Used Scissor Lift Financing

Used scissor lifts from rental fleet cycles are some of the most consistent equipment buys in this industry. A major rental company rotates its slab scissor fleet on a four-to-six-year schedule, which means late-model machines with documented service records land on the market at 50 to 60 cents on the dollar of new list price. For a contractor or rental operator who knows what to look for, buying from a rental-company auction or disposition sale is one of the most reliable ways to add capacity without paying the premium for new iron. We fund those buys the same way we fund everything: $50k minimum, application-only up to $400k, funded in one to two weeks.

Used scissor lift financing works on the same process as new. The asset details go to us along with three months of bank statements, and we get a term sheet back fast. The difference is what we need to confirm on the equipment side. Hours, condition, battery health, and whether the machine comes with any remaining dealer warranty or service history all feed into the underwriting. A used Genie GS-3246 with 400 hours and a clean service record from a rental company's fleet is a different deal than a machine of unknown origin with deferred maintenance. We look at both, and most good-condition used units get funded.

A new 32-foot slab scissor from Genie or JLG lists somewhere between $28,000 and $38,000 depending on the model and options. A late-model used unit of the same spec from a rental-company disposition comes in at $14,000 to $22,000 in good condition. On a six-unit fleet order, that spread is $36,000 to $96,000 in savings, which is real money. If your operation is margin-sensitive, which most contractor and rental-company operations are, buying used isn't a second-choice strategy. It's the math that works.

The machines that come off major rental fleets, primarily from national companies cycling their inventory, are usually the best used buying opportunities. They were maintained on a scheduled service interval, they have documented hours, and they were run on commercial accounts rather than by unknown operators in unknown conditions. Rough-terrain scissor lifts from rental cycles often come off construction-site accounts with more hours than comparable slab units, but the machines are built for that duty and the hours tell a different story than the same count would on a lighter-duty unit.

Private-party used scissor lifts are also financeable. If you find a contractor selling his fleet as he scales down, or a smaller rental company exiting the business, we can fund those buys too. We just need more documentation on condition since there's no rental-company service history backing it up.

We fund used slab electric scissor lifts, diesel scissor lifts, and rough-terrain units of all the major brands: JLG, Genie, Skyjack, Haulotte, Snorkel, and MEC. Height classes from 19 feet up to 40 feet and beyond are all in scope. Age is not a hard cutoff, but condition and residual value are. A ten-year-old machine with 1,500 hours in good mechanical condition with recent battery service is fundable. A machine of the same age with deferred maintenance and failing hydraulics is a different story.

We also fund used scissor lifts bought at auction. Rental-company auctions run on platforms like IronPlanet, Ritchie Bros., and Proxibid. If you're buying at auction and need the financing confirmed before the bidding opens, call us with the auction details and we can issue a pre-approval based on the machine specs. Post-auction purchases work too, though the timeline is tighter since auction houses typically want payment inside a few business days of the sale.

• Slab electric units from 19 to 40+ feet, all major brands
• Diesel and rough-terrain units in good operating condition
• Rental-company fleet dispositions with service records
• Dealer-certified used units with inspection documentation
• Private-party and auction purchases with asset detail support

For buyers financing a large used inventory purchase, aerial lift equipment loans sized around the total package value are the most common structure. Multi-unit orders where the total exceeds $100k sit in our core funded range for quick underwriting and fast funding.

The used scissor lifts I'm buying were in a rental fleet. Does that help the financing?

It helps on the asset side. Rental-fleet units with service records are the most straightforward used scissor lift buys we see. The service history supports the condition, the hours are documented, and the residual value is cleaner than an undocumented private-party unit.

Can I finance used scissor lifts I'm buying at a Ritchie Bros. auction?

Yes. We fund auction purchases. If you want pre-approval before the auction so you can bid with confidence, call us with the asset details and auction date. Post-auction financing is available too, though we need to move fast since auction payment deadlines are tight.

I have rough credit but the scissor lifts I'm buying are worth solid money. Will you still consider the deal?

Yes. The asset value and your current cash flow both factor into the underwriting. A well-maintained used scissor lift with residual value is real collateral. Bank statements that show strong revenue can support the deal even when the credit score has issues.

Can we refinance used scissor lifts we already own to generate cash for operations?

If you own used scissor lifts free and clear, a cash-out refinance can pull equity out of them. The machines stay in service, you get cash, and you make a monthly payment against the loan. Application process and timeline are the same as a purchase.

We're buying used slab scissors AND a used rough-terrain unit in the same deal. Is that one transaction?

Yes. Mixed-condition, mixed-type used scissor lift packages are handled as one deal if the total exceeds our $50k minimum. You get one application, one term sheet, and we fund the whole package at close.