Renewing or expanding the fleet is one of the biggest decisions a transport company makes. There are four main ways to do it: credit, government programs, operating leases and sale & leaseback. Each one solves a different need and asks for different requirements. This article puts them side by side so you can choose based on your operation.
Why renew your fleet now
Age. An older unit spends more on maintenance, more time in the shop and more fuel. Every day it sits idle is a trip you don't bill.
Contracts. Shippers moving high-value or time-sensitive freight check the condition of the units before assigning routes. A newer fleet helps you compete for those contracts.
New safety standard. In March 2026 the federal government announced a new Mexican Official Standard (NOM) that will set minimum safety devices for heavy vehicles, aiming to reduce the roughly 30,000 accidents a year involving these units. Check the Official Gazette (DOF) for when it is published and when it takes effect.
Bank credit and truck-brand finance companies
This is the best-known route: you buy the unit, pay a down payment and the unit is in your name. Banks and the finance arms of truck brands offer it. Rate, term and down payment depend on each institution and your track record. Once it is paid off, the unit is yours, along with its maintenance, insurance and resale value.
2026 government programs
Heavy-vehicle replacement and modernization program (SICT and Nafin)
The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) published its guidelines in the Official Gazette on May 28, 2026. The government does not lend directly: Nafin backs with guarantees the loans granted by participating banks and finance companies, which share the risk.
- Amount: financing of up to 15 million pesos or its equivalent in US dollars.
- Who it is for: individuals with business activity and legal entities whose main activity is federal passenger and freight transport, split into micro carriers (1 to 5 units) and small carriers (6 to 30 units).
- Requirements: be a federal motor carrier permit holder with a fleet of up to 30 units and hold a SICT permit at least 3 years old.
- New units: term of up to 84 months with a minimum 10% down payment.
- Pre-owned units: term of up to 60 months with a minimum 15% down payment. They must pass a physical-mechanical inspection by a SICT-authorized inspection unit.
- How to apply: through the financial institutions registered with Nafin (800 623 4672). Prices and conditions vary by brand, unit and lender. The program has no closing date: it runs while budget is available.
PIXXO does not act as an intermediary in this program.
Plan México heavy-vehicle renewal plan
On March 26, 2026, as part of Plan México, the federal government presented the Immediate Response Program to Protect the Heavy Vehicle Industry. It includes an initial investment of 2 billion pesos to encourage the purchase of units made in Mexico, a guarantee scheme with Nafin and a tax incentive for new units. To find out whether the tax incentive applies to you, ask your accountant.
Operating lease
With an operating lease you don't buy the unit: you pay a monthly rent to use it during the term, from 12 to 48 months. When it ends, you return it, renew the contract or weigh alternatives under the agreed terms. It fits if you renew your fleet often and would rather not tie up capital in units that lose value with use.
At PIXXO we lease new or pre-owned units: tractor-trailers, cargo trucks, dry vans and buses and vans. You can also bring several units into a single operation with fleet leasing.
Sale & leaseback: liquidity from the units you already own
If you already own your fleet and what you need is liquidity, sale & leaseback works the other way around: you sell units you already own and keep using them under a lease. The operation doesn't stop, and the capital tied up in those units becomes available to the business again, for example to grow, take on a new contract or renew other units.
Comparison table
| Credit | SICT-Nafin program | Operating lease | Sale & leaseback | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who owns the unit | You; it is in your name | You; it is in your name | The lessor; you use it | It goes to the lessor and you keep using it |
| Upfront payment | Down payment, set by the lender | Minimum down payment of 10% (new) or 15% (pre-owned) | Depends on the unit and the term | No down payment: you receive money from the sale |
| Terms | Set by the lender | Up to 84 months (new) or 60 (pre-owned) | 12 to 48 months | As agreed |
| Best for | Those who want to own the unit | Micro and small carriers with a SICT permit of 3+ years | Companies that renew often and protect their liquidity | Companies that own their fleet and need liquidity |
How to choose
- If you are an individual or a micro carrier with a SICT permit, look at the government program first: it is designed for you and you apply through a bank or finance company registered with Nafin.
- If you are a legal entity with at least 12 months of operation and annual revenue of $3M MXN or more, PIXXO's operating lease lets you add or renew units without tying up capital. If you already own units, sale & leaseback gives you liquidity without giving them up.
You can estimate your payment with the leasing calculator or read the guide to leasing productive assets.
PIXXO offers operating leases and sale & leaseback. It does not offer credit or act as an intermediary in government programs.
Information current as of November 2026.
Sources: Official Gazette (DOF), May 28, 2026: guidelines of the heavy-vehicle replacement and modernization program; SICT, press release 101-2026; SICT, federal motor carrier financing program; Nafin, development and modernization of federal motor transport; Office of the President, March 26, 2026.