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  • Last Updated: 13 May 2026

Rent to Own Equipment Australia

Get the equipment your business needs now, with the option to own it later.

  • Use equipment immediately without paying the full cost upfront
  • Get the option for ownership at the end of the term or buyout early
  • No doc applications available*
  • Rent to own options for those with bad credit*
  • New and secondhand asset options available*
Quick Enquiry

How to Apply for Rent to Own with Dark Horse Financial

1

Contact Our Team

Fill out our online form to apply for rent to own. One of our specialists will get in touch with you fast to understand your situation and make a recommendation.

2

Submit Application

We’ll expertly handle your application from start to finish. You can get a quote or a letter of offer in as fast as 24 hours.

3

Get Funded

Once the provider approves your application, you can now rent and start using your equipment. At the end of the term, you get the option to purchase the asset.

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What is Rent to Own?

Rent to own allows you to rent a vehicle with the option to purchase it later at the end of the term or part way through the term. Instead of buying equipment upfront or committing to a standard loan, you rent the asset while making regular payments that contribute toward ownership.

You get immediate use of the equipment. You generate income from day one. At the end of the agreed term, you have the option to buy the equipment outright, usually for a pre agreed residual amount.

This structure is commonly used for:

  • Owner drivers starting out
  • Civil construction companies
  • Small transport companies expanding fleets
  • Operators with limited upfront funds
  • Businesses wanting predictable repayments

Rent to own is available for new and used trucks, yellow goods, plant and equipment, passenger vehicles and specialised commercial vehicles.

How Does Rent to Own Work?

Step 1

Step 1: Choose the Equipment

You select the equipment that suits your work. This can be from a dealer, auction, or private seller depending on lender policy. Both new and used equipment are acceptable, subject to age and condition.

Step 2

Step 2: Get Finance

Fill out our online form to get started. We’ll get back to you within the day to discuss your options. We’ll work with you to secure a rent to own payment plan that fits your budget. Once you agree on a provider, we’ll submit your application for you.

Step 3

Step 3: Rent and Use the Equipment

Once approved, you enter the rent to own agreement. You make regular weekly or monthly payments. You use the asset to earn revenue for your business.

Step 4

Step 4: Ownership Option

At the end of the term, you can buy the equipment by paying the residual amount. Some structures allow early payout.

What are the Benefits of Rent to Own?

Flexible entry point

This option can suit businesses that may not want to or cannot get a standard equipment loan.

Accessible to startups

Rent to own solutions are available to new businesses if they have a proof of work letter or a verifiable income source.

Faster Access to Equipment

Approvals are often quicker than bank loans. Many operators are on the road within days, not weeks.

Flexible Credit Requirements

There are options for businesses with imperfect credit histories. Lenders focus on your ability to earn income using the equipment and your capacity to make repayments.

Predictable Repayments

Fixed repayments make budgeting easier. You know exactly what is going out each period.

Work Toward Ownership

Unlike dry hire, your payments contribute toward eventual ownership.

Tax Benefits

Rental payments are expensed differently on the profit and loss and does not appear as a liability on the balance sheet. With a traditional equipment loan, only the interest can be deducted, but with rentals, the whole repayment can be deducted.

How Rent to Own Repayments are Expensed Differently From Equipment Finance

One of the key advantages of rent to own is how repayments are expensed differently from traditional equipment finance repayments.

With a traditional equipment finance loan, only the interest portion of the repayment is typically expensed on the profit and loss statement. The asset and loan also appear on the balance sheet, with the loan recorded as a liability.

With rent to own, the full rental repayment is generally treated as an operating expense on the profit and loss statement, rather than just the interest component. The asset and liability will not be recorded on the balance sheet in the same way as a financed purchase.

This can have a meaningful impact on how your business reports profit and manages tax outcomes, particularly for businesses looking to offset taxable income in a given period.

Note: This is not tax advice. The exact treatment depends on your accounting approach and circumstances, so it is important to speak with your accountant before implementing any structure.

Quick Enquiry

How Mining Companies Can Use Rent to Own to Offset Income Tax

Rent to own can be particularly effective for mining and resource businesses managing large capital expenditure.

For example, a new Caterpillar 777G dump truck can cost between approximately $2.3 million and $2.6 million depending on specifications. Acquiring equipment of this size through traditional finance may limit how much of the repayment can be expensed in the short term.

With a rent to own structure, the full rental payment may be treated as an expense, which can reduce taxable income more significantly in the period the payments are made.

For mining businesses with strong revenue and a need to deploy equipment quickly, this approach can align funding with tax planning objectives while preserving cash flow.

Note: This is not tax advice. Tax outcomes depend on your specific circumstances and accounting treatment. You should always seek advice from a qualified accountant before proceeding.

