Finance question
Can I finance a Caterpillar machine for my business?
Yes, usually. Caterpillar earthmoving plant is mainstream security for lenders because they can see what a used Cat resells for. The usual structure is a chattel mortgage secured on the machine, with a deposit of around 20 per cent on late-model plant from a dealer. Used Cat excavators are listed from $47,500 to $188,000, subject to lender assessment.
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The short answer
The badge helps, the hours and paperwork decide
A lender is financing a machine it can value. Our Caterpillar price guide notes that Machines4U showed 168 Caterpillar excavator results and 96 skid steer results on 1 November 2026, so there is a visible resale market. The usual structure is a chattel mortgage: you own the machine from settlement, the lender registers its interest on the PPSR, and a GST-registered buyer claims the GST back on the next BAS. Attachments such as buckets and hi-flow kits can go on the same facility.
Caterpillar publishes no Australian price list, and most new machines are price on application, so the useful numbers are used listings. The guide found 11 used excavators from 3 to 36 tonnes asking $47,500 for a 2019 304E2 CR up to $188,000 for a 2023 320GC, and used 239D3 and 259D3 track loaders at $75,000 to $102,000, all ex GST. A new 2026 320 is listed at $225,000, so the used 320GC asks 84 per cent of it, by the guide's arithmetic. Hours, age, who is selling and what is fitted explain most of the spread, not the badge alone.
Where lenders get careful is just as practical: machines near an age limit at the end of the term, very high hours (the guide flags a 10,000 hour 323 and an 18,320 hour wheel loader), private or auction purchases that need an inspection, and listings where hours, location or GST basis do not match the paperwork. Ventas is a broker across 40+ lenders, not a single bank, and there is no upfront fee to you. The lender pays us on settlement.
Do you qualify?
What a lender looks at on a Caterpillar purchase.
A clean machine record
Serial number, service history and inspection matching the invoice.
A dealer or licensed seller
Easier for most lenders than a private sale.
Work lined up
A contract, hire arrangement or past jobs that show it will earn.
A track record
Lodged BAS, bank statements and an ABN of some age.
Why plant like this funds well
Visible resale value
Hundreds of listings let a lender see what a used machine fetches.
Deposit can be property
A property-backed loan can fund the deposit if cash is tight.
Plan cash for GST
GST is paid at settlement. Ask your accountant how it is treated.
A worked example
A contractor buys a 2021 Cat 259D3 track loader listed at $94,000 ex GST. GST of $9,400 and an assumed $2,500 for inspection and transport bring the cash needed at settlement to $105,900. A chattel mortgage at 80 per cent of the price covers $75,200. The buyer pays the 20 per cent deposit of $18,800, the GST and the $2,500 in cash, $30,700 in all. Ask your accountant how the GST is treated. Illustrative only.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How much deposit do I need for a Caterpillar?
Around 20 per cent is common for late-model plant from a dealer. Some lenders go higher on a newer machine with a good file and some go lower on an older one, subject to lender assessment.
Can I finance a used Caterpillar from a private seller?
Often, but it is harder than a dealer purchase. Lenders want an inspection report, a serial number that matches the invoice and clear title, so allow extra time.
Can I put the bucket and attachments on the same loan?
Usually yes. Attachments can go on the same facility, though some listings exclude them from the price, so check what is included before you compare machines.
What if my ABN is new?
It narrows the field, but work lined up helps. Lenders look at contracts, hire arrangements, lodged BAS and bank statements, and a larger deposit can offset a short history.