- Company
- Stratton Finance
- Licence
- ACL 364340
- Type
- Vehicle and asset finance brokerage
- Founded
- 1998
- Headquarters
- Melbourne
- Products
- Consumer car loans (secured), Commercial vehicle finance (chattel mortgage, hire purchase), Novated lease, Equipment finance, Refinance of existing car or asset debt
Stratton Finance is one of Australia's largest dedicated vehicle and asset finance brokerages, with a national distribution model that serves both consumer (private car) and business (commercial vehicle, novated, equipment) borrowers. The business has been operating since 1998 and writes meaningful annual volume through a wide lender panel that covers banks, tier-2 lenders and specialist asset finance non-banks.
What Stratton actually is
Stratton Finance is a specialist vehicle and asset finance brokerage that has been operating in the Australian market for more than 25 years. Unlike a generalist broker who handles home loans and personal loans alongside car finance, Stratton focuses on vehicle and equipment finance specifically, which translates into deeper panel coverage and a more nuanced read on which lender will write each specific file.
The brokerage writes volume across consumer car loans (secured against the vehicle), commercial vehicle finance for ABN holders (chattel mortgage and hire purchase), novated lease arrangements through employer salary packaging, and broader equipment finance for businesses buying machinery, tools, and other non-vehicle assets.
The Stratton fee model
Stratton operates the standard Australian credit broker fee model: the lender that ultimately writes the loan pays Stratton a commission, which is disclosed to the borrower under the National Credit Code disclosure framework. The borrower does not pay a separate brokerage fee on most standard consumer or commercial car finance transactions.
For novated lease arrangements, the fee structure is more complex because the lease is administered through a salary packaging provider, and there are multiple commission flows. The honest test on novated lease is the running cost comparison versus alternatives (car loan, cash purchase), which is where the EV FBT exemption settings matter most.
Where Stratton wins on rate
Stratton's panel knowledge is particularly strong on commercial vehicle finance for ABN holders. The Big 4 banks typically write commercial vehicle finance at higher rates than the specialist asset finance non-banks (Pepper, Macquarie Asset Finance, Plenti and similar), and a brokerage with daily volume across the specialist panel can frequently surface a sharper rate than a borrower walking into a Big 4 branch would receive.
On consumer car loans for prime-credit borrowers, the rate gap between brokerage and direct dealer finance is the main competitive ground. Dealer finance is convenient but rarely the cheapest; a broker like Stratton can often beat dealer finance on rate, particularly for borrowers with strong credit profiles.
When Stratton is the right pick
Stratton is a reasonable choice for borrowers who: are buying a vehicle (new, used, novated or commercial) and want a single application across multiple lenders, value specialist asset finance panel knowledge over a generalist broker, and want to avoid being captive to dealer finance.
It is less differentiating for borrowers who already have a strong existing relationship with their primary bank (where the existing bank is often willing to match competitive offers), and for very small consumer-only car loan transactions where the time saving from a specialist broker is marginal.
The honest pros and cons
- Specialist focus on vehicle and asset finance, more than 25 years of operating history
- Strong panel coverage for commercial vehicle and equipment finance
- Frequently beats dealer finance on rate for prime-credit borrowers
- National distribution model with both digital and broker-relationship paths
- Not the right model for borrowers who want a multi-product (home plus car plus personal) broker relationship
- Like all credit brokers, lender-paid commissions create a disclosure-required conflict of interest
- Novated lease economics are more complex than headline rate comparisons
- Customer experience after submission depends on the lender that writes the file
Frequently asked questions
Is Stratton Finance legitimate?
Yes. Stratton Finance holds Australian Credit Licence 364340 and has been operating since 1998. It is one of the larger established vehicle and asset finance brokerages in the Australian market.
Does Stratton charge a fee for car loans?
No fee is charged on standard consumer and commercial vehicle finance transactions. The lender that writes the loan pays Stratton a commission, disclosed under National Credit Code requirements. For some specialised commercial transactions, an arrangement fee may apply and would be disclosed at the quote stage.
How does Stratton compare to dealer finance?
Dealer finance is convenient but rarely the cheapest option. For prime-credit consumer borrowers, a broker like Stratton can frequently beat dealer finance on rate by accessing a wider lender panel. For commercial vehicle finance specifically, the gap between dealer finance and broker-arranged finance can be material.
Does Stratton do novated leases?
Yes. Stratton arranges novated lease finance through partnerships with salary packaging providers. The novated lease economics depend on the FBT treatment, the salary sacrifice arrangement, and the running-cost assumptions, which the broker walks through at the quote stage. For eligible electric vehicles, the FBT exemption continues to apply through 2026.
Can I get a Stratton car loan with bad credit?
Stratton writes some near-prime and specialist credit files through its specialist lender panel, but rates rise materially at lower credit tiers. For files with significant adverse credit, a dedicated specialist consumer broker is sometimes a better fit. The right move is to talk to Stratton about your specific file and let them assess the tier and panel placement.