Caterpillar Financial Products: Road Equipment Context
Caterpillar Financial Products Corporation (Cat Financial) is the finance arm of Caterpillar Inc. and operates through Cat dealerships across the UK. For road construction equipment - Cat 120–18M motor graders, Cat AP300–AP600 asphalt pavers, and Cat PM600 cold planers - Cat Financial offers point-of-sale finance that is competitive for straightforward new equipment purchases through authorised dealers.
Cat Financial's indicative rates for UK road construction equipment typically fall between 3.9% and 9.9%. An independent broker compares this against Lombard, Close Brothers, Siemens Financial, and Novuna simultaneously.
Comparison: Cat Financial vs Independent Broker
| Factor | Caterpillar Financial | Independent Broker |
|---|---|---|
| Typical rate range | 3.9% – 9.9% | 4% – 14% (lender dependent) |
| New Cat road plant | Available - point of sale | Available - broker pre-approval |
| Used Cat equipment | Limited - primarily new | Yes - multiple lenders |
| Non-Cat brands (Wirtgen, Dynapac, Bomag) | Not available | Yes - all brands |
| Multi-brand facility | Cat equipment only | Yes - Cat + others in one facility |
| Operating lease | Available in some cases | Available via SFS and Lombard |
| Sole traders | Limited appetite | Better - multiple lender options |
| Rate negotiation | Fixed (dealer) | Broker negotiates directly |
When Each Route Wins
When Cat Financial wins
- Buying a new Cat AP500 paver or Cat 14M grader direct from a Cat dealer
- A promotional Cat Financial rate has been negotiated as part of the purchase package
- You want maximum simplicity - one dealer, one finance contact
- You've compared the market and Cat Financial's rate is genuinely competitive
When an independent broker wins
- Buying used Cat graders or pavers from plant dealers or auctions
- Buying Cat plant alongside Wirtgen, Dynapac, or Bomag equipment
- You want to verify whether Cat Financial's rate is the best available
- You want an operating lease and need to compare SFS/Lombard against Cat FS
- Non-standard credit profile or sole trader applying for road plant finance
- Multi-unit Cat road construction fleet - broker can negotiate fleet terms