INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIAN MACHINERY PRICE DATA
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Price guides

Skid Steer Price Guides

8 machines covered. 2 models currently carries a clearly labelled estimate derived from a sourced new price. Verified market ranges replace estimates only after clearing our sample-size gate.

Skid steers — and their tracked cousins, the posi-tracks — are the do-everything compact machines of Australian sites, so ubiquitous that the whole class trades under Bobcat’s name. The used market is deep and fast-moving: landscapers, farmers and small civil contractors churn through them constantly, and the attachment ecosystem is the widest of any machine class. Wheels versus tracks splits the market cleanly, and attachments, hours and track or tyre condition drive value everywhere. Verified market ranges below show their evidence; indicative estimates are labelled separately.

Live Guides

ASV RT-50 No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Bobcat S450 No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Bobcat S70 No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Bobcat T590 No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Cat 262D3 No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Kubota SVL75-2 ≈ $36,000 modelled 8-year modelled reference · not sold data Takeuchi TL10V-2 No estimate yet used pricing being rebuilt Toyota Huski 5SDK8 ≈ $19,000 modelled 8-year modelled reference · not sold data

By Brand

Bobcat price guides

Skid Steer buyer’s guide

What size skid steer do you need?

Skid steers are sized by rated operating capacity — what the machine can safely lift and carry — not by weight alone. Small stand-on and narrow machines squeeze through gates and work inside buildings; mid-frame machines cover most landscaping and site clean-up; large-frame machines with vertical lift run serious attachments and load trucks. Match the machine to your heaviest regular attachment and the tightest access you work in.

Wheels or tracks (posi-track)?

Wheeled machines are cheaper to buy and run, faster on hard ground, and kinder to finished surfaces. Tracked posi-tracks spread their weight over soft, wet or sandy ground, climb better and dig more confidently — which is why they dominate landscaping and earthworks. Tracks cost real money to replace, so the used market prices their condition hard in both directions.

Buying used vs hiring

The rule of thumb holds: regular weekly use favours owning, occasional use favours hiring — especially since hire yards carry current-generation machines with fresh tracks and attachments included. Our buy-vs-hire calculator runs your own numbers, and the skid steer hire pages show live day rates by city.

Skid Steer FAQ

What is a skid steer used for?
Loading, levelling, digging with the right attachment, post-hole boring, site clean-up and material handling in tight spaces. The attachment ecosystem is the widest of any compact machine — buckets, forks, augers, brooms, trenchers and breakers — which is why one machine ends up doing half the jobs on site.
Why is a skid steer called a bobcat?
Bobcat is a brand, not a machine type — but it so dominated the early Australian market that the name became the generic word for the whole class, the way Esky did for coolers. A Caterpillar, Kubota or ASV machine of the same layout is still a skid steer; a tracked version is commonly called a posi-track, which itself started as an ASV model name.
Skid steer or posi-track — which should I buy?
Wheels for hard surfaces, speed and lower running costs; tracks for soft ground, slopes and dig performance. In practice posi-tracks command a premium in the used market because Australian landscaping and earthworks favour them — but track replacement is the known big cost, so price the tracks, not just the machine.
Do I need a licence to operate a skid steer?
There is no High Risk Work Licence class for operating a skid steer. A workplace almost always requires verification of competency and a construction white card, and site rules can add more. Check your state WHS regulator before you operate.
Can you drive a skid steer on the road?
Only under conditional registration, and states treat the class specifically — WA, for example, gives bobcats and skid steer loaders automatic approval for its restricted-use concession, which also waives the licence fee and duty. Conditions on routes and use apply everywhere else too, and most states either exempt conditionally registered plant from stamp duty or charge a small flat amount. Check your state transport authority.
How much does it cost to hire a skid steer?
Dry-hire day rates vary by machine size and city. HeavyBook publishes live skid steer hire rates by capital city, each shown with the number of sources behind it — see the hire-rate pages for current figures rather than a guessed range.
Can I finance a used skid steer?
Yes — used equipment finance is widely available through brokers and lenders. HeavyBook’s equipment finance calculator gives an indicative monthly repayment across 1–7 years; it is indicative only and not financial advice. HeavyBook may receive a fee if you proceed with a broker we refer you to, and we never recommend a specific credit product.

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