manufacturing · Equipment & asset finance
Generator finance
A generator is either your power supply or your insurance policy against losing one. We fund the set, the switchgear and the install together.
What is generator finance?
Generator finance is funding for a diesel or gas generator set, whether portable, trailer-mounted or a fixed standby unit, secured against the equipment. Generators are financed across Australian construction, events, mining services and healthcare, and installation of a standby set can usually be included in the funding.
Generators serve two very different purposes. On construction sites, in events and in remote work, they are the primary power supply and run constantly, so fuel efficiency and reliability drive the choice. In medical practices, aged care, data rooms and food storage, they are standby units that sit idle for years and must start on demand, so testing, servicing and the transfer switch matter more than efficiency.
Both are financeable. A trailer-mounted or skid-mounted set is simple movable equipment. A fixed standby installation includes switchgear, cabling, a fuel tank and often a concrete plinth, and the fixed portions may need to sit under a secured business loan rather than equipment finance. Your broker will look at the quote and tell you which parts each lender will fund.
Generator finance at a glance
| Typical price range | $8,000 – $400,000 |
|---|---|
| Finance term | Up to 72 months |
| Useful life | About 20 years |
| New or used | Used and ex-hire generator sets are plentiful and cheap given low running hours; new sets suit standby installations where warranty and emissions compliance matter. |
| Indicative rates (Chattel mortgage) | 6.9% – 14.5% p.a. · rate history |
| Finance structures | Chattel mortgage (recommended), Machinery finance, Equipment loan |
How lenders assess generator finance
Generators are straightforward equipment security with long lives and low hours relative to age, so lenders will often accept older sets. Valuation looks at engine and alternator brand, run hours and whether the set is silenced and trailer-mounted. Fixed standby installations involve switchgear, cabling and civil works, which may need to be split between equipment finance and a secured business loan. Small portable units can fall below minimum funding amounts and are often bundled with other equipment on one contract.
Before you buy
- Size the set for starting load, not just running load; motors and compressors draw far more on start-up.
- Ask for run hours and the load bank or service records — a generator that has idled for years can be in worse shape than one that has worked.
- For standby installations, confirm the automatic transfer switch and fuel storage are included in the quote.
Commonly financed
Caterpillar C15 and C18 gensets · Cummins C275 D5 · Atlas Copco QAS mobile generators · Kohler-SDMO standby sets · Kubota Lowboy portable generators
Estimate generator repayments
- Number of repayments
- 60
- Balloon at end of term
- $40,800
- Total interest (est.)
- $57,747
- Total repaid (est.)
- $261,747
This calculator provides an estimate only and does not account for fees, charges or the specific terms a lender may offer. It is not financial advice or an offer of finance.
Key terms
What is generator finance?
Generator finance is a secured loan or lease used to buy a diesel or gas generator set, with the equipment as security. Terms usually run 36 to 72 months, and installation for a fixed standby set can often be included with the right documentation.
Prime or standby generator?
A prime-rated generator is built to run as a continuous power source and is rated for long operating hours. A standby-rated generator is designed to run only during mains failure and carries a lower continuous rating. Choosing the wrong rating shortens the set’s life considerably.