Fleet and equipment
Choosing your first plant hire fleet
Which machines to buy first, how many, and how to check a used machine before you hand over the money. Built around what local trade customers actually hire every week.
Key takeaways
- Buy what local customers hire every week, not what looks impressive in the yard.
- Three to four machines that work together beat eight that don't.
- Attachments are often the highest-margin thing you hire.
- Stick to one or two brands with a dealer you can reach the same day.
- Inspect every used machine, and check it isn't stolen, before you pay.
Four rules for a first fleet
- 01
Demand first
Each machine should match something your target customers told you they hire repeatedly.
- 02
Versatility
Machines that suit many jobs (mini excavators, dumpers) keep utilisation up.
- 03
Transportability
Your first fleet should move on the trailer and vehicle you can legally run.
- 04
Serviceability
Parts and a fitter within a few hours, or the machine earns nothing while it waits.
The starter shortlist
For most local self-drive hire businesses serving builders, landscapers and groundworkers, the first fleet is drawn from this list:
| Machine | Why it earns | Who hires it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5t mini excavator | Fits through gates and on a standard plant trailer; huge range of jobs | Builders, landscapers, homeowners | First |
| 3t mini excavator | More reach and dig depth for footings and drainage | Groundworkers, builders | First or second |
| 1t tracked or high-tip dumper | Hires as a pair with the excavator | Landscapers, builders | First |
| 5t midi excavator | Bigger groundworks; better weekly rates | Groundworkers, drainage | Second wave |
| Wheeled dumper (3–6t) | Bulk muck-shift on larger sites | Groundworkers | Second wave |
| Pedestrian roller / plate compactor | Cheap to buy, frequent add-on | Everyone | Early add-on |
| Telehandler | Strong demand on build sites | Builders, housebuilders | Only with transport and competence systems in place |
How many machines to start with
Most successful small starts launch with two to four machines and add one at a time. Fewer than two and you can't offer a pair; more than four before you have regular accounts and you're financing idle plant.
Add a machine when the existing ones have run above your target utilisation (say 65%) for two or three months and you're turning work away. The pricing guide shows how to work out utilisation.
Attachments
Attachments cost relatively little, hire at a good daily rate and make a machine more useful. Common first buys: digging buckets in several widths, a grading or ditching bucket, a hydraulic breaker, an auger drive with two or three bit sizes, and a quick hitch if your machines don't already have one.
Track attachments like machines, with serial numbers and inspection records. They go missing on site more often than anything else.
Brands and dealer support
Standardising around fewer brands simplifies servicing, parts, operator familiarity and diagnostics. Before choosing, ask local dealers about parts lead times, mobile service, warranty on used machines and trade-in values. A cheaper machine from a brand with no dealer for 80 miles can cost more over three years.
New or used?
| New | Used (2–4 years) | Older (5+ years) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Highest | Typically 25–45% less | Lowest |
| Reliability | Best, with warranty | Good if inspected | Variable |
| Finance | Easiest | Widely available | Some lenders restrict age |
| Customer perception | Strong | Fine if clean | Can put trade customers off |
| Resale | Steep early depreciation | Flatter curve | Low |
General patterns, not guarantees. Hours and condition matter more than age.
Inspecting used plant
Inspect in person, ideally with a fitter, and run the machine from cold.
- History: service records, hour meter credibility, ownership, and a check against plant theft registers using the serial number.
- Hydraulics: leaks, slow or weak rams, drifting boom, damaged hoses, contaminated oil.
- Undercarriage: track wear and tension, sprockets, idlers, rollers, cracked track frames.
- Pins and bushes: play in the boom, dipper and bucket linkage.
- Engine: cold start, smoke, blow-by, coolant in oil, warning lights.
- Safety systems: seat belt, ROPS/FOPS, travel alarm, beacon, quick-hitch locking and indicators.
- Emissions and access: whether the engine meets the emission standards your customers' sites require.
- Paperwork: CE/UKCA marking, operator manual, and LOLER certificates for any lifting duty.
What not to buy first
- Large excavators that need an HGV low-loader, unless you have the transport and work lined up.
- Specialist plant (crushers, piling rigs) without signed customers.
- Machines from brands no local dealer supports.
- Too many of one size because a single customer promised work.
FAQs
Common questions
What is the best plant to buy for a new hire company?
How many machines should I start a plant hire business with?
Should I buy new or used plant for hire?
Can I finance used or auction plant?
Keep going
Related guides
Finance
Hire purchase, leases and refinance for new hire firms.
Read guide →
How to price plant hire
Set rates that cover finance, wear, transport and downtime.
Read guide →
Costs
Machines, transport, yard, insurance and the cash you need upfront.
Read guide →
Booking
Availability, bookings, delivery and off-hire without double-booking.
Read guide →
This guide is general information for people setting up a plant hire business in the UK. It is not legal, tax, insurance or financial advice. Rules and thresholds change, so check current guidance on GOV.UK and take advice from an accountant, solicitor or broker before acting.