, and bonus depreciation is 100%. New and used equipment both qualify, and financing does not change the deduction: equipment bought on an equipment finance agreement or a $1 buyout lease with nothing down is deducted the same as a cash purchase, as long as it is placed in service by December 31.

On a fair market value lease the funder owns the equipment, so you deduct the payments as rent instead. Run the estimate in the Section 179 calculator and confirm the treatment with your tax advisor.

Equipment finance agreements run 24 to 84 months, and leases run 24 to 60. The equipment sets the term more than your credit does. Drills, trenchers and compact loaders are financed so they’re about ten years old or newer when the last payment is made, which usually means a shorter term on an older machine. Hydrovacs lose value faster, so they often get a shorter term than a drill of the same age.

Run the numbers first in the Quote Builder: set the equipment cost, term, down payment, and structure and see an estimated payment in a few taps, with no credit pull. When it fits, one short application and a soft credit inquiry get you matched with a dedicated funding professional who manages the deal from application to funding.