Reefer Truck Financing & Leasing
Reefer Truck Financing: New and Used Refrigerated Trucks and Trailers
Liberty Capital Group, Inc. finances new and used reefer trucks, reefer box trucks and refrigerated trailers from $10,000 up to $5,000,000. We have done this since 2004. We are a broker who works like a banker: we tell you what will get approved before you waste time.
Used is fine. We finance used reefer trucks from dealers or private sellers, typically up to about 10 years old, and sometimes older. We have financed reefer trailers up to about 15 years old on 60-month terms, depending on the condition report. Terms run up to 60 months. On older units, the condition report carries a lot of weight, so have it ready.
A reefer is a truck or trailer with an insulated box and a refrigeration unit, usually a Carrier Transicold or Thermo King unit. It keeps the load cold or frozen from pickup to delivery. Produce haulers, meat and dairy distributors, seafood companies, florists, pharmaceutical carriers and other cold-chain businesses cannot operate without one.
Here is the plain truth. A reefer is a specialized asset. It costs more than a dry van or dry box truck, and the refrigeration unit must come with the truck. That unit has its own engine and its own hour meter, and it can break. Budget for maintenance and repairs, and check the reefer unit hours before you buy. Lenders will ask for them.
The upside: a reefer box truck can still work as a dry box truck when cold loads are slow. That flexibility helps you keep it busy and helps resale down the road.
Why Finance a Reefer Instead of Paying Cash
A well-kept reefer holds value well past the loan term. It makes sense to spread the cost of a long-life asset over up to 5 years and let the truck pay for itself while it works. You keep earning on it long after the last payment.
Financed or leased equipment may qualify for Section 179 expensing. Consult your tax advisor to see how it applies to your business.
Financing is an inflation buster. Your payment is fixed for the full term while fuel, parts, labor and new truck prices keep going up. You lock in today’s cost and pay it with tomorrow’s dollars.
It also protects your working capital. The cash you do not tie up in a truck is cash you can use for hiring drivers, marketing, insurance, fuel and day-to-day operations. For a growing cold-chain business, that cushion matters more than owning the truck outright on day one.
Advantages of Choosing Liberty Capital Group, Inc.
A, B, C Credit Determines Rates:
Your rate depends on your credit tier, time in business and the equipment. Strong A credit gets the best pricing. B and C credit can still get approved, with pricing to match.
Up to 120% Financing:
Qualified buyers may roll soft costs into the deal, such as delivery, sales tax, title and registration, and reefer unit installation. Subject to approval. Not every deal qualifies.
Flexible Funding Amounts:
We finance from $10,000 up to $5,000,000. Application-only approvals are common up to $250,000, depending on credit, time in business, equipment type and industry. Treat that as guidance, not a promise.
New and Used:
New reefers, used reefer trucks typically up to about 10 years old, and reefer trailers up to about 15 years old depending on the condition report. Terms up to 60 months.
Corp-Only Programs:
Some programs are available on the corporation alone, for companies with strong history and multiple owners. Sole owners and startups have limited options here and usually need a personal guarantee.
Approved Vendors and Private Sellers:
Buy from a dealer or a private seller. With a private sale, the seller must prove ownership and deliver clear title before we fund.
Early Payoff: How It Really Works:
These are commercial, non-cancellable contracts. You can pay early, but the payoff is generally the remaining payments. Know that going in.
Reefer Truck Financing Specials
Current programs for qualified buyers. All specials are on approved credit (OAC).
- $0 down – or – 1st payment only to get started
- No security deposit for qualified businesses
- $99/month for the first 6 months
- 90-day deferred payments
Why Lease a Reefer?
- Inflation buster: your payment stays fixed while costs rise.
- Cash flow management: low upfront capital compared with buying outright.
- Low, manageable payments spread over the life of the term.
- Terms up to 5 years, most with a $1 buyout, so you own it at the end.
- Section 179: you may qualify for a potential 100% deduction in the year the equipment is placed in service. Consult your tax advisor.
- Conserve cash for payroll, fuel, repairs and growth.
Rates and Down Payment
We do not publish rates because they depend on your file. Your A, B or C credit tier, time in business, and the age and condition of the reefer set the rate and any down payment. Stronger files often put little or nothing down. Newer authorities and thinner credit usually need a down payment or extra collateral.
Get a free quote or call 888-511-6223.
Reefer Truck Financing Credit Requirements
$10,000 to $150,000
- 600+ credit score
- 1+ year in business
- Personal guarantor with 600+ FICO
- 3–4 months of business bank statements
- Startups and new authorities: case-by-case, with a down payment or collateral
$150,000 to $250,000 and Up
- 650+ credit score
- 2+ years in business
- Personal guarantor with 650+ FICO
- 2 years of business and personal tax returns
- Personal financial statement (PFS)
- Interim P&L and balance sheet
Trucking Details We Will Ask For
- Valid CDL, if the truck requires one
- MC/DOT authority, or who you are leased on to
- Truck or trailer year and mileage
- Reefer unit hours
- Condition report on used units, when required
These are guidelines, not promises. Approval depends on credit, time in business, equipment type and industry.
How to Apply for Reefer Truck Financing
Three things get most deals moving:
- 1. Online application. We start with a soft pull to quote you, which does not affect your score. The lender does a hard pull once you decide to move forward.
- 2. 3–4 months of bank statements. These show your income, the funds for any down payment, and the account for ACH autopay.
- 3. Invoice or quote for the reefer. Buying from more than one vendor? We can combine them into one payment for up to 60 months.
Apply now or call 888-511-6223. Need other equipment too? See our equipment loan broker page.
Reefer Truck Financing FAQs
Can I finance a used or older reefer?
Yes. We typically finance used reefer trucks up to about 10 years old, sometimes older. We have financed reefer trailers up to about 15 years old on 60-month terms, depending on the condition report. Terms max out at 60 months.
Can I buy from a private seller?
Yes. The seller must prove ownership and provide clear title. If there is a lien, it gets paid off at funding before title transfers.
What credit score do I need?
Generally 600+ for deals from $10,000 to $150,000 and 650+ for $150,000 and up. Your A, B or C credit tier sets the rate.
I am a new owner-operator or new authority. Can I get approved?
Sometimes. Startups and new authorities are reviewed case-by-case and usually need a down payment or collateral. A CDL, clean driving history and a signed lease-on agreement help.
Should I lease or take a loan?
Most of our reefer leases have a $1 buyout, so you own the truck at the end, much like a loan. Leasing keeps upfront cost low and payments fixed. Ask your tax advisor which structure fits your taxes.
What about repairs to the reefer unit?
Plan for them. The refrigeration unit runs on its own engine and hours. Check unit hours before you buy, ask about any remaining warranty, and set aside money each month for service.
Can I pay off early?
Yes, but these are commercial, non-cancellable contracts. The payoff is generally the remaining payments.
How fast is funding, and how is the seller paid?
Quotes come back fast. Smaller application-only deals can often close within days once documents are complete; larger deals take longer. The lender pays the dealer or private seller directly after title and paperwork are verified.