Chattel Mortgage Calculator: Estimate Your Business Vehicle Finance
Calculate repayments, GST, and tax benefits for your Australian business car loan
Loan Details
Business & Tax Details
Chattel Mortgage Calculator – Smarter Vehicle Finance for Australian Businesses
Are you a business owner or self-employed individual in Australia looking to finance a vehicle? Navigating the complexities of business car loans, especially understanding the tax implications, can be daunting.
Most online calculators offer basic repayment estimates, leaving you in the dark about the real financial advantages. But what if you could easily see your potential GST savings, depreciation deductions, and overall tax benefits before you commit?
Quick Guide: Using the Chattel Mortgage Calculator
No jargon. No spreadsheets. Just enter a few details:
- Vehicle Price – The total including GST.
- Loan Amount – Full or partial financing.
- Loan Term – Anywhere from 1 to 7 years.
- Interest Rate – Use your lender’s rate or a market estimate.
- Balloon Payment (Optional) – Reduces regular repayments.
- Repayment Frequency – Choose weekly, fortnightly, or monthly.
- Business Use % – How much you’ll use the vehicle for work.
- GST Registered? – Yes or no.
- Vehicle Age – Impacts depreciation value.
- Company Tax Rate – 25% or 30%, depending on your business size (View ATO’s current company tax rates).
- Click Calculate – That’s it.
Confused About Business Vehicle Finance? You're Not Alone
Running a business or working for yourself in Australia often means needing a reliable vehicle—but getting the right finance matters just as much as choosing the car. Many business owners miss out on potential tax savings simply because they aren’t aware of how a chattel mortgage can work in their favour.
This isn’t your everyday car loan. And our Chattel Mortgage Calculator doesn’t just show repayments—it helps you uncover potential tax savings that could make a serious difference to your bottom line.
What’s a Chattel Mortgage, and Why Should You Care?
Ever thought about financing a work vehicle without getting buried in red tape? A chattel mortgage might be just the thing. It’s a type of loan where the vehicle acts as collateral—but that’s just the beginning.
With this setup, your business owns the vehicle from day one. And if you're registered for GST and using the car for work, you could reclaim the GST from the purchase price, claim back a portion of the interest, and write off depreciation as a tax deduction over time.
Rather than just being a way to drive off in a new set of wheels, a chattel mortgage can be part of a smarter approach to managing your business expenses and reducing what you owe at tax time.
Learn more about claiming vehicle expenses from the ATO. Read more on GST and business obligations at the ATO.
What Makes This Calculator Worth Your Time?
Most onliMost online loan tools spit out a repayment figure and call it a day. Ours goes much further. With just a few inputs, it shows you:
Adjustments for Business Use – So your results reflect your actual situation.
GST Credit Estimates – What you might get back if you're registered (Learn how GST credits work).
Annual Depreciation – Based on your vehicle’s age and tax rules (ATO's guide to depreciation).
Interest Deductions – The portion you can potentially claim.
True Loan Cost After Tax – A realistic picture of what the loan could actually cost you.
If you're still exploring finance options, start at our homepage for a full suite of calculators and resources.
Understanding Your Results
No jargon. No spreadsheets. Just enter a few details:
- Vehicle Price – The total including GST.
- Loan Amount – Full or partial financing.
- Loan Term – Anywhere from 1 to 7 years.
- Interest Rate – Use your lender’s rate or a market estimate.
- Balloon Payment (Optional) – Reduces regular repayments.
- Repayment Frequency – Choose weekly, fortnightly, or monthly.
- Business Use % – How much you’ll use the vehicle for work.
- GST Registered? – Yes or no.
- Vehicle Age – Impacts depreciation value.
- Company Tax Rate – 25% or 30%, depending on your business size (View ATO’s current company tax rates).
- Click Calculate – That’s it.
What You’ll Learn From Your Results
Once you hit ‘calculate,’ the tool breaks down:
- Repayments – Your expected payment schedule.
- Interest Total – What you’ll pay across the loan.
- GST Savings – If applicable, how much you can claim.
- Depreciation and Interest Deductions – Based on your inputs.
- Net Cost After Tax – The true financial impact.
- Comparison to a Standard Loan – To highlight the tax advantage.
Example: A $60K Vehicle, 100% Business Use
Let’s say you finance a $60,000 vehicle for five years at a 6% interest rate.
- Monthly Repayments: Around $1,160
- Interest Over 5 Years: ~$8,700
- GST Input Tax Credit: $5,455 (if registered)
- Year 1 Depreciation: About $12,000
- Annual Interest Deduction: Roughly $1,740
- Total Estimated Tax Savings: $10,000 or more
Result: The loan’s real cost could be thousands less than you think.
Chattel Mortgage vs Regular Car Loan
| Feature | Chattel Mortgage | Standard Car Loan |
|---|---|---|
| GST Input Credit | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Depreciation Deduction | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Interest Deductibility | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Tailored to Business Use | ✅ Yes | ❌ Limited |
| Overall Tax Efficiency | ✅ High | ❌ Low |
Ready to See What You Could Save?
Instead of guessing, get the full picture. Plug in your figures and see what financing your vehicle through a chattel mortgage could mean for your business.
Use the Chattel Mortgage Calculator now—it takes less than a minute.
Or check if you're eligible first with our Car Loan Eligibility Calculator.