Offer your customers financing on new and used trucks and equipment.
Our dealer financing program gives truck, trailer, and equipment dealers a simple way to offer financing at the point of sale. Send buyers to us, and we match every deal to the institutional lender best suited to fund it — so you close more sales without becoming a lender.
- A dealer financing program (also called vendor financing or point-of-sale financing) lets a truck or equipment dealer offer financing to buyers at the time of sale, without the dealer lending its own money.
- Five North Capital is a brokerage, not a direct lender — dealer partners send customers to us, and we match each deal to an institutional lender whose program fits the equipment, the buyer, and the deal size.
- Both new and used trucks, trailers, and equipment are financeable; used equipment terms typically depend on age, hours or mileage, and condition.
- Working with a lender network rather than a single bank means more buyer profiles can be placed — from startups and owner-operators to established fleets.
- In a typical equipment finance transaction, the lender pays the dealer directly once documents are signed and delivery is confirmed.
What is a dealer financing program?
A dealer financing program lets a truck, trailer, or equipment dealer offer financing to buyers as part of the sale. The dealer doesn't lend its own money — a third-party lender underwrites the buyer, funds the loan or lease, and pays the dealer for the equipment. You'll also hear it called vendor financing, point-of-sale financing, or a dealer finance program.
Five North Capital runs this for dealers through a network of institutional lenders rather than a single bank. That matters on the lot: a buyer one lender declines is often a fit for another, and used equipment that a manufacturer program won't touch can still be placed.
Why should truck and equipment dealers offer customer financing?
Financing turns a large purchase price into a monthly payment your buyer can plan around — and keeps the deal with you instead of sending the buyer off to find a lender.
Sell on monthly payment, not total price
Many buyers can't or won't pay cash for a truck or a piece of heavy equipment. Presenting a monthly payment alongside the price keeps the conversation moving instead of stalling on the total.
Fewer deals lost to financing
When a buyer has to find their own financing, the deal leaves your lot. Having a financing path ready at the point of sale keeps the buyer — and the deal — with you.
More buyers you can say yes to
A single bank has a single credit box. A lender network covers a wider range of buyers, including newer businesses and deals a traditional bank may pass on.
Move used inventory
Captive and manufacturer programs are often built around new units. Lenders in our network also finance used trucks, trailers, and equipment, which helps aged inventory turn.
No lending risk on your books
Unlike in-house financing, the lender underwrites and carries the loan or lease. You make the sale; the lender takes the credit risk.
Your sales team stays on selling
We handle lender selection, the application, and follow-up through funding, so your team isn't chasing banks or shopping credit apps.
How does the dealer financing program work?
Four steps from sign-up to a funded deal. No software to install and no change to how your sales team works.
- 1
Apply as a dealer partner
Tell us what you sell, new or used, typical price points, and how your customers finance today. We'll follow up to get your dealership set up.
- 2
Share your financing link
You get a dealer-specific financing link to put on your website, inventory listings, emails, and quotes — or turn it into a QR code for the lot and showroom. Every inquiry through it is tagged to your dealership.
- 3
We match each buyer to a lender
When a customer applies, we review the deal against our institutional lender network and place it with the lender best suited to the equipment, the buyer's profile, and the deal size.
- 4
The deal funds, you deliver
We manage the process through documents and closing. In a typical transaction, the lender pays the dealer directly once documents are signed and delivery is confirmed.
Which dealers can offer financing through Five North Capital?
If you sell commercial trucks, trailers, or equipment to businesses — new or used — our lender network can likely finance your buyers.
Commercial truck dealers
Semi trucks, day cabs, box trucks, dump trucks, and vocational trucks.
Financing details →Trailer dealers
Dry van, reefer, flatbed, lowboy, dump, and specialty trailers.
Financing details →Construction equipment dealers
Excavators, loaders, dozers, skid steers, cranes, and aerial lifts.
Financing details →Used equipment dealers
Pre-owned trucks, trailers, and heavy equipment from independent and multi-line dealers.
Financing details →Manufacturing & machinery dealers
CNC machines, fabrication equipment, packaging, and production lines.
Financing details →Medical equipment vendors
Imaging, diagnostic, surgical, dental, and practice equipment.
Financing details →HVAC distributors & contractors
Rooftop units, chillers, boilers, and commercial HVAC systems.
Financing details →Restaurant equipment suppliers
Commercial kitchen, refrigeration, and food service equipment.
Financing details →IT & data center resellers
Servers, storage, networking, and power and cooling infrastructure.
Financing details →Can dealers offer financing on used trucks and equipment?
Yes. Used trucks, trailers, and equipment are financeable through lenders in our network. Lenders look at a few things specific to used units:
- Age of the unit — older equipment may qualify for shorter maximum terms tied to its remaining useful life.
