Haulage finance Ireland for hauliers and logistics companies

Up to 12 cent a litre is expected, but check Revenue for confirmation. The scheme refunds part of the diesel cost when the quarterly average price is above €1.23 a litre, with the maximum paid at €1.43 or above. The 12 cent maximum ran from 1 January to 30 September 2026. Revenue's rates page still shows 7.5 cent from 1 October, but on 6 October the Government announced the enhanced rate will run to the end of December 2026.

Hauliers with an active national or international road haulage operator's licence and a current tax clearance certificate, for vehicles with a maximum permissible gross laden weight of 7.5 tonnes or more. Diesel must be bought in the State with a Revenue-approved fuel card, or as a bulk delivery from a licensed auto-fuel trader to your premises. Cash, card and on-account forecourt purchases don't qualify.

You get less cash back for the same fuel spend, and only after each quarter ends. Illustrative example: a company using 300,000 qualifying litres a quarter would get back up to €36,000 at 12 cent, but up to €22,500 at 7.5 cent. Fuel excise is also due to rise in phases from March 2027. Review fuel surcharges in your customer contracts and your working capital headroom; working capital loans are among the products our lender panel covers.

Under EU rules (Regulation 1071/2009), an operator must show capital and reserves of at least €9,000 for the first vehicle and €5,000 for each additional vehicle, in annual accounts certified by an auditor or accredited person. Adding trucks raises the figure, so check your financial standing before expanding the fleet, and ask your accountant how new borrowing or assets will affect it.

There is no single rule; each lender sets its own limits. Many look at the truck's age at the end of the agreement rather than today, along with its mileage, make, service history and resale market. Older or high-mileage units may need a bigger deposit or a shorter term. Tell us what your company needs and we'll tell you honestly whether our panel can help, or where to apply instead.

Often, yes. Some asset finance providers agree a fleet facility, a limit the company draws on as it adds or replaces vehicles, instead of a separate application for each truck. Lenders look at the age profile of your fleet, your contracts and how the new units will be kept busy. Spreading replacements over time also avoids several balloon payments falling due together.

Start with your terms: agree payment terms in writing, invoice promptly with proof of delivery and claim statutory late payment interest when business customers pay late. For funding, invoice finance advances part of each invoice, and a working capital loan can cover fuel and wages between payments. Working capital loans are among the products our lender panel covers.

Possibly. Some non-bank lenders say they can decide on short-term business loans within 24 hours of a complete application, but this is not guaranteed and depends on your accounts, bank statements and tax compliance. Having those documents ready helps. For a replacement truck, asset finance from a specialist provider may cost less than an unsecured loan because the vehicle secures it.

No. Only companies registered in Ireland (LTD, DAC, PLC or ULC) can apply through Welcome Finance. An Irish company running cross-border or international routes can apply, and lenders will look at its customers, routes and currency exposure case by case. For the diesel rebate itself, check Revenue's current eligibility rules for operators licensed outside the State.