About Lombard Crane Finance
Lombard Asset Finance, part of NatWest Group, is the UK's largest asset finance provider by volume and has a significant presence in crane finance for established businesses. Their underwriting draws on NatWest's relationship banking infrastructure, which means better pricing for larger, well-capitalised crane hire companies - and a less practical option for SMEs, newer businesses or those with any adverse credit history.
Where Lombard excels is on large-ticket mobile crane finance - Liebherr LTM 1090-4.2 and above, Grove GMK5150L and larger, Tadano ATF 100G-4 and Manitowoc all-terrain models. These are high-value assets where Lombard's deep credit capacity and competitive rate floor (from 4%) can deliver the lowest cost of finance in the market for qualifying businesses.
Lombard also offers structured fleet facilities that allow crane hire companies to operate a revolving credit line for asset acquisition. This is particularly useful for businesses that regularly trade cranes - upgrading to newer specifications - and want a single lender relationship rather than negotiating individual HP agreements for each acquisition.
Lombard Crane Finance Rates Table - October 2026
| Crane Type / Deal Size | Finance Type | Rate Range | Term | Min Finance | Max Finance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large mobile crane (100t+, new) | HP | 4%–6.5% | 3–7 yrs | £250,000 | £10m+ |
| Large mobile crane (100t+, used <5 yrs) | HP | 5.5%–8.5% | 3–6 yrs | £100,000 | £5m |
| Mid-range mobile crane (30–100t) | HP or Finance Lease | 5%–9% | 3–6 yrs | £25,000 | £3m |
| Fleet facility (multiple cranes) | Revolving / HP | 4.5%–7% | 3–7 yrs | £500,000 | £10m+ |
| Crawler crane | HP or Finance Lease | 5%–9.5% | 3–6 yrs | £50,000 | £5m |
| Finance Lease - new mobile crane | Finance Lease | 4.5%–7.5% | 3–7 yrs | £50,000 | £10m+ |
Indicative rates as of October 2026. Lombard applies bank-standard underwriting - final terms depend on credit assessment and deal structure.
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths
- Lowest available rates for qualifying businesses - from 4% on large mobile cranes
- Very high maximum finance (£10m+) - handles the largest crane acquisitions
- Structured fleet facilities and revolving credit lines for active crane hire businesses
- Strong experience with high-value Liebherr, Grove, Tadano and Manitowoc models
Limitations
- Strict bank-standard credit criteria - adverse credit, CCJs or short trading history will be declined
- Higher minimum finance (£25k) and slower decisions than specialist lenders
- Tower cranes and specialist assets may fall outside standard appetite
As an independent broker, we compare Lombard against Close Brothers, Siemens Financial, Shawbrook and others to ensure you get the most competitive available terms for your crane acquisition.