Trailer finance for semis, tippers, reefers and low loaders.

Yes. Because trailers retain value well, balloons of up to 30 or 40 per cent are common on new trailers and keep the monthly cost down. Operators who keep trailers for their full life often choose a lower balloon. At the end of the term the balloon can be paid out, refinanced or cleared by selling the trailer. Your broker shows the repayment and total cost for each option.

For established operators: identification, ABN, the dealer or manufacturer quote, and for low-doc applications simply confirmation of trading history and credit. Larger amounts or newer businesses add recent financials or bank statements and, for owner-drivers, the contract the trailer will run on. Used and private-sale trailers add a PPSR check and an inspection report.

Usually within 24 to 72 hours for established operators, and settlement follows as soon as the invoice and insurance are confirmed. Private sales take a few days longer for the PPSR check and inspection. For a trailer already on order, approval can be arranged ahead of delivery so the builder is paid on the day.

Most heavy vehicle lenders look at the age of the truck at the end of the proposed term rather than its age today. A common ceiling is around 15 to 20 years at term end for a prime mover, with trailers often treated more generously because they hold value and have fewer mechanical parts. An older unit can still be financed, usually with a shorter term, a deposit or a higher rate, and sometimes with an inspection or valuation required.

They are usually written as separate contracts even when bought together, because the assets have different lives and resale patterns. That lets you set a longer term on the trailer and a shorter one on the prime mover, or pay one out ahead of the other. Some lenders will bundle them under a single master facility with two commitment schedules, which keeps the paperwork simple while preserving separate terms for each asset.

Yes, and it is common. The prime mover and trailer can be financed under one application with either a single loan or two loans settled together, so the repayments are structured as one freight task. Financing them separately is also possible, for example when a trailer is added later or when different lenders offer better terms on each. Your broker structures whichever gives the lowest total cost and the simplest paperwork.

Almost any commercial trailer: semi-trailers, B-double sets, tippers and side-tippers, refrigerated trailers, curtainsiders, flat tops, drop decks, floats and low loaders, tag and dog trailers, tankers and livestock crates. New trailers from manufacturers and dealers are the simplest; used trailers are financed with an inspection. Specialised or heavily modified trailers may need a valuation because resale demand is narrower.

Yes. A trailer can be financed on its own chattel mortgage or lease, whether you are adding capacity to an existing rig, replacing a worn trailer or buying a second set for a new contract. Lenders assess it like any equipment purchase: the trailer is the security, and the business or operator’s history supports the application. Amounts commonly range from $15,000 for a tag trailer to $1 million for specialised sets.

Trailers hold their value and their working life is long, so most lenders allow a trailer to be 15 to 20 years old at the end of the term, and some go further for well-maintained equipment with a valuation. Private-sale trailers need a PPSR check and usually an inspection. Terms are typically shorter on older trailers.

One to seven years, with five years the most common for new trailers. Longer terms lower the repayment and suit trailers that will be in service for a decade or more; shorter terms suit trailers on a fixed-length contract. Your broker aligns the term with the freight task and any prime mover finance so the two run together.