Bad Credit Garbage Truck Financing
Reviewed by George Burgess · Updated August 18, 2026
Garbage truck buyers with challenged credit can be considered through Hard Money Truck Loans when the transaction fits the program. There is no minimum credit score. The truck must be purchased from a licensed dealer, the purchase price must be $21,000 to $145,000, an established business is typically 30% down, and a startup is typically 40% down with 2 years of industry experience.
Quick Financing Snapshot
- Minimum credit score
- None
- Credit specialty
- Credit challenged buyers welcome, with no minimum credit score
- Purchase price financed
- $21,000 to $145,000
- Down payment
- Typically 30% of the purchase price
- Startup down payment
- Typically 40% of the purchase price
- Seller
- Licensed dealer purchases only
- Credit history
- No bankruptcy or repossession within the last 5 years.
- Approvals
- Same day approvals may be available
Want to know whether your own situation is financeable? Get pre-approved or call (407) 250-8536.
Who Uses Garbage Trucks?
Garbage trucks can support municipal or private trash hauling, commercial waste collection, residential waste collection, recycling collection and route-based waste services.
These examples help explain the business purpose of the truck. They are not separate HMTL eligibility rules.
Financing a Garbage Truck for a Waste Business
An existing waste company may be adding a truck because routes, customers or collection volume have grown. Another buyer may be replacing an older unit.
The financing review is still based on the specific truck purchase.
Have the truck year, make, model, VIN, mileage, dealer and written purchase price ready.
Bad Credit and Waste Equipment Financing
There is no minimum credit score.
HMTL specializes in credit challenged commercial truck and trailer buyers, including many borrowers with scores around 500.
A low score does not create an automatic numeric decline.
There can be no bankruptcy or repossession within the last 5 years.
Existing Waste Company vs Startup
An established waste business is typically 30% down.
A startup is typically 40% down and requires 2 years of industry experience.
This site does not define exactly how waste-industry experience must be documented.
If you are starting a waste company after working in sanitation, recycling, hauling or a related field, describe the actual background and let HMTL review it.
Garbage Truck Type and Configuration
Garbage trucks can vary by body type and collection method.
This resource does not establish a required body style, compactor specification, axle configuration or collection system.
The specific truck has to be reviewed. Buyers should independently determine whether the unit fits the route and type of waste service they intend to operate.
Bank Statements and Business Activity
Approximately 4 months of business bank statements is typical.
HMTL does not publish a minimum number of routes, customers, dumpsters or monthly waste revenue on this site.
Current business activity can provide context, but there is no published revenue formula that guarantees approval.
Dealer Purchases Only
A garbage truck from a private seller is outside the HMTL purchase program.
The truck must come from a licensed dealer.
If the seller structure is unusual, confirm it with HMTL before leaving a deposit.
What May Help You Qualify
- No minimum credit score
- Typically 30% of the purchase price down for an established business
- Typically 40% of the purchase price down for a startup, plus 2 years of industry experience
- Licensed dealer purchases only
- Purchase prices from $21,000 to $145,000
- No bankruptcy or repossession within the last 5 years
- Approximately 4 months of business bank statements
Potential Problems & Reasons For Decline
- A truck being bought from a private seller rather than a licensed dealer
- A purchase price outside the $21,000 to $145,000 range
- A down payment that does not reach the typical percentage for the truck selected
- A bankruptcy or repossession inside the last 5 years
- A startup without 2 years of industry experience
- Business bank statements that are incomplete or unavailable
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a waste company finance a garbage truck with poor credit?
Can I finance a garbage truck for a recycling business?
Does HMTL require a certain number of waste routes?
Can a startup trash-hauling business qualify?
Does the garbage truck have to be a certain body type?
Can I purchase a used garbage truck?
Can the seller be a private waste company?
What truck purchase prices are eligible for review?
Related Resources
- Financing by Truck TypeBad Credit Roll-Off Truck FinancingFinance a roll-off truck for dumpster, roofing, demolition, construction or waste operations even when credit is damaged.
- Financing by Truck TypeBad Credit Hook Lift Truck FinancingFinance a hook lift truck for container, waste, recycling or construction service even when traditional financing is difficult.
- Financing by Truck TypeBad Credit Septic Truck FinancingFinance a septic truck for pumping, wastewater or environmental service operations even when credit is damaged.
- Bad Credit FinancingCommercial Truck Financing Around a 500 Credit ScoreA score around 500 is not an automatic HMTL decline, but it is not an automatic approval either.
- Truck, Dealer & CollateralHow Commercial Trucks Are Valued for FinancingThe truck's price and value are not always the same thing. Here is how to think about valuation without inventing an HMTL formula.
Ready To Get Your Truck Funded?
Tell us about the truck, your business and your situation. We will review whether the transaction fits the HMTL program.