Time Finance plc is a Somerset-based specialist lender listed on AIM. They have built their business around a philosophy of "time to understand" - taking a genuinely individual approach to each application rather than relying on automated scoring to make the decision for them. For excavator finance, this translates into a lender who will engage with difficult cases that other lenders simply reject.
To be clear about positioning: Time Finance is not the right lender for a well-established limited company with clean credit buying a new excavator. For that customer, Close Brothers, Novuna or Lombard will offer a meaningfully better rate. Time Finance's value is in accessibility - getting finance to contractors who genuinely can't access it elsewhere, at a rate that reflects the additional risk without being predatory.
Time Finance Excavator Finance Rates - October 2026
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Rate range (APR) | 6% – 18% |
| Typical term | 12 – 60 months |
| Minimum finance | £5,000 |
| Maximum finance | £1,000,000 |
| Deposit required | 0% – 30% (credit profile dependent) |
| Decision speed | 24 – 72 hours |
| Finance types available | Hire Purchase, Finance Lease |
| Asset age considered | Up to 15 years |
How Do Time Finance Rates Compare to the Market?
For clean-credit businesses, Time Finance's rates are in the upper tier - they are not competitive with Lombard, Close Brothers or Novuna for well-qualified applicants. Their rates only become relevant when those lenders are not an option.
Where Time Finance competes effectively is the new start and adverse credit market. Here, they sit below pure sub-prime lenders who charge 20%+ and above the mainstream lenders who aren't available to these customers. In this segment, they often represent genuine value - access to finance at a commercially bearable rate.
Time Finance Strengths for Excavator Finance
- New start businesses - one of very few lenders who will seriously consider a business with less than 12 months' trading history. They look at the director's background, the business plan and the asset rather than requiring years of filed accounts.
- Adverse credit - active CCJs, recent defaults and impaired personal credit of directors are considered. Time Finance looks at the current situation and trajectory, not just the historical record.
- Low deposit options - for the right profile, Time Finance can offer nil or low deposit even on adverse credit cases, using stronger PGs or asset security to compensate.
- Human underwriting - every case gets a human review. Their stated philosophy of "time to understand" is genuine - they invest time in understanding difficult cases rather than defaulting to decline.
Time Finance Limitations for Excavator Finance
- Higher rates - the 14–18% upper range represents a significant cost of finance. Over a 48-month HP agreement on a £100k excavator, the difference versus a 7% rate is over £20,000 in interest. Only use Time Finance if the mainstream market is genuinely not available to you.
- £1m maximum - not suitable for high-value or fleet purchases. Larger deals need to go elsewhere.
- Slower than digital lenders - the human underwriting that makes them flexible also takes longer. 24–72 hours is typical, which may not suit auction purchases.
Rates shown are indicative as of October 2026. All finance subject to status. Doulton Bridging Finance is a broker, not a lender. We will always recommend the most appropriate lender for your circumstances, which may not be Time Finance.