plant hire brand
Caterpillar
The global heavyweight. In UK hire it shows up most at the larger end and on long-term contract hire, where dealer support and machine availability across a whole project matter more than day-rate.
Last reviewed 13 September 2026
Built in
United States
UK availability
Widely available in the UK
Global dealer network with long-established UK coverage.
What Caterpillar builds
Caterpillar model ranges
| Range | What it is |
|---|---|
| Cat mini excavator range | The hire-relevant end of a very large catalogue |
How Caterpillar compares
These are the makes buyers actually cross-shop against Caterpillar.
Caterpillar vs JCB
The default British plant make and the one hire customers ask for by name. Fleets buy JCB because operators already know the controls, parts turn up quickly and residual values hold, which matters more to a hire business than any single spec on the sheet.
Caterpillar vs Komatsu
A full-line manufacturer strongest in the mid and heavy excavator classes. Turns up in UK hire mainly through larger fleets and civils contractors rather than local tool-and-plant shops.
Caterpillar vs Hitachi
An excavator specialist with a long reputation for hydraulic smoothness. Operators who spend all day in the seat tend to have strong opinions about Zaxis machines, and fleets that serve civils work stock them for that reason.
Caterpillar vs Kubota
The mini excavator most hire fleets standardise on. Reliability and the zero-tail-swing U series are the reasons - on a domestic driveway or a garden job, the ability to slew without catching a wall is worth more than extra breakout force.
UK companies hiring and selling Caterpillar
No listed company has told us they carry Caterpillar yet.
That does not mean nobody near you does - most plant hire firms carry several makes and list none of them. Start with the companies covering your area:
Browse plant hire companiesOther makes
GetBrent is an independent directory of UK hire and sales companies. We are not a Caterpillar dealer and have no affiliation with, or endorsement from, Caterpillar. The Caterpillar name and model names are trademarks of their owner, used here only to identify the products they refer to. Specifications vary by model year and market - always confirm weights, dimensions and towing limits with the supplier before hiring or buying.