ACL 390611 | MFAA Member | Last updated
Asset Finance.Personal or Business.
Cars, caravans, boats and bikes. Utes, trucks and whole fleets. Plant, machinery and equipment. We compare 100+ lenders including specialist asset funders, and structure it for the way you will actually use the asset.
15 minutes. No paperwork, no obligation, and we don’t approach a lender until you’ve approved it. Worth doing before you sign anything at a dealership. Lenders pay us a commission on settlement and we disclose it in writing before any work begins.
Intellect Finance – Asset Finance Brokers
Independent since 2005 | ACL 390611What Is Asset Finance?
Asset finance lets you acquire a vehicle, piece of equipment or machinery without paying the full cost upfront. Repayments run over a fixed term, commonly one to seven years, and the asset itself is used as security, which is why it usually prices below an unsecured loan.
It applies to personal purchases and business ones. A secured loan for a family car, a caravan or a boat is asset finance. So is a chattel mortgage on a work ute, a lease on a commercial oven, or a single facility covering a whole fleet.
The distinction matters because it changes both the structure and the rules. Finance for personal, domestic or household use is regulated consumer credit. Finance for business use sits outside that framework and carries different tax treatment, which your accountant should confirm before you commit. This is general information only and does not take your circumstances into account.
Our Services
What We Finance
Grouped by what you are buying and who is buying it. Deposit and term below are indicative only and move with the asset, the lender and your position. Caravans and boats are also financed and don’t yet have their own page, so just ask.
Car Loans
A secured loan against the vehicle, for a family car or a second car. Usually prices well below an unsecured personal loan.
Learn moreElectric Vehicle Loan
EV and hybrid finance. A number of lenders price these below a comparable petrol vehicle.
Learn moreMotorcycle Finance
Road, adventure and cruiser bikes. Not every lender writes them, and age limits differ sharply.
Learn moreCommercial Vehicle Finance
Utes, vans and light commercials bought for business use, structured for your tax position.
Learn moreTruck Finance
Prime movers, rigids and trailers. Specialist transport lenders assess older units on condition rather than a blanket age cap.
Learn moreFleet Finance
One facility across multiple vehicles instead of a separate contract for each one.
Learn moreEquipment Finance
Plant, machinery, kitchen and hospitality fit-out, medical, dental and manufacturing gear.
Learn moreFarm Machinery Finance
Tractors, headers, harvesters and implements, with repayments that can be set around seasonal income.
Learn moreChattel MortgageStructure
The most common business structure. You own the asset from day one and the lender takes security over it.
Learn moreIndicative only. Nothing here is an offer of credit or a guarantee of any particular outcome. Larger business facilities sit on our commercial finance page, and unsecured options on our unsecured commercial loans page.
About to Sign at the Dealership?
Check the rate you actually qualify for first. Fifteen minutes.Structure
Four Ways to Finance the Same Asset
The structure you choose changes your tax position, your ownership, and what happens at the end of the term. It often matters more than a small difference in rate.
Consumer secured loan
For a car, caravan, boat or bike bought for personal, domestic or household use. Regulated consumer credit, so Best Interests Duty and responsible lending obligations apply. No GST or depreciation benefit, because there is no business purpose.
Chattel mortgage
You own the asset from the outset and the lender registers security over it. The most common structure for business vehicles and equipment. GST on the purchase is generally claimable up front and the asset is depreciated on your books, subject to your circumstances.
Finance lease
The financier owns the asset and you pay to use it over the term, with options at the end. Payments are generally treated as an operating expense rather than as depreciation. Suits businesses that want to hand the asset back and re-equip on a cycle.
Commercial hire purchase
You take possession immediately and ownership transfers once the final payment is made. Sits between a chattel mortgage and a lease, and is still used by some lenders and asset types in preference to either.
We are finance brokers, not tax advisers. We will explain how each structure works and which lenders write it, then send you to your accountant to confirm the GST and depreciation treatment before anything is signed. Talk it through with Chantelle.
Checked August 2026. We are finance brokers, not tax advisers. GST, depreciation and deductibility outcomes depend entirely on how the asset is used and on your own circumstances. Confirm the treatment with your registered tax agent or the ATO before committing to a structure. Everything else on this page is described in the important information at the foot of the page.
Start Here
What Are You Buying?
Six situations that cover most asset finance enquiries. Pick the one closest to yours.
A car for the family
Secured against the vehicle, compared across lenders before you talk finance at the dealership.
A caravan or a boat or a bike
Leisure assets sit outside standard car lending. Not every lender writes them, and age rules differ.
A ute or van for the business
Business use changes the structure and the tax treatment. Worth getting right before you buy.
A truck or trailer
Owner-operators and transport businesses. Specialist lenders assess older units on condition, not age alone.
Plant and machinery or a fit-out
Financed against the asset so working capital stays where it is, with the term matched to asset life.
