21/06/2026
Thirsty car. High rate car loan. Fuel that still stings every time you fill up.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not imagining it. Running the wrong car on the wrong finance this year can feel like paying two repayments every month: one to the lender, one to the bowser.
A few years ago, you may have been able to ignore the cost of running a vehicle by focusing on the monthly car repayment and ignoring the rest. Now, fuel, rego, insurance and servicing costs on some big SUVs and Utes are blowing out the real cost of ownership.
If you’re in an older or heavier petrol/diesel vehicle on an expensive loan, you essentially have three levers to improve your situation:
restructure the loan (refinance, change term or fix a nasty balloon repayment),
replace the car with something more efficient, or
do both - in the right order.
This is where a well thought out finance strategy actually moves the needle.
Our finance team can look at your current rate, payout figure, fuel spend and realistic trade in value, then map out options for you:
keep and tweak,
refinance, downsize, or
upgrade into a more efficient car (petrol, hybrid or EV).
The goal isn’t just a prettier rate on paper, it’s lowering your total car cost over the next few years, not just this month’s repayment.
If you’re driving away from the servo thinking, “There has to be a better way,” it might be time to run the numbers properly.
👉 Send me a message or comment ‘REVIEW’ and we’ll be in touch to see whether restructuring your car finance - and possibly your car - could actually put money back in your pocket each month.
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General information only: This post and the downloadable article provide general information and do not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not intended to be personal financial advice. Before acting on any information, consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances and, where necessary, seek independent, personalised advice.