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Key Takeaways
- Truck and trailer combinations can exceed $400,000 — the rate you sign follows you for the next 3–7 years.
- On a $250,000 truck over five years, the gap between 7.20% and 9% is tens of thousands of dollars.
- Finance available for prime movers, rigids, tippers, semi-trailers, B-doubles, refrigerated units and all transport combinations.
- Low doc (no financials) truck and trailer finance up to $500k — approved on ABN, BAS and bank statements.
- No deposit transport finance available for established operators — and a balloon can protect cash flow when freight rates soften.
- Trailer finance deals: We guarantee the best deal available in the market and our services are free — we're paid a "referral fee" by the lender after settlement, no cost to you.
Overdrive Funding helps Australian transport businesses access competitive truck and trailer finance. Whether you're a single-truck operator taking on your first contract or a fleet manager running fifty units, we compare the market, negotiate the best deal and manage everything from start to finish — so your trucks stay earning and your cash stays in the business.
Transport runs on thin margins and expensive assets. A prime mover and trailer combination can comfortably exceed $400,000, and the rate you sign at follows you for the next three to seven years. On a $250,000 truck over five years, the gap between a 7.20% rate and a 9% rate is tens of thousands of dollars — which is why who arranges your finance matters as much as what you're buying.
Run the numbers on the all-in figure
Use our truck finance calculator to estimate weekly or monthly repayments before you get a formal quote.
What transport businesses can finance
Our lender panel covers the full range of assets a transport operation runs on, bought new or used from dealers, private sellers or auctions anywhere in Australia:
- Prime movers, rigids, tippers, tautliners and vocational trucks
- Semi-trailers, B-doubles, road trains, tankers and refrigerated units
- Dollies, skels, curtainsiders, drop decks and flat tops
- Fleet upgrades, replacement cycles and additional units for new contracts
- Refinancing existing truck and trailer loans onto a better rate
- Working capital and cash flow funding to bridge payment terms
We only finance assets located in Australia. If you're weighing a truck against a trailer purchase first, our truck finance options and trailer finance options pages break down each in detail.
How transport finance is structured
Most transport operators use a chattel mortgage. You own the truck from day one, the lender takes security over it, and you claim the GST on the purchase price in your next BAS. Depreciation and the interest portion of your repayments are generally deductible where the asset is used for business — worth confirming with your accountant for your circumstances.
The structural lever that matters most in transport is the balloon. Setting a balloon of 20–40% at the end of the term drops your monthly repayment substantially, which protects cash flow when freight rates soften or a customer stretches their payment terms. The trade-off is a larger final payment, so the balloon should be matched to what the truck will realistically be worth at that point — not just set as high as the lender allows.
Low doc approvals and deposits
Low doc (no financials) finance is available up to $500k for the right profiles, using your ABN, GST registration and asset details rather than full financial statements. Deposits typically range from 10–30% depending on your trading history, credit profile and the age of the asset, and $0 deposit options exist for stronger applications.
Established ABN (2+ years), new truck, full doc
Established ABN, used truck, low doc
Newer ABN (under 12 months)
Prior credit issues, specialist lender
| Borrower profile | Typical rate | Typical deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Established ABN (2+ years), new truck, full doc | From 6.29% | $0 – 10% |
| Established ABN, used truck, low doc | 7% – 10% | 10% – 20% |
| Newer ABN (under 12 months) | 9% – 12% | 10% – 30% |
| Prior credit issues, specialist lender | 12% – 15% | 20% – 30% |
Rates are indicative only and subject to lender assessment, asset age, term and your individual circumstances.
Keeping cash flow intact
Transport businesses are paid in arrears while fuel, wages, tyres and rego are paid now. Asset finance solves the truck; it doesn't solve the 45-day gap between delivering freight and being paid for it. Operators commonly pair truck finance with invoice finance to release cash against unpaid invoices, a cash flow loan to cover a seasonal dip, insurance premium funding to spread annual premiums monthly, or tax debt refinancing to clear an ATO balance that's blocking approvals.
Why transport operators use a broker
Banks assess transport conservatively. They look for two years of financials, property security and a clean file, and they price to their own risk appetite rather than to the market. Specialist transport lenders assess the deal on the strength of your contracts, your industry experience and the value of the asset itself — but you have to know which lender does what, and their rates and policies shift constantly.
That's the job. We hold the panel, we know which lender is competitive on a 2012 prime mover this month versus a new tautliner, and we put your application in front of the ones that will actually approve it at a sharp rate. Our service is completely free. We're paid by the lender only after a deal settles, so there's no cost to you—even if you choose not to proceed.
Get a quote
Looking for the best rate on truck and trailer finance for your transport business? You're in the right place. Speak directly with Simon and our team for a free, no-obligation quote — or get a free quote online and we'll come back to you with real numbers.