Gold Coast & Brisbane · Commercial Car Loans
Commercial car loans for Gold Coast and Brisbane business owners.
I'm Rebecca Tickner, a Surfers Paradise based finance broker and a business owner myself. Utes, vans, trucks and company cars for ABN holders, sole traders and companies... structured for your cashflow and your BAS, and settled with the dealer or private seller, from Coolangatta to Brisbane's northside.
Last reviewed
Rebecca Tickner
Finance Broker · Maxfin
Sound familiar?
The problems I hear most often.
Dealer finance is convenient, and it is one lender's product
The showroom quote is built to close the sale that afternoon. It is one lender, one structure, and a balloon sized for the dealer's numbers rather than yours. A second quote from a broker takes a day and often changes the picture.
Two years of financials for a $60,000 ute
Mainstream lenders can ask for full financials even on a modest vehicle. If your returns are not done, or your ABN is young, you need to know which lenders assess on bank statements, property or trading history instead... before you apply anywhere.
The tax side gets decided by whoever is fastest, not whoever is right
GST timing, the car limit, the balloon, which entity owns the vehicle. Each of these is decided in the application, usually by default. Get them wrong and your accountant finds out at tax time, when it is too late to change.
How It Works
Five stages. Walked together.
The same client journey from your first call through to settlement... and the loan reviews that follow.
Tap a stage to explore
01.
Discover
- 15-minute discovery call
- Hello Pack lands in your inbox
- Click “Get Started” to begin your Fact Find
02.
Plan
- Your Fact Find returned
- I assess your servicing
- You receive your Game Plan with my recommendation
03.
Apply
- Game Plan signed
- I lodge your application
- We wait... lender may come back with clarifying questions
04.
Approve
- Conditional approval
- Final conditions satisfied (e.g. insurance)
- Formal approval
05.
Settle
- Loan documents signed
- Settlement booked, solicitor takes the lead
- Loan settled!
In Practice
A work vehicle is a tool, and the loan behind it is a tool too. Set it up for your cashflow and your BAS, not for the showroom.
Rebecca Tickner
What you get working with me.
A business owner, brokering for business owners
I run a business myself, so I know the difference between a good month and a BAS month. The structure I recommend is the one I would want in your seat.
The structure explained, in writing
Chattel mortgage, lease or hire purchase, with the GST and tax consequences set out for your accountant. No surprises at year end.
Balloons chosen on purpose
A balloon is a cashflow tool when it is sized to your business and your plan for the vehicle. The calculator on this page shows you both versions before you decide.
Low-doc with some lenders
Established ABN holders without current financials have options. So do new ABNs, with the right lender and the right deposit. I tell you which door is open before you apply.
Private sale, dealer or auction
Most lenders will finance a private sale with an inspection and PPSR check. I manage the payout with the seller so the handover is clean.
Gold Coast in person, Brisbane by video
Based in Surfers Paradise, meeting clients across the Coast, and working with Brisbane business owners by phone and video with electronic signing throughout.
The three structures
Chattel mortgage, lease or hire purchase... which one for a work vehicle?
Most business car loans on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane end up as a chattel mortgage, and for good reason. The other two have their place. Here is the difference in plain English.
Chattel mortgage
You own the ute, van or car from day one. The lender holds a mortgage over it until the loan is paid out. If you are registered for GST, you can usually claim the GST in the purchase price on your next BAS rather than drip-feeding it through the repayments. Balloon optional. The default for most owner-operators and companies.
Finance lease
The lender owns the vehicle and you rent it, with a residual to pay or refinance at the end. Suits businesses that turn vehicles over every few years and want the payments treated as an operating cost. The GST and tax treatment is different, so it is an accountant conversation first.
Hire purchase
You hire the vehicle and own it once the final payment is made. It sits between the other two and is less common for vehicles now that chattel mortgages do most of the same work with simpler GST treatment. Still the right answer for some structures.
Which one is right depends on how you account for GST, your business structure and whether the vehicle is a ute carrying tools or a sedan that also does the school run. I work it through with you and put it in writing for your accountant. If you are an employee rather than a business owner, the product you are probably looking for is a novated lease, which is a different thing altogether. A longer comparison lives on the Maxfin site: chattel mortgage vs lease vs hire purchase.
