Finance Assets arranges hire purchase and leasing for UK accident repair centres, independent body shops, smart repairers and dealer bodyshops buying spray booths, paint mixing systems, jigs, measuring systems, welders and ADAS calibration equipment.
Body shop equipment finance spreads the cost over 2 to 5 years, so you can replace an ageing booth, meet insurer or manufacturer approval standards, or add capacity without a large cash outlay. We are a broker, not a lender, so we compare quotes from our lender panel rather than offering one bank’s product.
Written by Marcus Wright, founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, in financial services since 2008 and a commercial finance broker since 2019. Last reviewed October 2026.
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The short version
- Body shop equipment finance spreads the cost over 2 to 5 years.
- With hire purchase, the business owns the equipment after the final payment.
- A spray booth can be funded with its installation, ducting and burner as one project.
- New and used equipment is funded, including refurbished booths and jigs from established dealers.
- Finance Assets arranges this finance for limited companies and LLPs, and for sole traders and partnerships on agreements over £25,000.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Equipment covered | Spray booths, prep bays, curing systems, paint mixing, jigs and measuring, welders, ADAS calibration, lifts and extraction |
| Terms | Usually 2 to 5 years |
| Paid upfront | Hire purchase: often a 10% deposit plus VAT. Leases: usually 1 to 3 rentals in advance |
| New or used | Both. Refurbished booths, jigs and welders from established dealers are widely funded |
| Extra costs | Installation, ducting, burners, compressed air and electrical work can often be included |
| Who we help | Limited companies and LLPs, plus sole traders and partnerships on business agreements over £25,000 |
Body shop equipment we finance
Lenders will fund most of the equipment in a modern accident repair centre, from the booth to the diagnostic kit.
| Equipment group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Paint shop | Combination spray and bake booths, low-bake ovens, prep bays and preparation zones with extraction |
| Drying and curing | Infrared and UV curing systems, booth air movers for water-based paint and energy-saving burner upgrades |
| Paint mixing | Mixing schemes, spectrophotometers, scales, gun cleaners and paint storage |
| Structural repair | Bench and jig systems, electronic measuring systems, pulling towers and lifts |
| Welding and joining | Inverter spot welders, MIG brazing and aluminium welding sets, rivet bonding tools and aluminium repair bays |
| Diagnostics and calibration | ADAS calibration rigs and targets, wheel alignment, diagnostic tools and pre and post-repair scanning |
| Workshop support | Compressors and air lines, dust extraction, vehicle lifts and dent repair kits |
We regularly see equipment from makers such as Blowtherm, Nova Verta, USI Italia, Garmat, Car-O-Liner and Celette. For welding, compressors and other workshop machinery used outside body repair, see our metal fabrication equipment finance guide.
Spray booths and paint shops
The spray booth is usually the biggest single purchase in a body shop, and how quickly cars move through it decides how much work the shop can take.
- Funding the full installation. The booth, burner, ducting, lighting, electrical work and installation can go on one agreement, so the whole project is funded together.
- Throughput and energy. Newer booths, curing systems and burners cut drying times and gas bills. Showing the extra jobs a week or the energy saving helps show the new payments are affordable.
- Refurbished booths. Booths from established makers are long-lived, so refurbished units moved and reinstalled by a dealer are widely funded.
- Paint supplier deals. Some paint distributors offer equipment as part of a supply agreement. Funding the equipment separately keeps you free to change paint supplier, so it is worth comparing both.
- Permits. Larger paint shops may need an environmental permit for solvent emissions from the local authority. Lenders like to see the booth fits within your permit.
Structural repair, approvals and ADAS
Insurer work and manufacturer approvals increasingly depend on having the right repair and calibration equipment.
- Manufacturer approvals. Approval schemes often require specific jigs, welders and aluminium repair bays. If the equipment is needed to win or keep an approval, lenders will take the extra work into account.
- Insurer and fleet work. Approved repairer agreements bring steady volume. Lenders look at how much of your work comes from insurers, fleets and retail customers.
- ADAS calibration. Cameras and radar in modern cars need calibrating after many repairs. Bringing calibration in house saves sending cars out and adds a chargeable service.
- Electric vehicles. EV repair can need insulated tools, quarantine areas and battery handling equipment, which can be funded alongside the rest of the shop.
Industrial paint spraying
Paint spraying equipment is not only used on cars. Commercial vehicle and plant refinishers, trailer builders and rail and marine painters use larger booths and the same finance options.
Manufacturers spraying their own products are covered in our other guides. Powder coating lines and industrial finishing are in the metal fabrication equipment finance guide, and spray booths for furniture and joinery are in the woodworking machinery finance guide.
Hire purchase, finance lease and operating lease compared
Hire purchase suits equipment you will keep for years, such as a booth or jig. A lease suits you better if you want to spread the VAT or keep upfront costs low. Our types of asset finance guide covers each option in more depth.
| Option | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hire purchase | You pay a deposit and fixed monthly payments, and own the equipment after the final payment and any option fee | Booths, jigs and welders kept for their full working life |
| Finance lease | You rent the equipment for most of its working life. At the end you extend at a low rent, or sell it for the lender and keep most of the proceeds | Larger paint shop projects where spreading the VAT helps cash flow |
| Operating lease | You rent the equipment for part of its life, then hand it back or upgrade | ADAS and diagnostic kit that changes quickly with new vehicle models |
Hire purchase for paint spraying machines
Hire purchase is the most common choice. You pay a deposit, usually 10% plus the VAT, then fixed monthly payments, and ownership passes to you after the final payment and a small option-to-purchase fee. As the owner for tax purposes, the business may be able to claim capital allowances on the equipment.
