Financing Options
Cash-Out Refinance
Pull equity out of your container fleet without selling or leasing back. Cash-out refinance on cargo-worthy and used containers from $50k. Fast close, Challenged-credit files reviewed.
Steel appreciates in inflationary markets. If you bought a stack of cargo-worthy containers a few years back and prices in your region have moved, you are sitting on equity that is not doing any work. A cash-out refinance pulls that equity out as unrestricted capital while you keep title to every box in your fleet.
The mechanics are simple. We appraise the current market value of your containers, pay off any existing loan balance on the units, and fund the difference to you in cash. You end up with a new loan at the full appraised value (or a percentage of it), a single monthly payment replacing any old debt, and cash in the bank that you can spend on anything from fleet expansion to payroll to yard infrastructure. The containers stay in service. The rental income keeps coming in. Only the debt structure and the bank balance change.
We do cash-out refis on single units and full fleets, from $50,000 to multi-million-dollar portfolios, across all unit types: standard dry boxes, high-cube containers, reefer units, modified office and workshop containers, and chassis. The key is that the units have clear title and verifiable market value. non-prime borrowers are reviewed around container condition, title history, and rental cash flow.
How a Container Cash-Out Refi Works
The sequence runs like this. You apply and provide three months of business bank statements (or qualify application-only for smaller deals). We pull credit and do a desktop or in-person assessment of the equipment value. Based on the appraised value, we determine the maximum loan amount, typically 75 to 85 percent of current market value for standard cargo-worthy units. We pay off your existing lender if there is a balance, and the remainder funds to you at closing.
Example: your 15-container fleet appraises at $180,000. You owe $40,000 on a legacy loan. We fund $150,000 (roughly 83 percent LTV), pay off the $40,000 lien, and wire $110,000 to you. That capital is unrestricted, you can buy more units, hire staff, cover slow-season cash flow, or invest in your yard, and no one asks you to justify the use.
Terms on a cash-out refi run two to six years depending on equipment age, unit type, and your credit profile. The new monthly payment replaces your old one, and in many cases, even with the higher principal balance, the new payment is similar to or lower than what you were paying before if the old loan was at a higher rate or shorter remaining term.
Why Container Equity Matters Right Now
Container prices in the US secondary market have been volatile. During supply-chain crunches, cargo-worthy 20-foot and 40-foot units saw significant price appreciation over their pre-pandemic baselines. Operators who bought early and held are sitting on genuine equity. Even as prices have moderated from their peaks, containers continue to trade above historical averages in many markets, particularly near major ports in Long Beach, Houston, and Savannah where drayage activity keeps demand high.
The cash-out refi lets you capture that equity without selling units you are actively renting. Selling a container that is generating monthly rental income requires replacing that income. A cash-out refi gives you the capital and keeps the income stream intact. For portable storage rental companies and self-storage operators whose margins depend on fleet utilization, that distinction matters a great deal.
Cash-Out Refi vs. Sale-Leaseback
The two structures accomplish similar things (capital from existing equipment) but work differently on paper. In a cash-out refi, you keep title and take on a loan. In a sale-leaseback, you transfer title and take on a lease. For operators who want to keep the asset on their balance sheet and maintain full ownership rights, including the ability to sell units individually or modify them freely, the cash-out refi is the cleaner choice.
For operators who want off-balance-sheet treatment or whose accountants recommend separating the asset from the debt, the leaseback may be preferable. Both structures can generate similar amounts of capital. The choice comes down to how you want the transaction to appear on your books and what you want to do with the equipment at the end of the term.
If you are undecided, we can model both scenarios with your specific unit values and remaining debt so you can see the actual numbers side by side before making a decision. Compare also against a straight container refinancing if your primary goal is a lower payment rather than maximum cash extraction.
Questions from buyers
What to know before you send the file.
Clear answers on structure, documentation, timing, and equipment eligibility.
Does the cash have to be used for container-related expenses?
No. The capital from a cash-out refi is unrestricted. You can use it for anything: buying more equipment, paying off other debt, covering operating expenses, hiring, or investing in other parts of your business. Unlike an SBA loan or a specific-purpose credit facility, equipment equity cash-out proceeds have no use restrictions.
Can I do a cash-out refi if my containers have no existing loan on them?
Absolutely. Free-and-clear equipment is the best-case scenario for a cash-out refi because there is no lien to pay off. The entire funded amount goes to you. If you own containers outright and have not drawn on that equity, a cash-out refi is one of the fastest ways to put that capital to work.
What is the maximum loan-to-value on a container cash-out refi?
For cargo-worthy ISO units in good condition, most lenders will advance 75 to 85 percent of current market value. For wind-and-watertight-only containers, the advance rate is lower, typically 60 to 70 percent, because the secondary market is thinner. Modified containers fall somewhere in between depending on the conversion type and its market value.
How is market value determined for my containers?
We use a combination of current secondary market data for the size and grade of your units, your purchase price and age, and in some cases a physical or photo inspection. Market value for 20-foot and 40-foot cargo-worthy units is well-documented through industry pricing sources. Modified or specialized units may require more information to value accurately.
Can I do a partial cash-out, leaving some equity in the fleet?
Yes. You do not have to borrow to the maximum LTV. Some operators prefer to pull 50 or 60 percent of value rather than 80 percent to keep the monthly payment lower or maintain more equity cushion in the fleet. We can structure the loan at whatever draw level makes sense for your situation.
Container quote desk
Ready to price Cash-Out Refinance?
Send the unit list, seller quote, delivery location, and target timing. We will organize the financing request around the equipment.