Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM) is a dominant force in the UK excavator market, with the Zaxis range - from the compact ZX85 through to the large ZX350 and above - widely used in ground-works, utility, civils and demolition applications. Given Hitachi's long history in the UK market, there are thousands of used Zaxis machines available at any time, alongside a healthy new machine dealer network.
Hitachi dealer finance in the UK has historically been provided through a relationship with what was Hitachi Capital (UK) - now Novuna Business Finance following the Mitsubishi HC Capital rebrand. This means that for Hitachi Zaxis excavators, the captive lending and the independent broker market are more intertwined than with other brands: Novuna, as the rebranded Hitachi Capital entity, serves both dealer-channel and independent broker channels.
Hitachi Dealer Finance vs Independent Broker - Side-by-Side
| Factor | Hitachi Dealer Finance | Independent Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Promotional rate | 4.5% or below (new Zaxis during promos) | Not available - but full market comparison |
| Standard rate | 4.5% – 11% APR | 4% – 16% (lender and credit dependent) |
| Zaxis new machines | Full new Zaxis range | Any new Hitachi - via Novuna and others |
| Used Zaxis machines | Limited - approved used only | Broad - any age Zaxis, any source |
| Non-Hitachi brands | Not financed | Any brand, any age |
| Adverse credit | Mainstream criteria | Aldermore, Time Finance, Haydock |
| Sole traders | Limited | Close Brothers, Haydock, Time Finance |
| Lender comparison | One lender (via dealer) | 130+ lenders - objective market view |
When Hitachi Dealer Finance Wins
- A promotional rate of 4.5% or below is running on a specific new Zaxis model at the time you're buying
- You're a well-qualified limited company buying a new Zaxis from an authorised HCM dealer with clean credit
- The total cost of finance via dealer is genuinely lower than any independently sourced alternative - verify on total interest, not just monthly payment
When an Independent Broker Wins
- No promotional rate is running on the model you want - standard dealer rates of 4.5–11% are matched or beaten by independent lenders
- You're buying a used Hitachi Zaxis - independent lenders have far broader appetite for second-hand Zaxis machines than dealer finance
- You need a sole trader or adverse credit solution - dealer finance criteria exclude these cases
- You want to compare Hitachi against another brand with a single enquiry - an independent broker serves the whole market
- You want Novuna's rate specifically but want to ensure you're getting the broker rate, not a less competitive dealer-channel version
Rates shown are indicative as of October 2026. Hitachi Construction Machinery and Novuna Business Finance are separate entities with no affiliation to Doulton Bridging Finance. We are a broker, not a lender.