Finance lease for paint spraying machines
A finance lease keeps the upfront cost to a few rentals, and VAT is spread across the rentals rather than paid at the start. The lender owns the equipment throughout. At the end of the main term you can keep using it for a low secondary rent, or sell it on the lender’s behalf and receive most of the sale proceeds.
Operating lease for paint spraying machines
An operating lease sets the rentals against what the equipment is expected to be worth at the end of the term, so the lender carries the resale risk. It suits equipment that dates quickly, such as calibration and diagnostic systems. At the end you hand it back, extend the lease or upgrade.
Body shop equipment finance costs: a worked example
A £65,000 combination spray booth, including the burner, ducting and installation, costs about £1,456 a month on a 4-year hire purchase, or about £1,214 a month over 5 years.
| Item | 4 years | 5 years |
|---|---|---|
| Price (excl. VAT) | £65,000 | £65,000 |
| Deposit (10%) | £6,500 | £6,500 |
| VAT paid upfront | £13,000 | £13,000 |
| Monthly payment | £1,455.77 | £1,214.36 |
| Total interest | £11,377 | £14,362 |
The longer term lowers the monthly payment by about £241 but adds around £2,985 of interest. Compare the payment with the extra paint jobs a faster booth lets you complete each week.
Illustration calculated in October 2026, assuming an interest rate of 9% a year. It is not a quote. Your rate depends on your trading history, credit profile and the equipment.
VAT and tax on body shop equipment finance
| Option | VAT | Usual tax treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Hire purchase | Paid on the full price at the start, reclaimable if you are VAT registered | You may be able to claim capital allowances, such as the Annual Investment Allowance, and the interest is deductible |
| Finance lease | Added to each rental | Rentals are usually deductible |
| Operating lease | Added to each rental | Rentals are usually deductible |
Check the treatment for your business with your accountant before you choose.
What lenders ask for
Most body shop equipment finance applications need the following.
- Your last 2 years of filed accounts, or management accounts and a forecast if you are newer
- Your last 3 to 6 months of business bank statements
- A quote from the supplier showing the equipment, installation and any building or electrical work separately
- A summary of your work mix, such as insurer, fleet and retail, and any approvals you hold
- Photo ID and address history for each director, member or partner
- Details of any existing finance agreements and your premises lease
Related guides
Who we can help
We arrange body shop equipment finance for UK limited companies and LLPs, and for sole traders and partnerships on agreements over £25,000 that are for business purposes. We are not authorised by the FCA, so we cannot arrange agreements of £25,000 or less for sole traders or partnerships of two or three partners, or finance for personal use.
Body shop equipment finance FAQs
Can I finance a spray booth including installation?
Yes. The booth, burner, ducting, lighting, electrical work and installation can usually be funded together on one agreement, as long as the booth itself makes up most of the total.
How much does it cost to finance a spray booth?
It depends on the booth, the term and your business. As an illustration, a £65,000 booth costs about £1,456 a month over 4 years on hire purchase at 9%, after a 10% deposit and the VAT paid upfront, or about £1,214 a month over 5 years.
Can I finance a used or refurbished spray booth?
Yes. Refurbished booths from established makers, moved and reinstalled by a dealer, are widely funded. Lenders look at the age of the booth and who is refurbishing and installing it.
Can I finance ADAS calibration equipment?
Yes. ADAS calibration rigs, targets and diagnostic tools can be funded on their own or alongside other body shop equipment. Because the technology changes with new models, some shops prefer a lease so they can upgrade.
Should I take equipment through a paint supplier deal or finance it?
Paint supplier deals can be good value but usually tie you to that supplier for several years. Financing the equipment separately keeps you free to change paint supplier. Compare the total cost of both, including the paint prices in the supply agreement.
Do you finance industrial paint spraying equipment?
Yes. Larger booths for commercial vehicles, trailers and plant are funded in the same way. Powder coating and industrial finishing lines are covered in our metal fabrication guide, and joinery spray booths in our woodworking machinery guide.
Get a body shop equipment finance quote
Tell us what you want to finance
Send us the equipment, the price and a few details about your business. We will come back with the options that are realistic and what they are likely to cost.
About the author
Marcus Wright is the owner and founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, which trades as Finance Assets. He has worked in financial services since 2008, beginning his career at Santander, and has been a commercial finance broker since March 2019.
He founded Bolton Business Finance in 2020 to give businesses access to the whole lending market rather than one bank’s own product range. The firm is a member of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers and works with a panel of 135+ lenders. Call 0161 546 9128.
Finance Assets is a trading name of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, an independent commercial finance brokerage, not a lender. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and can only complete non-regulated introductions. All lending is for business purposes only. Registered address: Westgate House, 1 Westgate Avenue, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1 4RF. Company number 12495909.