Calculator
Caravan finance calculator
Estimate repayments on your next caravan, motorhome or camper trailer. Adjust the loan amount, rate and term to find what suits your budget.
Get a quote for this amount6.50% p.a. is a starting point for estimating repayments only. It is not a quote, not an offer of finance, and not a rate available to every applicant. Your actual rate depends on the lender, the asset, the loan term, the loan amount and your circumstances. Adjust to model scenarios.
Monthly repayment
$587
Weekly
$135
Fortnightly
$271
Total repaid
$35,219
Estimates only. Your actual rate depends on your credit profile, lender and loan structure. Results are indicative only.
Comparison rate or interest rate: which one to compare
Assumptions
- A fixed interest rate applying for the full loan term.
- Repayments made in arrears at the end of each period.
- Lender fees, establishment costs and the interest effect of a balloon are excluded unless shown above.
- Weekly and fortnightly figures are the monthly repayment converted across the year, not a separate repayment schedule a lender has agreed to.
- These are estimates only and are not an offer of finance.
- 6.50% p.a. is a starting point for estimating repayments only. It is not a quote, not an offer of finance, and not a rate available to every applicant. Your actual rate depends on the lender, the asset, the loan term, the loan amount and your circumstances.
How the caravan loan calculation works
The calculator applies the standard amortising formula. It takes the amount borrowed, less any balloon, and spreads it across the months of your term at the rate you enter. Every repayment covers the interest accrued since the last one, with the remainder reducing the balance you owe.
Caravan buyers tend to keep the asset for years and often choose longer terms than car buyers do, since the asset holds value differently. That longer horizon makes the term choice more consequential here than on a smaller loan, so it's worth modelling two or three terms before settling on one.
What shapes the rate band you are offered
Lenders assess the van as much as the borrower. Age, build type and whether it is a dealer or private sale all feed the decision, alongside your credit history, income type and how long you have held your job or ABN. Older vans and private sales narrow the pool of lenders willing to write the loan.
The calculator does not guess a rate for you because the honest answer depends on that whole picture. Comparing across the panel is what establishes where your profile genuinely sits rather than where an advertised headline suggests it might.
How a balloon payment changes the numbers
A balloon defers part of the principal to the end of the term. Your regular repayment drops because you are amortising less, but interest continues accruing on the deferred amount for the full term, so the total repaid goes up.
On a caravan the balloon question turns on how long you will keep it. Buyers planning years of touring in the same van are usually better served without one, because the lump sum arrives while they still own and use the asset.
Choosing a loan term
Stretching the term lowers the repayment and increases total interest. Shortening it raises the repayment and typically improves the rate band, since the lender carries the exposure for less time.
The practical test is whether the repayment leaves room for the running costs that come with a van, such as registration, insurance, servicing and site fees. A repayment that only works if nothing else goes wrong is a repayment set too high, regardless of what the calculator says is affordable.
Understanding your numbers
How repayments are calculated
Your repayment is determined by the loan principal, the interest rate and the loan term. A balloon payment reduces monthly repayments but leaves a lump sum owing at the end.
Caravan loans typically run from 1 to 7 years. Longer terms reduce monthly repayments but increase total interest paid.
New caravans and motorhomes typically attract a lower rate than used or older models, because lenders are securing against an asset with a longer usable life and a more predictable resale value.
A balloon payment can help manage monthly cash flow if you plan to sell or upgrade before the loan ends.
The rate you receive depends on your credit profile, the age of the van and the lender selected by your broker.
Rate factors
What affects your interest rate?
Credit history and score
Caravan loans are often larger and run longer than a car loan, so lenders pay close attention to how you have handled credit over time. Repayment history, defaults and recent applications all form part of that picture. Each bureau must give you a copy of your file when you ask, which is worth doing before you apply rather than after, because correcting an error takes time you may not have once you have found a van.
New vs used caravan
A new van bought from a dealer comes with a build date on the compliance plate, a warranty and a valuation the lender can rely on, so it sits inside most policies. A used van is judged on its age, its condition and how it is being sold, and buying privately adds paperwork a dealer would otherwise handle. New vs used caravan finance sets out what changes.
Age of the asset
A van's build date, not the year you bought it, is usually what a lender measures. Most set a maximum age at the end of the term, so an older van can narrow the terms on offer. It is worth checking the compliance plate early, because a van that suits you in every other way may still fall outside a particular lender's age policy.
Loan term selected
Caravans are commonly financed over longer terms than cars, which spreads each repayment further but adds to the interest paid overall. Lenders weigh the term against the van's build date, since most cap how old it can be when the loan ends. A balloon leaves an agreed amount owing at the end, changing both figures again. Caravan loan terms covers the range lenders offer.
Employment type
Caravan buyers are often at a point where income looks different from a standard payslip, whether that is self-employment, part-time work or a mix of sources. Lenders assess each on its own evidence, so the paperwork varies more here than the answer does. Tax returns and BAS cover the self-employed, and some lenders will work from business bank statements instead. See caravan finance when you are self-employed for what each path asks.
Loan-to-value ratio
On a caravan the ratio sits between what you borrow and what the van is worth, and a deposit or a trade-in moves it in your favour. Lenders read it as a measure of how much of the purchase they are carrying. Because vans hold value differently from cars, the deposit a lender looks for is not always what you would expect. Caravan finance deposits explains how a deposit is treated.
Next step
Ready to see real numbers?
The calculator gives you a starting point. A broker compares lenders to find a rate and structure that suits your situation. Takes two minutes.
Step 1 of 3
What are you financing?
Select a finance type and tell us your loan amount.
Common questions