Tare Weight is the empty weight of a vehicle, truck or trailer with no cargo on board. It is used by lenders to calculate payload capacity, safety limits and asset suitability when assessing Truck Finance, Vehicle Finance, and Equipment Finance. Related terms: GVM, GCM, Payload. Relevant blogs: Low Doc Truck Finance Tips, How Much Truckies Can Borrow.

Why Tare Weight Matters

Tare Weight directly affects payload limits and determines how much the vehicle can legally and safely carry. Lenders check these figures when assessing work suitability for industries represented in the Truckie Hub, Tradie Hub, and Business Owners Finance Hub.

How Tare Weight Works

• Listed on the compliance plate or manufacturer documentation.
• Used to calculate payload: Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) − Tare Weight.
• Essential for safe loading and NHVR compliance.
• Lenders use it to confirm the right asset is being financed for the intended workload.
• Incorrect weight classifications can impact approval.

Official info: nhvr.gov.au