Finance for cars, boats, bikes, caravans and everything in between.

A car loan is normally secured against the vehicle itself, which is why the rate sits well below an unsecured personal loan. Terms usually run one to seven years, and most buyers land on five for a car they intend to keep.

Lenders look at three things: your income and existing commitments, your credit history, and the vehicle. Newer cars from a licensed dealer attract the sharpest pricing; older cars, private sales and auction buys are all financeable but the age limit at settlement matters, so it pays to check before you commit to a purchase.

A deposit or trade-in isn't always required, though it lowers the amount financed and the total interest. Balloon payments are optional and mostly suit business use. Use the estimator above for a monthly figure, then run a live quote to see what the panel would actually offer on the vehicle you have in mind.

Caravan finance works much like a car loan — secured against the van, with terms that often stretch to seven years because the purchase price is higher and owners tend to keep them for a long time.

Lenders treat caravans, pop-tops, camper trailers and motorhomes slightly differently. A registered caravan or camper trailer is usually straightforward. A motorhome is assessed as a motor vehicle, and very large or imported models can need a specialist lender. Age at the end of the term is the common sticking point on used vans.

Because the amounts are larger, the difference between a sharp rate and a dealer's finance desk can run into thousands over the term. It's worth quoting the finance separately from the negotiation on the van itself, so the two aren't bundled into one number you can't unpick.

Boat finance is generally secured against the vessel, covering runabouts, tinnies, bowriders, half cabins and larger cruisers, along with the trailer and often the motor as part of the same contract.

Age and condition carry more weight here than with cars. Hull material, engine hours and whether the boat is surveyed can all influence which lenders will look at it and what term they'll allow. Repowering an existing boat can sometimes be financed too.

Unsecured options exist for older or unusual vessels where a lender won't take security, but the rate steps up accordingly. If you're weighing a boat purchase against a home loan plan in the next year, tell us — the new repayment reduces your borrowing power and the order you do things in can matter more than the rate.

Motorbike finance follows the same secured structure as a car loan, usually over shorter terms of three to five years because the amounts are smaller and bikes depreciate quickly.

Road-registered bikes and scooters are financed routinely. Off-road bikes, trikes and anything not registered for road use are harder to secure and often need an unsecured personal loan instead, at a higher rate.

Riding history isn't assessed, but licence status is — a learner or restricted licence doesn't prevent finance, though insurance costs should be factored into what you can comfortably afford. Because the repayments are modest, the term choice matters: paying an extra amount each month over three years instead of five typically saves a meaningful slice of the total interest.

Trucks, prime movers, trailers, tippers and light commercials are assessed on the business as much as the asset. Lenders want to see that the vehicle earns its keep, so trading history, contracts on hand and the age of the truck all matter.

Structures vary. A chattel mortgage is the most common for a business buying outright, while a lease or rental can suit operators who want to hand the asset back at the end. Each is treated differently for GST and depreciation, so your accountant should have a say before the contract is signed.

Established ABN holders can sometimes access low-doc approvals without full financials. Newer businesses usually need financials or a deposit. Either way, quoting early gives you a realistic budget before you start negotiating on a truck.

Machinery, excavators, forklifts, workshop tools, medical and dental equipment, commercial kitchens and shop fit-outs can generally be financed against the asset itself, which keeps working capital in the business rather than tied up in a purchase.

The usual structures are chattel mortgage, finance lease and rental. A chattel mortgage puts the asset on your balance sheet with the interest and depreciation claimable; a rental keeps it off and turns the cost into a straight operating expense. The right answer depends on your tax position, not the lender's preference.

Soft-cost items like installation and freight can sometimes be included, and some assets qualify for finance before delivery. Terms typically run two to five years, matched to the useful life of the equipment rather than stretched out to make the monthly number look smaller.

Sometimes what you need funded isn't an asset a lender can take security over — a wedding, a medical expense, school fees, a renovation, or consolidating a few debts into one repayment.

Personal loans are unsecured, so rates sit above secured asset finance and terms are shorter, usually one to seven years. Approval leans heavily on income stability and credit history since there's no security to fall back on. Fixed repayments make budgeting simple and most lenders allow extra payments without penalty.

If you already own a home, there's often a cheaper path. Redraw, an offset facility or a small loan increase can cost far less in interest than an unsecured loan — provided the extra repayment is maintained rather than stretched across the remaining mortgage term. We'll compare both before recommending either.