- Hours or mileage — high-hour equipment and high-mileage trucks are financeable, but usage affects term and structure.
- Condition and inspection — some lenders require photos, an inspection, or an appraisal on higher-value used units.
- Serial number and title — a clean title and verifiable VIN or serial number are standard requirements.
- Dealer sale vs. private party — financing a used unit sold by an established dealer is generally more straightforward for lenders.
What kinds of buyers can get financed?
Because deals are placed across multiple lenders, a wider range of buyers can be matched to a program than with a single bank:
- Owner-operators buying their first or next truck
- Established fleets adding or replacing units
- Contractors financing construction equipment
- Newer businesses and startups (depending on lender program and the owner's credit)
- Buyers with less-than-perfect credit (programs vary by lender)
- Businesses that prefer a lease over a loan
Dealer financing options compared
How the common ways dealers offer customer financing stack up.
| Option | New / used | Buyers covered | Who carries the risk | Dealer workload |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer / captive financing | Usually new units of that brand | Program-specific credit criteria | Lender | Low |
| A single bank relationship | Depends on the bank | One credit box | Lender | Moderate — declined deals need another source |
| In-house financing | Whatever you choose to carry | Whoever you choose to approve | Dealer | High — underwriting, servicing, collections |
| Five North Capital lender network | New and used | Multiple lenders' credit criteria | Lender | Low — we manage lender selection through funding |
These aren't mutually exclusive. Many dealers keep a manufacturer program for new units and add a lender network for used inventory and for buyers the captive program declines.
What do your customers need to apply?
Requirements vary by lender and deal size, but most applications start with:
- A completed credit application
- The dealer's quote or invoice for the unit
- Basic business information (legal name, time in business, EIN)
- For larger transactions: bank statements, financial statements, or tax returns
- For trucks: CDL and operating authority details, where applicable
Buyers can estimate payments ahead of time with our equipment loan and lease calculators, and many can deduct qualifying equipment in the year it's placed in service — see our Section 179 guide.
Dealer financing FAQs
What is a dealer financing program?
A dealer financing program — also called vendor financing or point-of-sale financing — is an arrangement that lets a dealer offer financing to its customers at the time of sale. The dealer doesn't lend its own money; a third-party lender underwrites and funds the loan or lease, and the dealer is paid for the equipment.
How can I offer financing to my customers without becoming a lender?
Partner with a financing source that works with third-party lenders. As a Five North Capital dealer partner, you send customers to us through your dealer-specific link, and we match each deal to an institutional lender in our network. The lender carries the loan; you make the sale.
What's the difference between dealer financing and in-house financing?
With in-house financing, the dealer lends its own money and carries the credit risk, servicing, and collections. With a dealer financing program through a lender network, a third-party lender underwrites and carries the loan, so the risk stays off the dealer's books.
Can my customers finance used trucks and equipment?
Yes. Lenders in our network finance both new and used trucks, trailers, and equipment. For used units, terms typically depend on the age, hours or mileage, condition, and remaining useful life of the specific unit.
Can owner-operators and new businesses get financed?
Often, yes. Some lenders have programs for owner-operators and newer businesses, though requirements vary — newer businesses may see a larger down payment or shorter term, and the owner's personal credit carries more weight.
What credit score do my customers need?
It depends on the lender, the equipment, and the deal size. Because we work with a network of lenders rather than a single bank, we can place a wider range of credit profiles than any one lender's program covers on its own.
What terms and down payments are typical?
Equipment financing terms commonly range from 2 to 7 years depending on the equipment's useful life, and down payments range from 0-20% depending on the buyer's credit profile and whether the equipment is new or used. Actual terms depend on the lender and the deal.
How does the dealer get paid?
In a typical equipment finance transaction, the lender pays the dealer directly for the equipment once the buyer has signed the financing documents and delivery has been confirmed.
How long does approval take?
It depends on the deal size and how complete the application is. Smaller transactions are often decided on a credit application alone, while larger deals typically require financial statements or bank statements, which takes longer.
Can my customers lease instead of finance?
Yes. Lenders in our network offer equipment leases as well as loans, including fair market value and $1 buyout structures. Leasing can lower the upfront cost and monthly payment for buyers who plan to upgrade.
What kinds of dealers can partner with Five North Capital?
Commercial truck and trailer dealers, construction equipment dealers, used equipment dealers, and vendors of manufacturing, medical, HVAC, restaurant, and IT equipment. If you sell commercial equipment to businesses, reach out.
Is Five North Capital a lender?
No. Five North Capital is a business financing brokerage. We match each deal to a third-party institutional lender in our network and manage the process through funding.
Become a Dealer Partner
Tell us about your dealership and we'll be in touch to get you set up to offer financing to your customers. Have a buyer ready now? Send them to our financing application.