1800 199 302
Refrigerated Truck Finance — Specialist Finance for the Cold Chain
If you’re moving meat, seafood, dairy, produce, frozen goods, pharmaceuticals, or floral product, your refrigerated truck or van isn’t just a vehicle — it’s part of your product. A breakdown isn’t a delay; it’s a write-off.
CarFund arranges refrigerated truck and reefer van finance for self-employed Australians — owner-drivers, distributors, food service operators, and small fleet owners. No tax returns required for finance under $500,000.
GET A FREE QUOTE | CALL 1800 199 302
Refrigerated vehicles we finance
Refrigerated vans (light commercial)
- Mercedes Sprinter reefer
- Iveco Daily reefer
- Ford Transit refrigerated
- Volkswagen Crafter reefer
- Renault Master reefer
Refrigerated light trucks (under 4.5t GVM)
- Isuzu NPR / NLR refrigerated body
- Hino 300 Series reefer
- Fuso Canter reefer
Medium and heavy rigid reefers
- Isuzu FRR / FSR / FVR with refrigerated body
- Hino 500 Series reefer
- Fuso Fighter reefer
- UD Trucks Condor reefer
Refrigerated trailers and combinations
- Single trailer reefers
- Multi-temperature trailer combinations
- B-double refrigerated combinations
Cab-chassis with body fit-out — we can structure finance to cover the cab-chassis and the refrigerated body together as a single asset.
What you can borrow
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum loan | $30,000 |
| Maximum — no tax returns | $500,000 |
| Pre-approval (property owners) | Up to $250,000 — zero paperwork |
| Loan term | 1 to 7 years |
| Balloon payment | Available |
| Approval time | 24 hours |
| Settlement | 2–3 business days |
Why refrigerated operators choose CarFund
1. We finance the body and the cab as one deal.
A new reefer body costs $40,000–$80,000+ on top of the cab-chassis. Some lenders treat this as two transactions — we structure it as one chattel mortgage so you have one repayment, one settlement, and the GST claimed in a single BAS cycle.
2. We understand cold-chain margins.
Owner-operators in cold chain run on tighter margins than general freight. Repayment structure matters. We look at term length, balloon size, and cash-flow timing — not just sticker rate.
3. Used reefer trucks supported.
A 4-year-old reefer at half the price of new — with the body refurbished — is often the smartest buy. We finance late-model used reefers and assess case-by-case beyond that.
4. No tax returns.
For loans under $500,000, the no-doc and low-doc pathways apply. Property-owner borrowers settle on minimal documentation.
Chattel mortgage for refrigerated trucks
Standard structure for any commercial cold-chain vehicle:
- You own the truck from day one — name on rego at settlement
- GST refund on the full cab-and-body purchase price — major number on a $230,000 reefer
- Interest tax deductible
- Depreciation deductible — including instant asset write-off where applicable
- Balloon payment to manage cash flow
For a $230,000 reefer truck, the GST refund is around $20,900 — claimed on your next BAS. Learn more about chattel mortgage.
Who qualifies?
- Active ABN (12+ months — 24 ideal)
- Australian residency (citizen or PR)
- GST registration (preferred — most cold-chain operators are)
- Property ownership — unlocks single-doc finance up to $250,000
- Industry experience — driving and operating history strengthens the case
- Heavy vehicle licence — appropriate for the GVM you’re financing
Common scenarios
Scenario 1 — Owner-driver buying first reefer truck
First-time owner-operator delivering produce to wholesale markets. CarFund arranges $185,000 chattel mortgage on a 4-year-old Isuzu FRR reefer. Property-owner pathway. Settled within 5 business days.
Scenario 2 — Seafood distributor adding capacity
Existing seafood distribution business needs a second refrigerated van to take on a new account. $95,000 chattel mortgage on a new Sprinter reefer. Standard low-doc pathway.
Scenario 3 — Cab-chassis with custom reefer body
Operator buys an Isuzu FSR cab-chassis ($110,000) and commissions a custom multi-temp body ($65,000). CarFund structures both into a single $175,000 chattel mortgage. Settles when both components ready.
How the application works
Step 1 — Free quote
Tell us the truck (or rough budget), the body spec (if separate), your ABN, and whether you own property.
Step 2 — Pre-approval (24 hours)
We submit to a lender suited to refrigerated commercial vehicles — typically Macquarie or Capital Finance.
Step 3 — Vehicle and body specs
With pre-approval, you confirm the cab-chassis and body builder.
Step 4 — Final approval and contracts
Digital signing.
Step 5 — Settlement (2–3 business days)
Lender pays the seller(s). You take delivery. GST refund flows next BAS.
FAQs
Can I finance a used refrigerated truck?
Yes — used reefer finance is common. The lender will assess the age and condition of the refrigeration unit (which has its own service life independent of the truck).
Can I finance the body alone if I already own the cab?
Often yes — body-only finance is possible where the chassis is already owned and unencumbered.
What about temperature data logger upgrades?
Telemetry, data loggers, and upgrades can sometimes be rolled into the finance package. Ask us at quote stage.
Can I do private sale?
Yes — private sale reefer finance is standard with appropriate inspection.
Does the refrigeration unit affect the loan term?
Some lenders shorten the term for older refrigeration units (which depreciate fast and need refurbishment around 8–10 years). We match the term to the asset’s working life.
Get refrigerated truck finance — fast quote
Phone us. 10 minutes. No tax returns. 24-hour pre-approval.
GET A FREE QUOTE | CALL 1800 199 302
CarFund Pty Ltd — 20+ years arranging finance for self-employed Australians. Macquarie Bank and Capital Finance accredited.
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