Frequently Asked Questions

No licence is legally required to operate a digger on private land. However, if operating on a construction site or for commercial purposes, a CPCS (Construction Plant Competence Scheme) or NPORS operator card is usually mandatory and required by site health and safety rules. Wet hire (where the operator is provided) avoids the need for any licence.

Dry hire means you rent the machine only — you must provide your own qualified operator. Wet hire includes a CPCS-certified operator (and usually fuel). Wet hire is more expensive but removes the need for you to hold an operator's card and is the safer option for inexperienced users.

For residential projects in non-peak periods, 3–5 days' notice is usually sufficient. During summer and early autumn (peak construction season), particularly for operators in busy areas, 1–2 weeks ahead is safer. Long-term or large commercial contracts should be arranged as early as possible.

A 1-tonne micro digger can be as narrow as 680–750mm with the blade folded — narrow enough for most residential side gates. A 1.5–1.7t machine is typically 860–900mm wide. Always measure your access point and check the machine spec sheet before booking.

Most plant hire companies offer a delivery and collection service, typically on a low-loader or trailer. This is usually charged separately at £80–£250 depending on distance and machine size. Some local operators may include delivery within a certain radius.

A 1–1.8 tonne mini digger on dry hire (no operator) typically costs £150–£280/day. A 3–5t midi on dry hire runs £280–£450/day. Wet hire (with a CPCS operator) adds approximately £130–£200/day on top. Prices are higher in London and the South East and lower in northern England, Scotland and Wales.

Yes — most hire companies offer a weekly rate equivalent to 3–4 day rates (saving 20–40% vs paying daily). If you think you might need the machine for more than 3 days, always ask for the weekly rate upfront.

Dry hire typically includes the machine with a full fuel tank, standard buckets, and basic safety briefing. Fuel consumed is normally your responsibility. Delivery/collection, insurance/CDW, and additional attachments (e.g. ditching bucket, auger, breaker) are usually charged separately.

Most hire companies offer their own CDW (collision damage waiver) or hire insurance product, usually £15–£40/day depending on machine size. Your home insurance is unlikely to cover hired plant machinery. For dry hire on a private site, you should have at minimum public liability cover. If you're a contractor, check your existing trade insurance covers hired-in plant.

Common extras include: delivery/collection (£80–£250/trip), fuel (you leave the machine full), CDW/insurance, additional attachments, out-of-hours or weekend surcharges (20–30% premium), and excess charges if the machine is returned damaged.

For most residential garden jobs — digging out a patio, removing tree stumps, digging cable trenches — a 1–1.7t micro or mini digger is ideal. It's compact enough to navigate garden access and light enough to avoid damaging soft lawns (particularly important on a hot, dry day). Only go bigger if you're excavating large volumes or working in harder ground.

For a typical single-storey extension (strip foundations), a 1.5–2t mini digger is usually sufficient and practical. For larger extensions, deeper excavations or if you're working at speed, a 3–5t midi excavator gives much better productivity. For large basement or commercial foundation digs, an 8–13t full-size machine is appropriate.

Common attachments include: ditching/widening buckets (various widths), riddle/sorting buckets, hydraulic breakers (for breaking concrete or rock), augers (for post holes, piling), grabs, and compactor plates. Not all hire companies stock all attachments — check availability when booking. Attachments typically add £40–£120/day to the hire cost.

Identify the route for the delivery vehicle (low-loader requires adequate width and height clearance). Confirm where underground services run — gas, electricity, water, telecoms — and mark them clearly. Ensure the ground can support the machine weight and that the off-loading area is level. Have a copy of any CDW paperwork ready to sign on delivery.

Always check before you dig. Use a cable avoidance tool (CAT) to scan for live cables and services. You can also request records from your utility suppliers. If in doubt, hand-dig trial holes before using machinery. Striking a gas main or electricity cable is extremely dangerous — always treat unknown ground with caution.

Minimum PPE for anyone near an operating excavator: hard hat, high-vis vest, steel-toecapped boots, gloves. The operator should also wear hearing protection. Establish a clear exclusion zone — no one should stand within the swing arc of the machine while it's in operation.