WHO THIS IS FOR

Equipment Finance Built for Established Operators

Established business owners, sole traders and small-fleet operators across Australia are knocked back by banks for missing tax returns or weaker financial reporting, stalled in single-lender queues, and locked into single products by dealer finance. Whether you're an established business without full tax returns, a sole trader trading 2+ years on ABN, a contractor knocked back by banks for documentation gaps, a business with strong contract income but weaker financial reporting, an operator refreshing a fleet on simplified application, a hire-out business needing cashflow-based assessment, or an owner-operator on BAS-only structures.

Your application goes to specialist transport lenders who assess freight income, asset value and trading history directly, in one structured submission with no multi-lender credit hits.

  • Upgrading ageing low-doc or trailers Replace before maintenance costs outpace what a newer asset would be worth. Trade-in and replacement structured in one application.
  • Securing a new freight contract Quote the work confident your pre-approval is locked in and the asset will be on site for day one.
  • Buying used, dealer or private sale Auction, dealer and private deals other lenders walk away from. We settle direct to the seller and handle the paperwork end to end.
  • Refinancing existing equipment loans Free up monthly cashflow, restructure balloons before they're due, or consolidate multiple loans into one repayment.

HOW THE PROCESS WORKS

How Low-Doc Equipment Finance Works in Australia

A simple, secure online application, with honest advice from an Australia-based specialist you can trust.
No pressure. No hit to your credit score.

01
Group (3)

Complete the Form in 60 Seconds

Tell us about your transport business and the low-doc or trailer you are financing through our secure online form.

02
Group (4)

Speak With a Low-Doc Finance Specialist

An Australia-based low-doc finance specialist reviews your situation and walks you through the documents needed for the lender match.

03
Frame (9)

Get Pre-Approved Over the Phone

You'll have a clear pre-approval often within 1 business day, with rate, term and repayment structure tailored to how your freight income actually flows.

04
Group (5)

Settle the Loan
and Take Delivery

Your specialist sources the strongest matched offer and coordinates settlement with the dealer, private seller or auction house.

Get My Pre-Approval
60 second form. No impact on your credit score.
RECENT SETTLEMENTS

Real Results for Australian Low-Doc Operators

Low-doc equipment finance settled across 80+ Australian lenders, from sole traders to mid-size operators. ACL 389328.

"Established business trading 5+ years but the financials were behind. Bank wanted them all up to date. The lender we used worked from BAS, bank statements and active contract paperwork."

Established business, low-doc
Established business

"Sole trader without full tax returns. The bank wouldn't move without them. A non-bank that scores on ABN, BAS and the asset itself approved in under 24 hours."

Sole trader, low-doc
Sole trader

"Contractor business with strong contract income but the documentation was patchy. The lender we used scored the active head-contractor contracts and the equipment as the asset case."

Contractor business, contracts
Contractor business

"Trade business expanding from one vehicle to three. Bank wanted the loan secured against the house. The lender we used took the assets and the BAS, no property security required."

Trade business, expansion
Trade business

"Mid-size operator refreshing a fleet. Bank wanted three years of full financials per asset. The lender we used took the consolidated BAS and the order paperwork as one package."

Mid-size operator, fleet refresh
Fleet refresh

"Established business trading 5+ years but the financials were behind. Bank wanted them all up to date. The lender we used worked from BAS, bank statements and active contract paperwork."

Established business, low-doc
Established business

"Sole trader without full tax returns. The bank wouldn't move without them. A non-bank that scores on ABN, BAS and the asset itself approved in under 24 hours."

Sole trader, low-doc
Sole trader

"Contractor business with strong contract income but the documentation was patchy. The lender we used scored the active head-contractor contracts and the equipment as the asset case."

Contractor business, contracts
Contractor business

"Trade business expanding from one vehicle to three. Bank wanted the loan secured against the house. The lender we used took the assets and the BAS, no property security required."

Trade business, expansion
Trade business

"Mid-size operator refreshing a fleet. Bank wanted three years of full financials per asset. The lender we used took the consolidated BAS and the order paperwork as one package."

Mid-size operator, fleet refresh
Fleet refresh

"Hire-out business with day-rate income that didn't fit the bank's standard model. The lender we used structured the loan to the hire-revenue cycle rather than calendar-month repayments."

Hire-out business, cashflow
Hire-out business

"Bought a piece of equipment at a dealer auction. You have about a day to find the money or you forfeit the deposit. A low-doc lender on our panel had it sorted before the next pickup cycle."

Owner-operator, dealer auction
Owner-operator

"Service business with strong contracts but a previous accountant left them late on tax returns. The lender we used worked from BAS, bank statements and contract paperwork rather than the missing returns."

Service business, contracts
Service business

"Multi-trade fleet across plumbing, electrical and HVAC entities. Bank wanted each entity's financials separately. The lender we used assessed on consolidated BAS and active job book."

Multi-trade fleet, services
Multi-trade fleet

"Established business knocked back by the bank because last year's return showed a one-off loss from a write-down. Current contracts said something very different. The lender we used scored on the contracts, not the historical loss."

Established business, recovery
Cash-flow assessment

"Hire-out business with day-rate income that didn't fit the bank's standard model. The lender we used structured the loan to the hire-revenue cycle rather than calendar-month repayments."

Hire-out business, cashflow
Hire-out business

"Bought a piece of equipment at a dealer auction. You have about a day to find the money or you forfeit the deposit. A low-doc lender on our panel had it sorted before the next pickup cycle."

