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Long Term Scissor Lift Hire

Long-Term Hire or Purchase It?

Mark and Aaron each have over 25 years of experience in the equipment industry, specializing in top-quality and robust equipment for the hire industry.  Over that time, they have seen many brands come, go, and evolve. They can offer experienced advice on your next purchase or long-term hire.

​Scissor lifts are a unique product often used by various companies regularly, and some require these to be moved from site to site, while others need them on hand in the warehouse for regular maintenance or build work.​

Step One.

Deciding what type you need is the obvious first step; we offer a free site inspection to help assess your needs, but the key questions are…

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  • How high do you need to reach?

  • What terrain or surface is it operating on? (e.g Flat slab, grass, uneven terrain, etc…)

  • Indoors or outdoors?

  • Diesel, Electric or Hybrid?


Some scissors lifts cost more as the are built to last, but if you running low hours and indoors, you may be paying for qualities you don’t need.

Step Two.

Calculating hire cost vs purchase price, remember EWP regulations require scissor lifts to have a major inspection or rebuild every ten years and then every five years after that. Depending on the life it has had, most EWPs start to have a noticeable increase in maintenance costs after the first 5 to 6 years, sometimes a lot sooner with the cheaper brands.

​Hiring a scissor lift
Hiring is your best option if you use it for just a few days a month or a week every few months. With hiring, you don’t need to worry about long-term storage, servicing, or breakdowns. Depending on the job requirements, you can also change from smaller or larger lifts, and you are not committed to long-term hire. 

​Long term rental options
If you use it every other week for over a year or more, then a long-term rental could be more convenient and cost-effective as it's often half the price of the normal weekly hire rate. However, you need to consider storage and have a system for weekly and monthly safety checks. When renting a good hire company will arrange the servicing and handle any breakdowns for the duration of the hire. If needed, they will also supply a replacement to ensure your crew can get on with the job.

​Buying a Scissor Lift
Buying is a big commitment, but over the life of the machine, it can be very cost-effective. Compared with a weekly hire rate you could save up to 70% if you were using it every day for over 10 years. You then have an asset you can potentially sell but remember all scissor lifts have a 10-year lifespan before they legally require a major rebuild/inspection, so factor this in when looking to purchase.

When buying new equipment, the manufacturer will arrange servicing and breakdowns under warranty for the first year or more. However, as an owner, you are fully responsible for regular safety checks and should have a system in place to monitor this. You will also need to arrange insurance for assets.

​As a general rule, if the hire is under 12 months, using a specialized long-term hire company like Swift Construction Hire is probably the most economical way to go. Anything over that period is worth looking at the numbers and getting a quote to purchase. 

Get in touch with us today to see what is the best option for you.

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