Who gets 100% finance
No-deposit approvals concentrate where lender risk is lowest. You're a strong candidate if most of these hold:
- ABN 2+ years with GST registration
- Clean credit (business and personal)
- Property ownership, or solid asset backing
- A standard, resaleable asset — late-model trucks, trailers, common yellow goods
- Evidence of consistent income (financials or healthy bank statements)
Newer ABNs and credit-impaired files usually can't access 100% lending — the deposit is precisely what substitutes for the missing history. See new ABN and bad credit guides for those paths.
Financing more than 100%
Many lenders will fund on-costs on top of the purchase price: stamp duty (where applicable), registration, 12 months' insurance, extended warranties, a body build or crane fitment, even tyres. On a work-ready truck this can add 5–15% above the invoice — all amortised into the same repayment.
The trade-off nobody prices: total interest
No deposit maximises the financed amount, which maximises interest. On $150,000 at an indicative 8.5% over 5 years, every $15,000 of deposit avoided costs roughly $3,400 in extra interest across the term. That's often a rational trade — working capital regularly earns more than 8.5% in a growing transport business — but run the numbers deliberately in the calculator rather than defaulting to zero-down because it was offered.
No deposit + balloon: handle with care
Zero down combined with a 40% balloon means your payout figure can exceed the truck's market value for much of the term ("negative equity"). Fine if you hold to term and the truck earns; painful if you need to exit early. Cap the balloon at what the truck will genuinely be worth — a broker with resale data will set this realistically.
Frequently asked questions
Can genuinely new businesses get no-deposit finance?
Rarely on their own. Day-one ABNs almost always need a deposit unless offset by property, exceptional experience, or contracted income — see the new ABN guide.
Can I roll insurance and rego into the loan?
Commonly yes — stamp duty (where it applies), registration, insurance and fit-out costs can be financed on top of the purchase price with many lenders.
Is the rate higher with no deposit?
Sometimes slightly, because the lender's exposure is larger relative to the asset. On strong files the difference is minor; the bigger cost is simply interest on the larger balance.
Get a free truck & equipment finance quote
Takes 60 seconds. No credit check to enquire. A licensed broker compares lenders and calls you back — usually same business day.