Car & Ute Finance for Landscapers

Who we help

• Garden maintenance and mowing rounds: running a ute and trailer set-up every day
• Landscape construction businesses: moving soil, rock, pavers and sleepers to site
• Sole traders with a seasonal year: where spring and summer are busy and winter is quieter
• Growing crews: adding a second vehicle so two teams can run at once
• Low doc applicants: with steady BAS or bank statements but no recent tax returns
• Buyers of used or private vehicles: including tippers and trailers bought second-hand

Vehicles and gear landscapers commonly finance

• Utes: dual cabs for small crews, single cabs with a tray for carting materials
• Tipper utes and light tippers: for green waste, soil and mulch. Check the licence class needed for the vehicle's GVM.
• Trailers: cage trailers for mowing rounds, tandem and tipping trailers for bulk materials
• Equipment: ride-on mowers, mini loaders and compact excavators, often financed separately as equipment

Lenders look at the asset as well as you. A late-model ute from a dealer is easy to value. Older tippers or heavily modified vehicles may need more information, and some lenders limit how old a vehicle can be by the end of the loan.

When your income goes up and down with the seasons

Landscaping income is rarely flat. Lenders who understand this will usually look at income over a full year rather than your quietest month, which is why 12 months of BAS or bank statements often tells your story better than a few weeks. Things that help:

• Regular deposits, even if the amounts vary
• BAS lodged on time and no overdue tax debts
• Repeat maintenance clients or council and strata contracts, if you have them
• A repayment you can still comfortably make in the slow months

Most landscapers use a chattel mortgage, where the business owns the vehicle and may claim GST credits, interest and depreciation for business use. Small businesses with turnover under $10 million can generally use the $20,000 instant asset write-off for eligible assets costing less than $20,000 each, which can apply to items like a trailer or mower. Check the details with your accountant.

How it works

1. Tell us about the vehicle and your business in the short form below.
2. A licensed broker calls you, usually within one business day, to talk through your options.
3. If it suits you, they handle the application with a lender that fits your circumstances.

What you'll usually need

• Driver licence and photo ID
• ABN details and GST registration status
• 12 months of BAS or business bank statements (or tax returns and financials for full doc)
• A quote or invoice for each vehicle, trailer or piece of equipment
• Details of any existing vehicle, equipment or business loans

Every lender has its own criteria, so your broker will tell you exactly what's needed for your situation.

Landscaper and small business guides

• How low doc loans work for seasonal businesses
• Financing a ute: what tradies should know
• ABN car finance for a second-hand vehicle
• Can I finance multiple vehicles on an ABN?
• Tax deductions for business vehicle loans
• Trailer finance

Common questions

Can I finance the ute and the trailer together?

Often, yes, if they're bought around the same time and the lender is comfortable with both assets. Sometimes they're set up as two separate loans. Your broker can tell you how a lender would prefer to structure it.

My winter income is much lower. Will that count against me?

Not necessarily. Many lenders assess income across the whole year. Showing 12 months of BAS or bank statements usually gives a fairer picture than a single quiet quarter.

Can I finance a mower or mini loader on the same application?

Equipment is usually financed as a separate asset, but the same broker can often arrange it. Tell them everything you're planning to buy so they can look at it as a whole.

Does enquiring affect my credit score?

No. Filling in our enquiry form isn't a credit application. A credit check only happens if you choose to go ahead with an application through the broker.