Financing
Specialty + collector financing
Most acquisitions over $300k include some structured financing. We work with three collector-specific lenders. Confidential, sophisticated, and structured for sophisticated buyers + estates.
Why specialty financing
Standard auto financing doesn't fit
Vehicles aren't depreciating assets
Most acquisitions appreciate over time — some significantly. Standard auto loans assume depreciation. Specialty lenders understand collector vehicles + price accordingly.
Loan-to-value requirements differ
Standard auto loans go up to 100% of book value. Specialty lenders go up to 70% of independently-appraised value (more conservative, reflecting the realities of collector market liquidity).
Longer-term loans available
Standard auto loans 60-84 months. Specialty loans 84-180 months (7-15 years). Some lenders offer interest-only or balloon-payment structures for collectors.
Vehicle is collateral but not driven
Specialty lenders accept that vehicles may be in long-term storage, only used for concours + tours. Standard lenders sometimes require regular use. Specialty arrangement matches actual collector behavior.
Estate + tax-favored structures
Specialty lenders work with estate attorneys + financial advisors on tax-efficient ownership structures. Important for high-value collections + multi-generational planning.
Privacy + confidentiality
Specialty lenders handle confidential transactions discreetly. Standard banks may not. For high-net-worth clients, this is non-negotiable.
Lenders we work with
Three collector-specific lenders
Premier Financial Services (Garrison)
Largest specialty + collector vehicle lender in the US. Loans $50k-$10M+. Up to 12-year terms. Interest-only structures available. Premier-quality borrowers (>$2M net worth typical). Most flexible terms.
Woodside Credit
Boutique specialty lender. Loans $50k-$3M. Up to 10-year terms. Excellent for early-career collectors or first acquisitions. Faster underwriting (3-7 business days vs. 2-4 weeks at Premier).
JBB Capital
Specialty + auction-house affiliated lender. Loans $100k-$5M. Auction-financing strength. Pre-approved bidding lines for established clients. Useful for buyers active at Pebble Beach + Amelia + RM Sotheby’s.
Hybrid bank + private financing
For ultra-high-net-worth clients, structures often combine private banking (e.g., JPMorgan, Goldman, BNY Mellon) with vehicle-specific structuring. We coordinate. Confidential, often custom-structured.
Acquisition + refi options
We can help refinance existing vehicles into more favorable structures (lower rate, longer term, interest-only). Especially useful for pre-pandemic acquisitions financed at higher rates.
Cash purchase still common
~45% of transactions are 100% cash. Common for: vehicles under $300k, established collectors with liquid wealth, transactions involving estate/inheritance funds. We don’t pressure financing.
Leasing options
When leasing makes sense
Operating lease (non-acquisition)
Pay monthly to use a specific vehicle for 12-36 months. No equity built. End of term: return vehicle. Useful for: long-term test driving before acquisition decision; tax-favored business use.
Capital lease (path to acquisition)
Like rent-to-own. Monthly payments build equity + apply toward eventual purchase. End of term: take ownership at agreed residual value. Useful for: cash-flow management; phased acquisition.
Finance lease (tax-structured)
For collectors using vehicles for business (concours appearances generating sponsorship income, vintage racing teams, automotive media). Tax-deductible structuring. Consult your CPA.
Lease takeover services
Some clients exit leases mid-term. We can help find buyers for active leases (lease takeover). 3-5% transaction fee. Win-win for exiting + acquiring parties.
Lease vs. purchase math
Lease wins if: vehicle won’t appreciate, you want to swap vehicles every 2-3 years, tax-favored business use. Purchase wins if: vehicle will appreciate, you’ll keep 5+ years, simple personal ownership.
Lease end options
End of operating/capital lease: return vehicle, take ownership at residual, or extend. End of finance lease: usually take ownership at residual. We discuss options 90 days before end.
The financing process
From application to closing
- 1Pre-qualification (1-3 days)Submit financial profile + acquisition target. Specialty lender reviews + provides pre-qualification range. Soft credit check; no impact on score.
- 2Vehicle appraisal (1-2 weeks)Independent appraisal by specialty appraiser. Establishes loan-to-value basis. Typically 70-75% LTV on appraised value at specialty lenders.
- 3Underwriting + final approval (2-4 weeks)Lender reviews finances + appraisal + structures loan. Hard credit pull during final approval. Loan documents drafted + reviewed.
- 4Closing + deliveryLoan funded into escrow. Vehicle title transferred. Vehicle delivered. Most transactions complete in 4-8 weeks from initial pre-qualification.
Ownership structures
Common arrangements
Personal ownership
Simplest. Vehicle in your name. Standard insurance. Personal tax basis. Most common for small collections (1-3 vehicles).
LLC ownership
Vehicle owned by personal LLC. Liability separation, simpler estate transfer, business-use deduction (where applicable). Common for serious collectors with 3+ vehicles.
Family trust ownership
For estate planning purposes. Vehicle held in revocable or irrevocable trust. Avoids probate, structures multi-generational transfer. Consult your estate attorney.
Operating company structure
For collectors with related-business activity (events, media, racing). Vehicle owned by operating company; rented to personal use. Tax-favored when business-use is genuine. Aggressive structures attract IRS scrutiny.
Insurance considerations
Personal-use only or agreed-value commercial use? Concours-only vs. tour-driven? Different premiums + coverage. Hagerty, Chubb Masterpiece, Heacock are specialty insurers we work with.
International ownership
Owning a vehicle in your home country vs. importing to US vs. international company structure. Tax implications vary by country. Consult international tax advisor — we can refer.
Financing questions
What collectors ask
- Spring 2026 specialty + collector vehicle lending: 7.5-9.5% for established collectors with strong credit + collateral. Compare to standard auto loans at 4.9-7.5% (but standard auto loans don’t fit collector-vehicle ownership reality).