Asset finance across every structure, from 48+ Australian lenders.

Asset finance is the umbrella term for funding equipment, vehicles and machinery where the asset itself is the security. It covers chattel mortgages, finance leases, operating leases, hire purchase and novated leases. Because the lender holds security over the asset, it is cheaper and easier to obtain than unsecured lending, and terms can run up to seven years. Almost anything a business uses to earn income can be financed, from a coffee machine to a fleet of trucks.

Use a chattel mortgage when you want to own the asset, claim GST upfront and depreciate it. Use a finance lease when you prefer rental-style payments and expect to upgrade at the end of the term. Use an operating lease when you want to use the asset and hand it back with no residual risk, often with maintenance bundled. Use hire purchase where you want ownership at the end without claiming GST upfront. Your accountant advises on the tax position and your broker matches the structure and the lender.

Vehicles, utes and vans, trucks and trailers, excavators and earthmoving plant, manufacturing and CNC machinery, medical and dental equipment, commercial kitchen and hospitality fit-outs, IT hardware and software, agricultural machinery, fitness equipment, solar and energy systems, and specialist tools of trade. New and used assets are both financed, with age limits for used equipment. If an asset earns income for the business, there is usually a lender for it.

Often, yes. Lenders are more comfortable with a new ABN when the asset is a standard, resaleable item such as a vehicle or common machinery, when the director has experience in the industry, and when there is a deposit or property ownership. Start-ups in hospitality, trades and transport are financed regularly on this basis. Lyft Money checks which lenders back new businesses before anything is submitted.

Rates depend on the type and age of the asset, the term, the amount, the strength of the business and whether the directors own property. Standard assets with strong resale markets, such as vehicles and yellow goods, attract the sharpest pricing; specialised or older equipment prices higher. Fixed rates are the norm, so repayments do not change over the term. Your broker compares the panel and shows the rate, fees and total cost of each option.

Low-doc applications for standard assets are often approved the same day or within 48 hours and settled as soon as the supplier invoice and insurance are in place. Full-doc applications and specialised equipment take a few days to a week. If you have a quote from a supplier, your broker can get the approval in place before you commit to the purchase.

Yes. A master facility agreement lets a lender approve an overall limit, then draw down individual assets against it using a commitment schedule for each one. Each drawdown has its own term and repayment, but you avoid re-applying every time you buy. It suits businesses buying regularly through the year. Limits are usually reviewed annually and the lender can decline a particular asset even where the limit is available.

From about $5,000 to $5 million or more. Most lenders will fund 100 per cent of the purchase price for an established business, and many include delivery, installation and extended warranty in the amount financed. Low-doc approvals commonly go up to $150,000 to $250,000; larger amounts need financials. The asset’s resale value influences the maximum term and whether a deposit is asked for.

Yes. Used equipment from dealers, private sellers and auctions is financed with a PPSR check and usually an inspection or valuation. Most lenders set a maximum age at the end of the term that varies by asset type, longer for trailers and machinery, shorter for technology. Private sales take a few extra days for verification and the payout of any existing finance.