Cars, utes, vans, trucks and equipment

Car loans and asset finance in Melbourne

The finance the dealership offers is one option. It is rarely the only one, and it is often not the cheapest once the fees and the balloon payment are added up. We compare car and equipment loans across our lender panel, for private buyers and for businesses, and we get the approval sorted before you go and negotiate on the price.

Why it pays to compare first

Walk in with the money already arranged

Dealer finance is convenient and that is what you pay for. The dealer is paid by the finance company, the rate is usually not the best one you could get, and the terms are set up around the sale rather than around you. A balloon payment at the end can make the monthly figure look good while adding thousands to the total cost.

Every lender treats cars differently. Some only lend on cars under a certain age at the end of the loan. Some will not touch private sales. Some are happy to finance a used car from a private seller with a proper inspection. Which one fits depends on the car, on you, and on whether it is for personal or business use.

The order matters too. If you are approved before you visit the dealer, the only thing left to talk about is the price of the car. If you sort the finance at the dealer, you are negotiating two things at once and they hold the numbers.

  • Secured and unsecured options compared across our lender panel, not one lender's menu
  • New, used, dealer and private sales, including cars bought interstate
  • Business car and equipment loans set up so your accountant can claim what you are entitled to
Talk to Shaheera

Rated 5.0 from 27 local reviews

Twenty years inside Australian banking, including senior roles at ANZ, before starting Exceed Finance. Plain answers, no pressure.

The numbers that matter

At a glance

35+
Lenders on our panel
1 to 7
Years, the usual loan term range
New or used
Dealer, private sale or auction
20+
Years in Australian lending

General information only. Lender policies change and your full situation has to be assessed before any lender will confirm what they will do. Our service is free to you on residential home loans and everything is disclosed in writing.

Where we can usually help most

The car and equipment situations that come up again and again

1

Buying from a dealer

We get you approved first so you are only negotiating the price. If the dealer's offer turns out to be better on the day, we will tell you.

2

Buying privately

Not every lender does private sales. The ones that do usually want an inspection and a check that the car has no money owing on it. We handle that.

3

A ute or van for the business

A chattel mortgage or a lease can suit a car used mostly for work. The right one depends on your GST position and how your accountant wants it treated.

4

Trucks, machinery and equipment

Equipment finance for tradies, transport and small manufacturers. Some lenders approve on an ABN and a clean credit file without full financials.

Where our clients are

Across Melbourne, and Australia-wide

We are based in Dandenong South and a lot of our clients are across Melbourne's south-east, but everything can be done by phone, video and secure upload, so we help clients anywhere in Australia.

Other ways we can help:

Simple from start to finish

How it works

1

Free chat

We work out your goals and what you can actually borrow.

2

We compare

We search 35+ lenders and shortlist the ones whose policy fits your situation.

3

We apply

We package and submit your application, and chase it for you.

4

Settlement

We see it through to approval, and stay in touch afterwards.

Common questions

Questions we get asked a lot

Is a broker cheaper than the dealership?

Often, but not always, and we will tell you either way. The dealer has one finance company's products to sell. We have 35+ lenders and can put the dealer's offer next to the others. The total cost over the life of the loan is what matters, not just the monthly figure, and that is where dealer finance with a balloon payment tends to lose.

What is a balloon payment?

A lump sum owed at the end of the loan. It lowers the monthly repayment because part of the car's value is pushed to the end. That can suit a business that plans to sell or upgrade the car, but for a private buyer it usually means either a large payment they had not planned for or another loan to cover it. We show you the loan with and without one.

Secured or unsecured. Which is better?

A secured car loan uses the car itself as security, which usually means a lower rate. An unsecured personal loan does not, so it costs more but can be used for older cars or private sales that a secured lender will not accept. Which one you can get depends on the car's age, the seller and your credit file.

Can I get a car loan if I am self-employed or on casual income?

Usually, yes. Some lenders approve business car loans on an ABN and a clean credit file without tax returns. Casual and self-employed private buyers have more options than they think, but the lender has to match the income, which is the part we do.

Do I need a deposit for a car loan?

Not always. Many secured car loans can be written for the full price of the car, and some allow the on-road costs and insurance to be added. A deposit or a trade-in will lower the repayment and can get you a better rate, so it is worth doing if you can.

How old can a used car be?

Each lender sets its own limit, usually on how old the car will be when the loan ends rather than how old it is now. Under about twelve years at the end of the loan is common, and some lenders go older with a shorter term. Tell us the car and we will tell you who will finance it.

Do you charge for this?

Our service is free to you on residential home loans. Everything is disclosed in writing before you commit to anything, and as a licensed credit representative we operate under Best Interests Duty, which legally requires us to act in your interests rather than our own.

Will talking to you affect my credit score?

No. A conversation with us, and the work we do comparing lenders, involves no credit check. A credit enquiry only happens when an actual application is lodged with a lender, and we do not lodge anything until you have chosen to go ahead. The point of doing the work first is so that the application that does go in is the right one.

Get the finance sorted before you go car shopping

Tell us what you are buying, roughly what it costs and whether it is for you or the business. We will tell you which lenders fit and what the repayments look like. No obligation.