Tax and GST, in plain English
What the loan structure does to your BAS and your tax return.
General information only, and I am not your accountant. These are the 2026-27 figures from the ATO, verified on 15 October 2026, so you can have the right conversation with yours.
GST in the price
If you are registered for GST and the vehicle is used in the business, a chattel mortgage usually lets you claim the GST in the purchase price on the BAS for the quarter you buy it. The calculator above shows how much GST is sitting inside your price.
The car limit: $69,883
Above the 2026-27 car limit, depreciation is capped at the limit and the GST credit on a car is generally capped at $6,353. The limit applies to cars, which the ATO defines as vehicles designed to carry less than one tonne and fewer than nine passengers. A one-tonne ute is generally outside it, so a $90,000 dual-cab with a one-tonne payload is treated very differently from a $90,000 SUV.
Instant asset write-off: $20,000
The $20,000 instant asset write-off is law for 2026-27, per asset, for businesses with aggregated turnover under $10 million. Most work vehicles cost more than that, so they are depreciated over time rather than written off in one go. Your accountant will confirm which method applies to you.
Luxury car tax
LCT applies above $91,661 for fuel-efficient vehicles and $80,809 for everything else in 2026-27. It is built into the price you pay, which is one more reason the vehicle choice and the finance structure belong in the same conversation.
Interest and running costs
For a business-use vehicle the interest on the loan is generally deductible to the extent of business use, as are running costs. Keep a logbook if the vehicle also gets personal use. The split matters more than most people expect.
Balloon payments
A balloon lowers each repayment and leaves a lump sum at the end. It can be refinanced, paid out, or covered by trading the vehicle in. It costs more interest over the term, which the calculator shows you side by side. Chosen on purpose, a balloon is a cashflow tool. Chosen by the dealer, it is a sales tool.
Sources: ATO, $20,000 instant asset write-off (now law for 2026-27); ATO, Car thresholds from 1 July (2026-27 car limit, GST credit cap and luxury car tax thresholds). Verified 15 October 2026. Tax outcomes depend on your structure, registration and business use.
ABN holders, sole traders, new businesses
Low-doc, new ABN, and what lenders actually ask for.
The standard business car loan application wants an ABN, GST registration and a couple of years of trading, plus ID and the invoice or quote for the vehicle. Clean, and most established businesses sail through.
If your financials are not ready, some lenders offer a low-doc application for ABN holders with around two years of trading and GST registration, often supported by property ownership or a clean credit file rather than tax returns. The rate can be a little higher, and the vehicle usually has to be for business use.
A new ABN is harder, not impossible. A handful of lenders will consider less than twelve months of trading, often with a larger deposit, a lower limit, or a strong track record in the same trade before you went out on your own. I will tell you honestly which door is open before you fall in love with a ute.
Sole traders, partnerships, companies and trusts can all borrow for a vehicle. The entity that owns the vehicle should match how your accountant has set up the business, which is another reason to get the structure right before the application goes in.
What I will ask you for
- Your ABN and GST registration details
- Driver licence and a second form of ID
- The invoice, quote or private-sale details for the vehicle
- Bank statements or financials, depending on the lender and the loan size
- A sentence on how the vehicle is used in the business
Gold Coast and Brisbane
A local broker for business car loans, from Coolangatta to Caboolture.
Gold Coast
I am based in Surfers Paradise and I sit in a room of Gold Coast business owners every week through my BNI chapter in Helensvale... tradies, agents, consultants, people who need a vehicle that earns its keep. I meet clients across the Coast, from Burleigh to Coomera, or by video when a Tuesday afternoon is easier than a drive.
Brisbane
Brisbane business owners work with me the same way, by phone and video, with documents signed electronically and settlement handled directly with the dealer or seller. Buying from a dealer on the southside and driving it home to the Coast, or the reverse, is routine. Distance does not change the lender, the structure or the timeline.
Dealer, private sale or auction
Most lenders will finance a private sale, usually with a vehicle inspection and a PPSR check so you are not inheriting someone else’s loan. Auction and dealer purchases both work. If a dealer is pushing their own finance, get a second number from me before you sign.
Run the numbers
See what a balloon really does to your repayments and your interest.
Repayments with or without a balloon, and the GST sitting inside the price. Estimate only, subject to lender criteria.