Several vehicles at once
One fleet facility instead of a separate contract per vehicle, sized to your replacement cycle.
Social Proof
120+ Five-Star Google Reviews
Tradies, transport operators and families, alongside home buyers and business owners. Pulled live from Google.
Joseph Sukkar
Principal Broker · ACL 390611
Who You’re Dealing With
Built on 25 Years in Australian Finance
Joseph Sukkar started in finance in 2000 and founded Intellect Finance in Penrith in 2005. Since then the team has arranged more than 6,500 loans for clients across Australia, from first homes to complex commercial and asset finance.
Asset finance sits with Chantelle, our Asset and Personal Finance Specialist, who works in this area every day rather than whoever happens to be free. Most of the useful work happens before anything is lodged. It is working out which lenders write your asset type and age bracket so the application is not shopped around, and setting the term against the working life of the asset rather than against the lowest repayment. Structure matters as much as rate here, because a chattel mortgage, a lease and a commercial hire purchase leave you in three different positions at the end of the term.
Part of Our 100+ Lender Panel
The names most people recognise are residential lenders. Much of what we arrange runs through funders that do not advertise to the public. Accreditation with a lender is not an endorsement by it, and which lender suits you is decided by your file rather than by who is on this list.
Worth Knowing
The Finance Desk at the Dealership Is a Sales Desk
Dealer finance is a convenience product, and convenience is priced. Four things that are easy to miss when the paperwork is in front of you and the car is out the front.
The rate can carry a margin
Finance is a profit line in a vehicle sale, not just an administrative step. The rate you are quoted is often not the sharpest one you would qualify for.
Add-ons get bundled into the loan
Warranties, paint protection and insurance products are often financed alongside the vehicle, which means you pay interest on them for the full term.
Balloon payments flatter the repayment
A large residual at the end brings the monthly figure down and the total cost up. It can still be the right choice, but it should be a decision rather than a surprise.
Structure gets decided in a hurry
Chattel mortgage against lease is a tax decision, and it is being made at a desk with the keys in sight. It deserves a conversation with your accountant first.
Track Record
A Dedicated Asset Finance Specialist
Asset finance sits with Chantelle, who works in this area every day, rather than with whoever happens to be free.
The Difference
Why Use a Broker for an Asset Purchase
One lender, or one dealership, can only show you one answer. The asset market is unusually fragmented, which is exactly where comparison pays.
Specialist Asset Funders as Well as Banks
Older assets, unusual equipment and thinner credit files are written every day by funders that never advertise to consumers. A decline from one lender says very little about the rest.
The Right Rules for the Right Purpose
Personal-use finance is regulated consumer credit and Best Interests Duty applies. Business-purpose finance sits outside that framework. We tell you which one you are in, and disclose how we are paid either way.
No Fee. Not Even Clawback.
We don’t charge you for the comparison, the structuring or the application, on any loan type. If the facility is paid out early we wear the clawback rather than invoicing you for it.
Term Matched to Asset Life
A seven-year term on a five-year asset leaves you paying for something you no longer use. We set the term against the working life, not just the lowest repayment.
Ask Us to Match the Term to the Asset
A seven-year term on a five-year asset leaves you paying for something you no longer use. We set the term against the working life. Fifteen minutes. No obligation.The Process
What Happens and What We’ll Need
Asset finance is usually the lightest application we handle. Knowing what is coming makes it faster still.
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15 minutes
The first call
What the asset is, how old it is, whether it is for personal or business use, and when you need it. No documents at this stage. You will finish the call knowing which lenders will look at it and roughly how it would be structured.
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You gather
Documents
Lighter than a mortgage. We confirm exactly which of these your lender wants before you go looking for any of them.
- Driver licence or photo ID
- Recent payslips, if employed
- ABN and GST details, if business use
- Business financials, for larger facilities
- Details of existing debts
- Invoice or quote for the asset
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We handle
Lender selection then submission
We work out which lenders write your asset type and age bracket before anything is lodged, so the application is not shopped around and your credit file is not marked repeatedly.
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We manage
Approval then settlement then delivery
We handle the documents and settle directly with the dealer or supplier so you can take delivery. If the first lender declines, we already know where it goes next.
Questions Answered
Asset Finance FAQs
The questions clients ask us most often before getting in touch.
What is asset finance?
Asset finance lets you acquire a vehicle, piece of equipment or machinery without paying the full cost upfront. Repayments run over a fixed term, commonly one to seven years, and the asset itself is generally used as security. That security is why it usually prices below an unsecured personal or business loan.
Is asset finance only for businesses?
No. A secured loan for a family car, a caravan, a boat or a motorcycle is asset finance, and so is a chattel mortgage on a work ute or a lease on commercial machinery. What changes is the purpose. Finance for personal, domestic or household use is regulated consumer credit. Finance for business use sits outside that framework and carries different tax treatment.
What can I finance?
