Bulldozer Financing
Loans and leases for crawler dozers of every size, new or used, with machine control, rippers and winches on the same deal.
Loans and leases for crawler dozers of every size, new or used, with machine control, rippers and winches on the same deal.
Updated September 2026
Bulldozer financing is a loan or lease secured by the dozer, typically 6–22% APR over 2–7 years with 0–20% down. Small dozers are the most financed class: new units run roughly $150K–$220K and used ones start around $40K. Lenders price a used dozer mainly on its undercarriage, which can account for as much as half of a crawler’s lifetime maintenance cost, and on whether your grading and site work supports the payment through the slow season.
| Typical amount | $40K for an older small dozer to $1.5M+ for a large production machine |
|---|---|
| Rates | 6–22% APR |
| Terms | 36–60 months on small dozers; 48–84 months on mid-size and large |
| Down payment | 0–20% |
| Credit | 600+ typical |
| Grade control | 2D and 3D machine control financed with the dozer when on the same invoice |
| Used machines | Undercarriage life, hours and age at term end set the terms |
| Speed | 1–3 business days for a clean file |
| Equipment | New | Used |
|---|---|---|
| Small dozer (under 105 hp) | $150K–$220K | $40K–$130K |
| Medium dozer (105–200 hp) | $220K–$450K | $90K–$280K |
| Large dozer (200–400 hp) | $500K–$1M | $200K–$600K |
| Very large dozer (400+ hp) | $1.3M+ | $500K+ |
Typical 2026 pricing. Blade type, a ripper or winch, a low-ground-pressure undercarriage and a factory or retrofit grade-control system all move the number; used prices swing most on undercarriage life.
Illustrative level monthly payments on the amount financed. Rates depend on credit, time in business, the machine and the lender.
| Example | Financed | APR · term | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Used small dozer | $85K | 12% · 48 mo | $2,240/mo |
| New small dozer with 3D grade control | $230K | 9% · 60 mo | $4,770/mo |
| Used mid-size dozer | $180K | 13% · 60 mo | $4,100/mo |
| New large dozer | $750K | 9% · 84 mo | $12,070/mo |
On a crawler dozer, the tracks, rollers, idlers and sprockets wear every hour the machine moves, and replacing them is the largest routine cost of owning one. A full undercarriage runs from roughly $20K on a small dozer to well over $100K on a large one. That is why two dozers with the same hours can carry very different prices, and why lenders ask for an undercarriage measurement on any used machine of size.
Undercarriage life is quoted as a percentage remaining. A machine with 70% left needs nothing for years; one with 20% left is effectively priced as a machine plus a pending repair. If the dealer is replacing the undercarriage before the sale, make sure the work is on the invoice. The lender can then value the machine as rebuilt and finance the whole amount.
GPS and laser grade control has moved from large earthmoving contractors down to small site-work crews, because it lets one operator finish grade in fewer passes with less surveying. A 2D system controls the blade to a slope or laser plane; a 3D system works from a site model and can add tens of thousands of dollars to the machine.
Factory-installed systems are part of the machine and finance with it. Retrofit systems can go on the same deal when they are on the same invoice, though some lenders give less collateral value to a retrofit kit because it can be removed. If you already own the base station and receivers, only the machine-side components need financing.
How the dozer is set up affects both what it can do and how easily it resells:
Mainstream configurations resell best and finance on the best terms. A highly specialised setup is still financeable, but may need a shorter term or more down.
Used dozers typically cost 30–70% less than new, depending on size and condition. Before you commit, and before the lender asks:
On a private sale the lender runs a lien search and pays the seller directly. At an auction, get pre-approved before you bid, because auction terms usually require payment within days.
Dozer work is tied to the ground and the calendar. Many lenders will skip two to four winter payments for site-work contractors in cold climates, or defer the first payment 60–90 days so the machine is working before it costs anything. Land-clearing, pipeline and energy contractors who buy a dozer for a specific contract can often match the term to the contract. Interest keeps accruing during a skip or deferral, and the schedule has to be set at signing.
Rent a dozer for a single job or a class of machine you need a few weeks a year. If you would rent the same class most of the season, owning is usually cheaper. A fair-market-value lease suits contractors who replace machines every three to five years; an equipment loan or $1 buyout lease suits those who run a dozer for a decade or more.
A financed dozer qualifies for Section 179 like a cash purchase, up to $2,560,000 for tax years beginning in 2026, when it is placed in service by December 31. Confirm the treatment with your CPA.
Equipment financing is the cheapest way to buy the dozer, because the dozer secures it. Mobilization, fuel, operators and the gap before the first draw on a new job are better funded with working capital, and invoice factoring for construction companies turns approved pay applications into cash. For adjacent machines, see excavator financing and heavy equipment financing, or apply once at equipment financing to compare offers across 100+ funding partners.
Yes. Used dozers finance routinely. Lenders look at hours, undercarriage life and how old the machine will be at the end of the term, and larger units usually need an undercarriage measurement or an inspection.
A new small dozer typically costs about $150,000 to $220,000, a medium dozer $220,000 to $450,000, and a large dozer $500,000 to $1 million. Used dozers cost roughly 30 to 70 percent less depending on size and condition.
Financed over 60 months at 9% APR, $230,000 is about $4,770 a month. A used small dozer financed at $85,000 over 48 months at 12% APR is about $2,240 a month.
Yes. A factory-installed system finances with the machine. A retrofit system can be included when it is on the same invoice, though some lenders give it less collateral value because it can be removed.
Very. Undercarriage replacement is the largest routine cost of owning a dozer, so lenders and buyers price used machines heavily on the percentage of undercarriage life remaining.
Yes, usually with 10 to 20 percent down and solid personal credit. A small dozer with a mainstream configuration is the easiest first machine, and a signed contract or backlog of jobs helps.
One application goes to 100+ funding partners, with no impact on your credit score. Send a quote or invoice and we will come back with real numbers.