Quick Enquiry

Rent to Own: A Solid Alternative to Dry Hire

Rent to own offers a smart and flexible alternative to dry hire, providing you with the equipment you need without upfront costs. Unlike traditional dry hire, where you simply rent with no long-term benefit, rent to own allows you to apply your rental payments toward eventual ownership. This means you get immediate access to essential machinery while working toward owning it outright, ideal for businesses looking to manage cash flow without sacrificing growth. Rent to own is often less expensive than dry hire as well.

Rent to Own vs Traditional Equipment Finance

Understanding the difference helps you choose the right path.

Traditional Equipment Loans

  • Very rarely require deposits unless for startups or bad credit applicants
  • More documentation needed the larger the loan becomes
  • Ownership from day one

Rent to Own Financing

  • 5-20% deposits can be required or additional equity in the form of equipment in place of deposits
  • Documentation required, but can have more flexible approval criteria
  • Ownership at the end

What Assets Can Be Financed With Rent to Own?

Rent to own can be used across a wide range of business assets. Common examples include:

Mining equipment

  • Caterpillar 777 haul truck
  • Caterpillar 785 and 789 trucks
  • Komatsu HD785 dump trucks
  • Large excavators

Civil and construction equipment

  • Excavators
  • Loaders and skid steers
  • Trucks and trailers for equipment transport
  • Rollers, graders, and earthmoving equipment

Transport and logistics

  • Prime movers such as Kenworth T610, Volvo FH16, Scania R Series
  • Truck and trailer combinations
  • Refrigerated transport units
  • Tippers and specialised transport vehicles

Light commercial and trade vehicles

  • Utes such as Toyota Hilux or Ford Ranger
  • Vans and service vehicles
  • Small trucks and delivery vehicles
Quick Enquiry

No Deposit Rent to Own Solutions Explained

Usually, rent to own providers require at least 5% to 20% deposit. However, in many cases, rent to own solutions can be structured without a cash deposit.

Instead of contributing cash upfront, you may be able to use additional security to support the transaction. This is typically done by offering equity in other assets, such as existing machinery.

By providing additional security, the lender reduces their risk, which can remove the need for a deposit. This allows you to preserve cash while still acquiring the equipment your business needs.

Quick Enquiry

Rent to Own as a Capital Raise Solution

Rent to own is not just a way to acquire new equipment. It can also be used to raise capital against assets your business already owns.

This is typically structured as a sale and rent back arrangement, where a lender purchases your unencumbered equipment and leases it back to you under a rent to own agreement. This allows you to unlock capital tied up in your assets without losing access to them.

One of the key advantages of this approach is that it can provide higher funding levels compared to traditional asset finance. Many equipment lenders assess value based on conservative liquidation values, which can limit how much capital can be released. In contrast, rent to own providers are willing to lend against a higher percentage of market value, increasing the amount of usable funding.

This makes rent to own particularly effective for debt consolidation, especially where unsecured loans are creating cash flow pressure.
For businesses that are asset rich but cash flow constrained, this can be a practical way to restructure existing debt and stabilise operations.

Rent to Own FAQs

You can rent to own equipment and vehicles if you can show that you can make rental payments. You don’t always need to present 2 years of financials like a bank would require. If you have a business that’s ABN and GST registered and can demonstrate income to make repayments, you can generally qualify for a rent to own solution.
Yes, you can rent to own farm equipment. If you can demonstrate that you can make the rental payments, have an ABN, and are GST registered, you can rent to own farm equipment. You can rent to own second hand farm equipment or new equipment purchased from a dealer.
Dry hire refers to renting out equipment without an operator, while rent to own offers a pathway to ownership for a business owner. Over time, as you make your rental payments for rent to own items, you’re working towards owning the asset, and your equity grows. You also have the opportunity to sell your asset during the rental period and keep the proceeds of any equity you’ve built up during the rental period.
Yes, you can buy the equipment during the rent-to-own period. For example, if 15 months into the rent-to-own contract, your circumstances are strong enough that you can buy the asset outright or use equipment finance to purchase the equipment, you can take advantage of this and buy the equipment when it suits you. Our preferred rent to own solution always provides a 12 month buyout figure and allows for equity to be built into the machine within the first year.
Yes you can rent to own an excavator of any size instead of relying on dry hire excavator services. You can rent to own excavators that are new or secondhand of any size. Instead of continuing to pay dry hire fees you can rent to own your own excavator and begin to build equity in your asset rather than having nothing to show for the rent you pay.
Yes, based on your financial capabilities and the demonstration of income to make rental payments, you can rent to own multiple assets simultaneously. You could even rent to own a whole fleet of assets.
Yes, lenders typically require a deposit of around 5%-20%. It’s possible to get a rent to own solution with no deposit if a business owner was to use additional equipment as security.
Yes, you can get rent to own with bad credit, as many providers focus more on your ability to make the repayments than your credit score alone. This makes rent to own a viable option for businesses that may not qualify for traditional finance but still need access to equipment or assets.
At the end of the term of a rent to own agreement, you can pay the agreed residual amount to own the equipment or vehicle, which can be as small as $1. Some lenders also allow early payout to fast track a pathway to ownership.
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