What civil equipment costs in Australia
Civil contracting runs on five machines beyond the excavator: the grader, the water truck, the float that moves everything, the roller and the backhoe. New pricing is mostly dealer-quote, so here are the real used-market bands from current Australian listings.
The market, priced
| Machine | Price (ex GST) | Financed, per week |
|---|---|---|
| Motor grader, 2007-2014 (140M/12M class) | $97,000 to $295,000 by hours | $480 to $1465 |
| Motor grader, 2016-2019 | $245,000 to $330,000 | $1215 to $1635 |
| Water truck, used road-registered | $43,000 to $95,000 | $215 to $470 |
| Water truck, new 15,000-18,000L | $285,000 to $362,000 | $1415 to $1795 |
| Drake low loader, used 3x4 to 4x8 | $145,000 to $240,000 | $720 to $1190 |
| Drake low loader, new widening | $450,000 to $640,000 | from $2230 |
| 12t roller, used smooth drum | $55,000 to $90,000 | $275 to $445 |
| Backhoe (JCB 3CX class), 2017-2023 used | $62,000 to $160,000 | $310 to $795 |
| Backhoe, new | ~$181,000 | ~$900 |
What moves each machine's price
Graders trade on hours more than age: two machines from the same era can sit three times apart on price, an 18,900-hour 2012 at $97,500 against a 7,600-hour 2011 at $280,000. All-wheel-drive and 3D GPS machine control hold serious value, a GPS-equipped 12M asks $380,000 where a plain one asks $110,000. Water trucks price on the chassis and the litres, with galvanised tanks the premium spec; mine-spec off-highway carts are a different asset class entirely, $220,000 to $490,000 on dump-truck chassis. Drake floats hold value for decades, a 1998 4x8 still asks $240,000, because the config (widening decks, axle count) matters more than the year. Backhoes price near-linearly on hours, $42,000 at 9,800 hours to $160,000 at 1,200.
The contractor maths
A mid-life grader at $200,000 runs about $990 a week financed over five years, against dry-hire rates around $1,000 a day for the same machine, one week of hire a fortnight covers it. That arithmetic is the whole case for owning once utilisation is steady.
Financing civil gear
All of it writes on chattel mortgage, new and used, dealer, private or auction, and a package, say a grader, water truck and float bought together for a new contract, carries one facility. Property-backed borrowers generally price around 6% to 9% p.a. and non-property-backed deals around 9% to 13%, with approvals commonly back in 24 to 48 hours. Run the package through the repayment calculator, or start at earthmoving finance.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a grader cost in Australia?
Used 140M/12M-class graders run $97,000 to $295,000 for 2007-2014 machines depending heavily on hours, and $245,000 to $330,000 for 2016-2019 machines. New premium-brand graders are dealer-quote only.
How much is a water truck?
Used road-registered water trucks run $43,000 to $95,000; new 15,000 to 18,000 litre builds on Isuzu or Hino chassis run $285,000 to $362,000.
Why do Drake low loaders hold their value?
Configuration outlasts age: axle count, ratings and widening decks are what the market pays for, so a well-kept 25-year-old 4x8 still commands $240,000.
Can I finance a package of civil equipment for a new contract?
Yes, and it is the standard structure: grader, water truck and float on one facility with one repayment, sized against the contract behind them.
The whole spread, one facility
Tell us the machines and the contract and we will come back with one weekly number, usually within a day.
This article is general information only and not financial, credit, or tax advice. Ventas Asset Lending is a finance broker, not a lender. Approvals are subject to lender assessment. Consider your own circumstances and speak to a qualified professional, including your accountant for any tax questions.