Owner-operator, dealer auction
Owner-operator

"Service business with strong contracts but a previous accountant left them late on tax returns. The lender we used worked from BAS, bank statements and contract paperwork rather than the missing returns."

Service business, contracts
Service business

"Multi-trade fleet across plumbing, electrical and HVAC entities. Bank wanted each entity's financials separately. The lender we used assessed on consolidated BAS and active job book."

Multi-trade fleet, services
Multi-trade fleet

"Established business knocked back by the bank because last year's return showed a one-off loss from a write-down. Current contracts said something very different. The lender we used scored on the contracts, not the historical loss."

Established business, recovery
Cash-flow assessment
SPECIALIST VS BANK

Specialist vs Major Bank Low-Doc Finance

Side-by-side on the criteria that decide whether a low-doc deal settles or stalls.

Criterion Equifund Specialist Major Bank
Income type Reads freight invoices, contractor payments and BAS PAYG salary preferred, freight income often discounted
Lender access Panel of 80+ Australian lenders matched to your file One bank, one credit template
Pre-approval speed Typically inside 24 hours 5 to 10 business days on average
Documentation Low-doc options available for established operators Full financials usually required
Deposit $0 deposit available for prime applications Deposit typically required
Industry expertise Australia-based transport finance specialists Generic commercial credit team
FAQ

Common Low-Doc Finance Questions

Straight answers to the questions Australian transport operators ask most.

What types of low-doc can I finance in Australia?

We finance prime movers, rigid low-doc, tippers, refrigerated units, B-doubles, trailers and specialty low-doc across all major makes including Kenworth, Volvo, Mack, Iveco, Hino, MAN, Isuzu and Scania. New, used, demonstrator, dealer or private sale.

How long does low-doc finance take to settle?

Pre-approval is typically inside 24 hours once you submit the form. Settlement timing then depends on the lender and asset details, with many Australian deals settling within a week of pre-approval.

Do I need to own property to qualify?

No. Many of our lenders score the deal on freight income and asset value rather than requiring property security. Non-property owners regularly settle low-doc finance through Equifund.

Do I need a deposit?

Not always. $0 deposit is available for prime applications, especially for established operators with active freight contracts. Other deals may require a deposit depending on the asset, the lender and the loan term.

Can I finance a used low-doc, private sale, or auction purchase?

Yes. We finance dealer purchases, private sales, auctions and end-of-lease buyouts. The low-doc just needs to meet the lender's age and condition requirements.

Can I refinance an existing low-doc loan?

Yes. Many Australian operators refinance to access a better rate, restructure repayments around their cashflow, release equity from the asset, or consolidate multiple low-doc loans into one facility.

Which lenders does Equifund work with?

We have a panel of 80+ Australian lenders spanning major banks, specialist asset financiers and non-bank lenders that specifically understand freight income and transport assets. Your specialist matches your file to the right lender for the deal.

Can I finance multiple low-doc in one application?

Yes. We regularly settle multi-low-doc deals for Australian fleets, often splitting the package across more than one lender to fit each asset's spec and your overall structure.

Do you finance trailers and equipment as well as low-doc?

Yes. Prime movers, trailers, refrigerated units and combinations are all on the panel. Trailer security can be structured independently of low-doc finance if that better suits the deal.

What's the difference between a chattel mortgage and a finance lease?

A chattel mortgage gives you immediate ownership of the low-doc while the lender holds it as security. You claim GST upfront and depreciate the low-doc for tax. It is the most common structure for established Australian owner-operators. A finance lease keeps the low-doc on the lender's books with set monthly payments and an optional residual paid at the end of the term. Useful for fleet operators managing cashflow against vehicle turnover. Your Australia-based low-doc finance specialist will recommend the structure that suits your business and tax position. Read the full chattel mortgage vs finance lease comparison.

What is freight income recognition?

Freight income recognition is how a specialist lender reads income from freight invoices, contractor payments and transport activity rather than treating only PAYG salary as income. Bank credit templates often miss this. Specialist lenders price freight income accurately, which is why established Australian owner-operators frequently get approved on deals that mainstream banks decline.

What is low-doc low-doc finance?

Low-doc low-doc finance is approval on a reduced documentation set, usually a Director declaration plus business activity statements or recent bank statements, rather than full financials. It is faster to process and common for established small-fleet operators in Australia who would rather not produce two years of full tax returns for a single asset purchase.

What is pre-approval in low-doc finance?

Pre-approval is a conditional finance approval issued before you commit to a low-doc. It sets the maximum loan amount, indicative rate, term and repayment structure so you can negotiate with dealers, private sellers or auction houses on solid ground. Equifund pre-approvals are typically issued within 24 hours of form submission.

What is an Australian Credit Licence (ACL)?

An Australian Credit Licence (ACL) is a licence issued by ASIC permitting a business to engage in credit activities under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act. Equifund holds Australian Credit Licence 389328. Working with an ACL holder is a baseline regulatory protection for the borrower and a baseline trust signal for any Australian finance provider.

Can you finance equipment on low-doc, ABN and BAS without full financials?

Yes. Low-doc, no-doc, ABN-only and BAS-only equipment finance is routinely available through specialist lenders on our panel for established businesses (typically 2+ years trading ABN) that may not have full tax returns or audited financials.

Can you finance equipment if banks have knocked us back?

Yes. Lenders on our panel specialise in funding established operators that banks decline due to incomplete financials, industry concentration, or non-standard income. Active contract income, BAS and trade history carry the application.

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low-doc finance specialists

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Three quick steps. A low-doc finance specialist gets back to you the same business day.

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