Cars, utes, caravans, boats, motorcycles, trucks and trailers, plus plant, machinery, kitchen and hospitality fit-out, medical and dental equipment, manufacturing gear and IT hardware. Some assets, particularly older or highly specialised ones, are only written by a smaller group of lenders.
What is the difference between a chattel mortgage and a lease?
Under a chattel mortgage you own the asset from the outset and the lender takes security over it. Under a lease the financier owns it and you pay to use it, with options at the end of the term. The two are treated very differently for GST and depreciation, so confirm the treatment with your accountant before choosing.
Do I need a deposit?
Often not. Many lenders will finance the full purchase price, particularly for newer assets with a clear resale market. A deposit can improve your rate, or help where the asset is older or unusual. What is required varies by lender, asset type and your credit position.
What determines the rate on asset finance?
The main drivers are the age and type of the asset, whether the purpose is personal or business, the loan term against the asset’s remaining working life, your credit and trading history, the deposit or trade-in contributed, and whether any additional security is offered. Rates are set per application rather than published as a single advertised figure.
How long does approval take?
Straightforward applications on standard assets can move within a day or two. Older assets, unusual equipment or a shorter credit or trading history take longer, because fewer lenders will consider them and more evidence is needed. We tell you which category you fall into up front rather than after you apply.
Is asset finance cheaper than dealer finance?
Frequently, yes. Dealer finance is a convenience product and the rate often carries a margin built into the sale. Because we compare more than 100 lenders, you can see the rate you actually qualify for before signing anything at the dealership.
Can I get finance with a short credit or trading history?
Often. Many mainstream lenders want an established history, but specialist asset funders assess newer businesses and thinner credit files on other evidence. A decline from one lender says very little about the appetite of the rest of the market.
What does Intellect Finance charge for asset finance?
Nothing. We do not charge the borrower a fee on any loan type, and we do not charge a clawback fee if a facility is paid out early. Lenders pay a commission on settlement, disclosed to you in writing before any work begins.
Visit Us
Penrith Based.Clients Australia-Wide.
Penrith is our head office and the one you can walk into without an appointment. We also meet clients at Parramatta and in the Sydney CBD by arrangement. Asset finance runs almost entirely by phone and email, so we settle deals in every state.
Ready When You Are
Tell Us What You’re Buying.
Fifteen minutes with Chantelle. We’ll tell you which lenders will look at your asset, what structure suits the purpose, and what it would realistically cost. Worth doing before you sign anything at a dealership. Penrith based, clients Australia-wide. Intellect Finance Pty Ltd, ACL 390611.
Finance for personal, domestic or household use is regulated consumer credit and Best Interests Duty applies. Finance for business purposes sits outside that framework. We disclose how we are paid before you proceed either way. Tax treatment depends on your circumstances and should be confirmed with your accountant. Nothing on this page is credit assistance, tax advice or an offer of credit.
Intellect Finance Pty Ltd | Australian Credit Licence 390611 | MFAA Member | AFCA Member
Important information General information only. Not credit assistance or an offer of credit. We charge you no fee. Every caveat and source on this page is collected here. Tap to read.
General information only. The content on this page is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not credit assistance, financial advice, legal advice or tax advice, and it is not an offer of credit. You should consider whether it is appropriate for you and seek your own advice before acting on it.
Nothing here is a guarantee. Loan approval, borrowing capacity, interest rates, loan to value ratios, timeframes and eligibility are determined by individual lenders and government bodies, not by us. They differ between lenders and change over time. What each lender will finance, the deposit it requires and the term it will write vary with the asset, its age and the strength of the application. Any figure, range or timeframe on this page is indicative and is not a quote, an offer, or a prediction of your outcome, or a statement of what any particular lender will do.
Personal use finance. Where an asset is financed wholly or predominantly for personal, domestic or household use, that is regulated consumer credit under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009, and Intellect Finance is required to act in your best interests when providing credit assistance.
Business use finance. Where an asset is financed wholly or predominantly for business purposes, that is not regulated consumer credit, and the Best Interests Duty and responsible lending obligations under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 do not apply to it. We disclose how we are paid in writing before you proceed regardless. This page covers both, so we confirm which applies to you at the outset.
How we are paid. Intellect Finance does not charge borrowers a fee for arranging finance, and does not charge a clawback fee where a loan is discharged early. Lenders pay us a commission on settlement. The basis of that commission is disclosed to you in writing in our Credit Guide before any credit assistance is provided.
Third-party information. Where this page refers to government schemes, regulatory settings or lender policy, that information is sourced from the relevant authority and was correct to the best of our knowledge at the date shown on this page. Those rules change, sometimes without notice. Always confirm the current position with the issuing authority or with us before relying on it.
Found something wrong? If you believe anything on this page is inaccurate or out of date, tell us at joe@intellectfinance.com.au and we will review and correct it.
Intellect Finance Pty Ltd | Australian Credit Licence 390611 | MFAA Member | AFCA Member