It’s never been more challenging to be a farmer. Everyone from local supermarkets to the Government is putting pressure on their finances. It is no wonder that the decision between owning or hiring farm equipment is playing on farmers’ minds.
Tractor hire has emerged as a compelling option for farmers across the UK, offering financial breathing room without sacrificing access to essential machinery.
But is it always the right choice?
We look into the pros and cons of hiring tractors, spotlight five leading providers helping the farming community and outline hire rates (at the time of writing) to help calculate the actual impact on your bottom line.
Benefits Of Hiring Tractors
Farmers (and construction operators) are discovering that hiring tractors can transform their operations and give them access to newer equipment without the headache of ownership.
At the same time, they can tackle seasonal demands with the right machine/attachment when they need it most.
Here are a few of the benefits of hiring:
- Eliminate excessive upfront costs – access brand new machinery without the £50,000+ investment
- Avoid depreciation losses – instead the rental company will absorb the first few years valuation drop
- Zero maintenance or repair costs – save money on replacement parts and the associated labour costs
- Access specialised equipment – for seasonal operations without the need for year-round storage, insurance costs, etc.
- Try before you buy – test multiple brands and models in actual working conditions
- Flexible rental periods – depending on your requirements, hire periods can be daily, weekly, seasonal, or annual
Tractor Hire Rates Per Day
The following table illustrates a sample of hire rates across the UK based on common John Deere models. Adjustments for regional variations, seasonal demand, or specific attachments (e.g., trailers, ploughs) will be needed.
We recommend that if you are considering short or long-term hire, you contact the providers well in advance to ensure you can get the model you need.
| Make and Model | Horsepower | Day Rate (£) |
| John Deere 6120M | 120 HP | £100 |
| John Deere 6155M | 155 HP | £175 |
| John Deere 6195M | 195 HP | £200 |
| John Deere 6R 215 | 215 HP | £200 |
| John Deere 6R 250 | 250 HP | £250 |
Notes About Rates
1. Regional Variations – rates may be higher in high-demand areas (e.g., South East England) and lower in rural regions
2. Attachments – add £50–£150/day for specialised implements (e.g., front loaders, mowers, seed drills)
3. Minimum Hire Period – many providers require 3 – 5 days for discounted rates
4. Fuel & Insurance – are often excluded; please confirm terms with the hiring company
5. Seasonal Demand – rates rise during peak farming seasons (e.g., spring planting, autumn harvest)
Tractor Hire Companies
With over 400 companies across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland offering tractors for hire, there should be no shortage of options.
Whether you seek a 4WD model, variants with front and rear PTOs, or high horsepower versions for heavy-duty tasks, a company on your doorstep will be ready to help.
Our research shows that the equipment available for hire tends to cater for the local environment.
For example, East Anglia, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire regions align with key arable farming areas. Meanwhile, in Wales, livestock and mixed farming operations are catered for. In comparison, specialised operators in Scotland can provide vehicles which deal with challenging terrain.
Our team have listed five top-rated hire companies on Google below:
Tractor Hire UK
Tractor Hire UK Ltd is a leading agricultural machinery hire company in the UK, offering tractors, trailers and telehandlers for short- or long-term hire. Based in Shropshire, they can provide hire agreements for single vehicles to entire fleets.
For more information, get in touch with them at https://tractorhireukltd.co.uk/
SW Hire
SW Hire is a UK-based agricultural machinery hire company founded in 2003 by Simon Williams. Based in North Wiltshire with nationwide delivery, it specialises in flexible short- and long-term rentals of modern, reliable equipment, including tractors, telehandlers, trailers, and plant machinery.
To hire a tractor, visit https://www.sw-hire.co.uk/hire/tractors/
Ashbrook Ltd
Ashbrook provides comprehensive agricultural equipment hire, including a modern fleet of tractors and trailers for short- or long-term projects. Their tractor hire includes models from leading brands like JCB and CASE. It includes maintenance, technical assistance, and flexible hire terms tailored to businesses of all sizes (from family farms to corporate clients).
View the range of tractors on offer https://www.ashbrook.ltd/hire/agricultural-machinery-hire/tractors/
Buckhurst Plant Hire
Established in 1993, the company operates nationwide with five depots. They can provide operated and self-drive hire, with fully qualified operators available. With tractors ranging from 110HP to 360HP, they are ideal for agricultural, construction, and utility sectors requiring reliable, modern tractors with full-service support.
To hire a tractor, visit https://buckhurstplanthire.co.uk/collections/tractors
M.P Hire Limited
MP Hire, based near Wem in Shropshire, specialises in John Deere agricultural tractor hire for short- or long-term projects. The fleet ranges from 110 HP to 400 HP and is updated annually for reliability. They also offer manure spreaders (Samson), slurry equipment, trailers (Bailey), cultivation tools, and mini diggers (Kubota).
For farm tractor hire from them, visit http://www.mp-hire.com/
Disadvantages Of Hiring
Of course, there are certain disadvantages of hiring tractors in the short or long term – some of which you might not expect. Here are a few to consider before hiring a fleet of John Deere tractors!
- Peak season scarcity – when everyone needs the same equipment at the same time, you might face disappointing waitlists and have to resort to hiring a less-than-ideal machine (or a more expensive one)
- Last-minute weather opportunities – when the perfect conditions arrive for ploughing, seeding or harvesting, these can be missed if tractors/attachments aren’t immediately available
- Rental fees add up quickly – if you have to wait for good conditions or if a construction project is delayed, the rental costs can become excessive
- Return deadline pressure – to avoid incurring late return penalties, farmers may potentially rush important agricultural tasks, resulting in a poorer yield
- Potential for rate increases – future seasonal rental fees might increase without warning, so much so they become unaffordable and negate any profit
Long-Term Hire Alternatives
If the thought of racking up massive rental fees, being penalised for late returns or producing poorer yields worries you – there are several tractor hire alternatives.
We believe the first method tends to be underused: “asset refinancing”. Many farms have lots of equipment or assets sitting doing nothing for most of the year. There is value in these assets, and they can be used as collateral to raise new finance to purchase a new or used tractor.
If you ultimately want to own the tractor, the next option is hire purchase (HP). Instead of renting for an extended period, you can sign an HP agreement with terms ranging from 1 to 7 years. This secures a fixed rate and allows you to budget monthly payments over the term. It also gives you complete ownership of the tractor at the end.
Finance leases and Operating leases are two other options similar to hiring/renting. After agreeing on terms with the lender, you choose the tractor brand and model you need, and they will secure it. Each month, you pay the agreed lease amount for the agreed term (normally 12 to 84 months) and have use of the machinery. The machinery is returned to the finance company at the end of the agreement.
All of these options remove any worries about increasing hiring fees and low availability.
To discuss these alternative tractor finance options, please speak to the team at Evangate FS.
