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Skid Steer Financing: Dealer 0% Promos vs Independent Lenders, Honestly Compared
Skid steers and compact track loaders are the most-financed machines in small construction — and the niche where manufacturer captive financing (Bobcat, Cat, Deere, Kubota) is at its most aggressive, with 0% promos running somewhere almost year-round. That makes this the equipment category where understanding how promos are priced saves the most money.
New machines run $35,000–90,000 depending on size and spec; the used market from $15,000. Attachments — the whole point of the platform — add $2,000–25,000 each and are financeable, but only if you structure the deal right.
Check your skid steer financing options →What a skid steer costs in 2026
| Configuration | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Used skid steer (2,000+ hrs) | $15,000 – $30,000 | Wheeled units; undercarriage-free maintenance keeps older units viable |
| Used compact track loader | $25,000 – $50,000 | Check undercarriage: tracks + rollers are a $8k–15k wear item |
| New skid steer / CTL | $35,000 – $90,000 | Size class and hydraulics (high-flow) drive the spread |
| Attachments | $2,000 – $25,000 each | Grapples, mulchers, augers, trenchers — mulchers are the big-ticket item |
Want just the price breakdown? See our full skid steer cost guide →
Estimate your skid steer payment
Estimate only. Your rate depends on credit, time in business, and the equipment's age. Typical equipment loan APRs run roughly 7–15% for established businesses with good credit, and 15–30% for startups or challenged credit.
How lenders underwrite skid steer deals
- How 0% promos actually work: captive lenders price promos against the machine's cash discount. Deere/Bobcat dealers can typically offer EITHER a cash discount (often $2,000–5,000) OR the promo rate. The honest comparison is promo-at-list vs. independent-loan-on-discounted-price — run both; on smaller machines the cash discount + 8% independent money wins surprisingly often.
- Attachments bundle at purchase, awkwardly after: rolling a $18,000 mulcher into the original machine loan is clean; financing it standalone six months later means a small-ticket loan at worse pricing. Buy the attachment plan, not just the machine.
- Used units from dealers finance easily to 3,000+ hours; private-party and auction units route through independent lenders and marketplaces (captives rarely touch them). CTL undercarriage condition is the used-market's engine-equivalent — get hours on the current tracks in writing.
- Startups: this is friendly territory. Landscaping and excavation startups get approved daily with 10% down and fair credit, because repossessed skid steers sell fast at strong values. Your rate improves more from down payment here than in most niches.
Mistakes that cost skid steer buyers real money
- Taking 0% at full list price without asking what the cash price is. If the cash discount is $4,000 on a $55,000 machine, that '0%' loan has a real cost — roughly 3–4% APR equivalent — which may still win, but only compare after you know.
- Buying a CTL for the resale-value story while working it on abrasive surfaces. Tracks on demolition/concrete work wear 2–3x faster; wheeled machines exist for a reason and cost less twice.
- Financing 84 months on a machine you'll put 800 hours/year on. Heavy-use machines should be on 36–48 month notes so equity outruns wear — the trade-in conversation in year 4 goes very differently.
Ready to compare offers?
Financing between $15,000 and $90,000? The single highest-leverage move is comparing at least two offers — a dealer or manufacturer quote against an independent lender or marketplace. Two quotes routinely saves buyers 1–3 points of APR.
Get matched with equipment lenders →Frequently asked questions
Can I finance a skid steer with a brand-new landscaping business?
Yes — compact equipment is among the most startup-accessible categories. Expect ~10% down with fair-to-good personal credit; captive dealers also run first-time-buyer programs, especially in spring promo season.
Is 0% skid steer financing real?
The rate is real; the price usually isn't. Captives fund promos from the margin between list and cash price. Ask the dealer for the cash price separately, then compare the promo against an independent loan on that cash price — whichever total cost is lower wins, and it genuinely goes both ways.
Should I finance attachments too?
Bundle them with the machine purchase when possible — same loan, same rate, one payment. Standalone attachment financing later is possible but priced like small-ticket deals (worse). The exception: cheap attachments under ~$5k are often better bought cash than financed at all.