Anyone who has borrowed a friend’s float for one too many weekends knows the moment it becomes untenable. The competition calendar fills up, the agistment property is forty minutes the wrong way, and suddenly a float of your own stops being a luxury and starts being logistics. Then you look at the price of a decent angle load and realise you are having a finance conversation whether you wanted one or not.
Short answer: Horse floats can be financed in Australia, usually as a secured loan with the float itself as collateral, over terms commonly between three and seven years. Not every lender writes this asset class, so the practical challenge is finding lenders with appetite rather than choosing between dozens of offers.
Can you actually finance a horse float in Australia?
Yes, though fewer lenders cover it than cover cars or caravans. Floats are often classified under trailers or general goods rather than having their own product, which means policy differs sharply from one lender to the next. Some fund them readily; others will not touch them as security.
The reason comes down to resale. Lenders think about what an asset would sell for if they had to move it quickly. Cars have a deep, liquid market with published values. Horse floats have a smaller buyer pool concentrated in particular regions and disciplines. That does not make them unfinanceable, but it does mean the lender wants comfort about condition, build quality and brand.
Well known Australian manufacturers with an established secondhand market tend to be viewed more favourably than one off custom builds or older imports with no comparable sales.
What types of horse floats can be financed?
Standard two horse angle and straight loads sit comfortably within most lenders’ policy. Three horse floats, goosenecks and units with living quarters can also be financed, though the larger and more specialised the build, the more likely a lender is to ask for a deposit or a valuation.
| Float type | Indicative purchase range | Common loan term | General lender appetite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two horse straight or angle load, steel | $12,000 to $28,000 | 3 to 5 years | Broadest, most straightforward |
| Two horse alloy, premium brand | $28,000 to $55,000 | 4 to 7 years | Good, brand recognition helps |
| Three horse angle load | $35,000 to $70,000 | 4 to 7 years | Reasonable, deposit sometimes requested |
| Gooseneck without living quarters | $50,000 to $95,000 | 5 to 7 years | Narrower, valuation may be required |
| Gooseneck with living quarters | $90,000 to $200,000+ | 5 to 7 years | Specialist lenders, deposit commonly expected |
These ranges are indicative only and reflect general market observation, not a quote. Prices vary by manufacturer, specification, age and state. Confirm figures and available terms with your lender or broker before budgeting on them.
Should you finance a float as consumer credit or business finance?
It hinges on how the float is predominantly used. A float for your own horses, pony club, adult riding or amateur competition is personal use, and the loan is generally consumer credit that may fall under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act. A float used in a training, breeding, agistment or transport business is business finance.
Business use typically points toward a chattel mortgage, which can carry different tax treatment and may allow low doc assessment for established ABN holders. Personal use points toward a consumer loan with responsible lending obligations attached and a detailed look at your income and expenses.
Do not be tempted to describe a personal purchase as business use because you have an ABN and it sounds easier. Lenders ask questions about the underlying purpose, and the tax consequences of getting this wrong are your accountant’s problem to unwind, not your broker’s.
How much deposit do lenders expect on a horse float?
A new float from a recognised manufacturer can often be financed with little or no deposit where the application is strong. Used floats, custom builds and higher value goosenecks more commonly attract a deposit expectation of ten to twenty per cent, sometimes more where the resale market is thin.
Where the float is being bought privately, which is very common in this market, a deposit also helps offset the lender’s uncertainty about condition. A privately sold float has no dealer warranty, no trade history and often no service records. Contributing funds of your own signals that you have assessed the asset seriously.
Trade-ins are treated as deposit in most cases, provided any existing finance on the old float is cleared at settlement.
What do lenders look at in a horse float application?
The assessment covers your capacity to repay and the float’s suitability as security. Income evidence, credit conduct, existing loan commitments and living expenses form the core. Alongside that, the lender wants the float’s make, model, year, VIN, and confirmation there is no finance already registered against it.
Have the following ready before you apply:
- Driver licence and a second form of identification.
- Recent payslips, or two years of tax returns and financial statements if self-employed.
- A list of assets and liabilities, including any existing vehicle or equipment loans.
- The tax invoice from the manufacturer or dealer, or a signed contract of sale and seller ID for a private purchase.
- Float VIN and compliance details, plus registration papers where applicable.
- Photographs of the float, which many lenders request on used purchases.
A PPSR search is standard on any used float. Buying privately without one is how people end up owning a float that a finance company can repossess.
Should you finance the float and the tow vehicle together?
Sometimes it makes sense to arrange both at once, particularly if your current vehicle cannot legally tow the float you want. Lenders will assess the combined commitment either way, so it is better to plan both purchases together than to finance the float and discover the tow vehicle is no longer affordable.
Towing capacity is worth checking before you commit to either. Aggregate trailer mass, gross combination mass and tow ball download are the numbers that matter, and a loaded three horse float with two horses and gear moves a lot of vehicles outside their rated capacity. If the vehicle needs upgrading, our personal vehicle finance options can be structured alongside the float loan.
If you tow other lifestyle assets as well, the deposit and approval principles in our guide to caravan loans, terms and approval carry across closely, and the same lenders often assess both.
Everything in this article is general information. It is not financial advice and does not consider your particular circumstances or objectives.
Because horse float lending is a narrow field, knowing which of the 80 plus lenders on our panel will look at your specific build saves a great deal of wasted paperwork. Take a look at our horse float finance page, or send us the details of the float you are chasing and we will tell you where it stands.
Can I finance a custom float that has not been built yet?
Often yes, though funds are usually released against a manufacturer tax invoice on completion rather than upfront. Some builders require progress payments, which not every lender accommodates. Discuss the build timeline with your broker early, since approvals have expiry dates and long build queues can outlast them.
Do lenders finance goosenecks with living quarters?
Some do. These builds sit at the specialised end of the market, so expect a narrower lender pool, a possible deposit requirement and sometimes an independent valuation. Established Australian manufacturers with a demonstrable resale market are generally viewed more favourably than one off custom builds.
Can I use my ABN to finance a float if I only compete as an amateur?
Only if the float is genuinely used predominantly for business purposes. Holding an ABN alone does not make a purchase business use. Lenders ask about the actual purpose, and misdescribing it can create both credit and taxation problems. Speak to your accountant about how your situation is properly classified.
Is a horse float loan secured against the float itself?
Usually. The lender registers an interest on the PPSR over the float, which generally produces better pricing than an unsecured loan. Where the float is too old, too specialised or otherwise outside policy, an unsecured personal loan may be the alternative, priced accordingly.
How long does horse float finance take to settle?
A complete application on a new float from a dealer can often move from submission to approval within a few business days. Private purchases take longer because of PPSR searches, seller verification and inspection requirements. Custom builds settle when the float is finished and invoiced.