Tom Ashford writes about car loans, balloons and novated leases. A former fleet administrator, he is unimpressed by yard-packaged add-on insurance and spends an unfashionable amount of time on residual values. He is based in Ipswich.
Tom Ashford
Automotive finance writer · Ipswich, Queensland
Articles by Tom Ashford
Balloon payments on car loans, explained
A balloon shrinks the monthly repayment by leaving a lump of principal at the end. It is not a discount. It is a delayed bill, often due when the car is worth less than you hope.
25 June 2026
Used car finance in Australia
Financing a used car is less about the year on the rego and more about lender age caps, valuation, PPSR checks, and refusing to borrow for a mechanical surprise.
28 May 2026
Car loan vs novated lease in Australia
A novated lease is a salary-packaging structure, not a cheaper car loan in a different hat. FBT, running costs, residuals and job mobility decide whether it beats an ordinary loan — not the weekly figure on a brochure.
22 April 2026
How car loans work in Australia
A car loan is usually a secured consumer credit contract with the vehicle as collateral, a term of three to seven years, and a dealer origination path that is optional and often expensive. Here is the structure without the yard script.
5 February 2026