A Checklist to Run Before You Hire a Boom Lift
Ten things to confirm before you approve a booking — machine paperwork, site access, and the quotation terms worth understanding.
Most rental problems can be avoided with five minutes of checking before a booking is confirmed. Machines stuck at the gate, missing paperwork, and quotes that change later are the same problems every year.
Use this checklist before you pay a deposit to any rental company.
Machine Paperwork and Insurance
Every aerial work platform on a commercial site needs a valid certificate of fitness. Ask for a copy before delivery, not after the machine arrives.
Ask too whether machine insurance is included in the rate and what it covers. Damage from normal use is usually covered; damage from negligence is not.
- A copy of the machine's current certificate of fitness
- The machine's most recent maintenance record
- Insurance cover details and the excess amount
- Your booking reference and the name of the person handling it
Site Access and Delivery
The transport lorry needs room to unload. If the access route is narrow or there is a height barrier, say so early so the right lorry is sent.
Check the surface the machine will travel on as well. Soft ground after rain can bog a machine down and add recovery costs.
Quotation Terms Worth Understanding
Read the terms on minimum period, collection time on the final day, and late charges. Some companies count a hire day from the delivery date even if the machine arrives late in the afternoon.
Confirm whether fuel is delivered full and must be returned full, and whether delivery and collection are already inside the quoted price.
- Minimum hire period and how days are counted
- Collection time on the last day of hire
- Fuel policy on delivery and return
- Extra charges if the machine goes back late
Operator, Training, and Support During the Hire
Be clear about who will operate the machine and whether they hold a valid PMA certificate. If not, book an operator together with the machine.
Ask what happens if the machine fails on site: how quickly a service team attends, and whether a replacement is provided at no extra charge.
Read our operator licensing guide and the rental cost guide. To book in your area, see boom lift rental in Puchong or all our guides.