Finance question
Can I finance shipping containers?
Yes. Shipping containers are durable, easily resold assets, so they are commonly financed and can secure the loan themselves. Standard 20ft and 40ft units, refrigerated reefers, side-openers and modified site or storage containers all qualify, new or used. You can finance a single unit or a batch to grow a hire fleet.
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The short answer
Steel that holds its value is easy to fund
Containers are about as solid a security as a lender can hold. They last for decades, there is a deep second-hand market, and a 20ft or 40ft unit has a well-understood resale price anywhere in the country. That is why a transport operator, a hire company, a farmer needing secure storage or a builder needing an on-site lockup can usually finance containers rather than buy them outright and tie up cash.
The type drives the deal. A standard dry container is straightforward, a refrigerated reefer costs more because of the cooling plant inside it, a side-opener carries a premium for the access it gives, and a modified container fitted out as a site office, lunchroom, workshop or storage unit sits somewhere in between. Container-hire businesses often finance in batches to grow a fleet ahead of demand, and single units for an owner-operator work just as well.
New and used both fund cleanly. A one-trip container or a good used cargo-worthy unit each hold value, so lenders are comfortable securing against them whether you buy from a depot, a dealer or a private seller. We match the container type and quantity to the lender most at ease with it across our panel of 40+, and structure the deal so the cost is spread rather than paid in one hit.
Do you qualify?
What makes a container deal fundable.
Containers for business
Dry, reefer, side-opener or modified site and storage units.
An active ABN
Sole traders and companies both qualify.
One unit or a fleet
Single containers or batches for a hire fleet.
Low-doc option
Many container deals settle with no financials.
Why containers make good security
Long working life
Containers last for decades, so their security value stays strong.
Deep resale market
A known second-hand price gives lenders confidence in the asset.
Scales with you
Finance one unit now or a batch to grow a hire fleet.
A real example
A container-hire business wants to add ten 20ft dry units, roughly $35,000 all up, to meet demand. Rather than drain cash, the batch is financed and secured on the containers themselves. Matched to a lender comfortable with fleet growth, it was approved quickly on a low-doc basis. Illustrative only.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I finance a refrigerated reefer container?
Yes. A reefer costs more because of the cooling plant, but it is still a fundable asset and secures its own finance, subject to lender assessment.
Can I finance a modified container office or workshop?
Yes. A container fitted out as a site office, lunchroom, workshop or lockable storage unit is a business asset and can be financed like any other, with the modification cost typically included in the same facility.
Can I finance a batch of containers for a hire fleet?
Yes. Many container-hire operators finance in batches to grow a fleet, and single units work the same way.
Do containers need to be new?
No. One-trip and good used cargo-worthy units both hold value, so lenders are happy to secure against them, whether bought from a depot, a dealer or a private seller.