1 · The vehicle
Drive-away price from the dealer, or the agreed private-sale price.
Many business car loans are written with no deposit. Leave it at $0 to see that.
2 · The loan
Illustrative only. Put in the rate you have been quoted.
Lenders set the maximum by term and vehicle age.
3 · Repayment frequency
Repayment frequencyEstimate only. Indicative and subject to lender criteria, credit assessment and a full needs analysis. Not a credit offer or credit assistance. Lender fees, dealer charges, stamp duty on the vehicle and insurance are not included. The rate is whatever you type in, not a rate on offer. Tax treatment depends on your business structure, GST registration and business use; talk to your accountant.
Questions
Frequently asked.
Can I get a car loan through my business?
Yes, if you have an ABN and the vehicle is used predominantly in the business. Sole traders, partnerships, companies and trusts can all borrow for a vehicle. The loan is in the business entity's name, the vehicle is used for work, and the structure is usually a chattel mortgage. If you are an employee and the car is personal, that is a novated lease or a consumer car loan instead.
What is a chattel mortgage?
A business car loan where you own the vehicle from day one and the lender takes a mortgage over it until the loan is paid out. If you are registered for GST, you can usually claim the GST in the purchase price on your next BAS. You can add a balloon to lower the repayments, and the interest and depreciation are generally deductible to the extent of business use. It is the most common structure for utes, vans and company cars.
What do I need for a business car loan?
For a standard application: your ABN, GST registration, ID, and the invoice or quote for the vehicle, plus bank statements or financials depending on the lender and the loan size. Established businesses with clean credit often qualify for a low-doc application with some lenders, where tax returns are not required. I will tell you exactly what your shortlisted lender wants before you gather anything.
Can I get a business car loan with a new ABN?
Sometimes. A handful of lenders will consider an ABN under twelve months old, usually with a larger deposit, a lower limit, or a strong history in the same trade as an employee before you went out on your own. Most mainstream lenders want two years. I will tell you honestly which lenders are open to you, subject to their criteria.
What is a balloon payment, and should I have one?
A balloon (or residual) is a lump sum left to pay at the end of the term. It lowers each repayment and increases the total interest over the loan. It suits businesses that plan to trade the vehicle in or refinance at the end, and want cashflow now. It does not suit everyone. The calculator on this page shows the same loan with and without a balloon so you can see the trade-off in dollars.
Is a business car loan tax deductible?
For a business-use vehicle, the interest on the loan and the depreciation of the vehicle are generally deductible to the extent of business use, and GST-registered businesses can usually claim the GST in the price. Cars above the ATO car limit ($69,883 for 2026-27) have capped depreciation and a capped GST credit, while one-tonne utes are generally outside that limit. This is general information only... your accountant confirms what applies to you.
Can I finance a used ute, or a private sale?
Yes to both, with most lenders. Used vehicles are financed up to an age limit at the end of the term, which varies by lender. Private sales usually need a vehicle inspection and a PPSR check to make sure there is no existing finance on the vehicle. I arrange both, and I settle the payout directly with the seller.
How quickly can a business car loan be approved?
It depends on the lender and the application. Some lenders assess straightforward business car loans within a business day once the documents are in, and settlement can follow within days. Larger amounts, older vehicles or new ABNs take longer. I give you a realistic timeline up front rather than a promise.
Do you cover Brisbane as well as the Gold Coast?
Yes. I am based in Surfers Paradise and meet Gold Coast clients in person. Brisbane business owners work with me by phone and video, with electronic signing and settlement handled directly with the dealer or seller anywhere in South East Queensland. The lender, the structure and the timeline are the same either way.
How much does a broker cost?
Generally, nothing. Lenders pay me a commission when the loan settles, and it does not change your rate or your loan amount. Some asset finance lenders build an establishment fee into the loan, and I show you that on the quote.
Heads up: more complex or larger commercial work may involve an upfront fee. Always disclosed up front.
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Written & reviewed by
Rebecca Tickner
Finance Broker, Maxfin · Diploma of Finance & Mortgage Broking Management (FNS50322) · ASIC Credit Rep 571611 · MFAA Member
I built a seven-property portfolio with my partner. I structure clients' finance the same way I run mine.
More about Rebecca