Novated lease residual values
A novated lease residual value, also known as a balloon payment or lump-sum payment, is the amount required at the end of a novated lease term for you to own the vehicle.
It represents the remaining (residual) value of the vehicle at the end of the lease term.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) sets the minimum residual values usually allowed for different lease terms.
These apply to new and used car novated leases.
ATO minimum residual value percentages
The ATO guidelines on residual values are based on a minimum percentage of the vehicle cost (e.g. amount you purchased the car for) over the lease term.
The table below shows the ATO’s minimum values.
A lower minimum may be allowed if the value of the asset is likely to be lower than the calculated residual based on a fair estimate.
For instance, if you are adding a lot of mileage to the car, you may want a lower residual. This is best discussed when taking out your novated lease.
| Lease length | Residual value percentages |
|---|---|
12-month lease | 65.63% |
24-month lease | 56.25% |
36-month lease | 46.88% |
48-month lease | 37.5% |
60-month lease | 28.13% |
What's the main benefit of having a residual payment?
The benefits of a residual are pretty simple. Your regular salary sacrifice car payments are considerably lower than other types of car finance (e.g. car loans).
Instead you make a large one-off payment at the end of the lease term.
You can find the residual amount of your novated lease by multiplying the cost of the vehicle by the applicable percentage according to your lease term. The residual should also be shown on the quote provided to you by a novated lease company.
You can see in the table below how the residual value will be calculated according to the length of your novated lease deal.
Your options to pay out your residual at the end of the lease term
You’ll have some options at the end of your novated lease:
1
Refinance the vehicle over an additional lease term
2
Pay out the remaining balance on your car to own it outright
3
Trade in the car and use the money you receive to cover the residual on your lease
This remaining balance is your residual amount. Understanding how it is calculated and how it works can save you money and even make a profit.
See, if you choose a vehicle with a strong resale value, you'll most likely be able to sell your car at the end of the lease for a higher amount than your residual payment. In this instance, any difference is yours to keep as tax-free profit. It's one of several advantages of a novated lease.
The residual payment on a novated lease is similar to a car loan balloon payment but there are differences between the two options.
Novated lease savings example (including residual payment)
This comparison shows the potential savings a novated lease offers over a 5-year term, compared to financing a vehicle with a car loan or paying for it outright with cash.
The comparison includes car running costs (e.g. car insurance) for five years based on 15,000km driven annually.
The example is based on a purchase of a 2023 Tesla Model 3 RWD, with a purchase price of $66,100 in NSW (with a novated lease residual value of $18,967). The comparison assumes an annual pre-tax salary of $120,000 and incorporates the fringe benefits tax exemption for eligible electric vehicles with a novated lease.
Get a quick novated lease quote
See how much you could save on your car and running costs with a novated lease. Get a personalised, no-obligation quote today.
