What is the minimum down payment for a car in Sri Lanka?

For a brand-new or newly-imported motor car, SUV or van, banks and finance companies can finance at most 50% of the price under the Central Bank's LTV cap, so the minimum down payment is 50%. On a Rs 6,500,000 car that is Rs 3,250,000 in cash. A lender may ask for more, but never lend beyond the cap.

What is the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio for vehicles set by the Central Bank?

The LTV ratio is the maximum share of a vehicle's price a lender may finance. Under CBSL Act Directions No. 03 of 2025 (effective 8 November 2025) the caps are 50% for motor cars, SUVs and vans, 70% for commercial vehicles, 50% for three-wheelers and motorcycles, and 70% for registered vehicles used over a year.

How much can a bank lend for an electric car in Sri Lanka?

The same as any other car. The old 90% preferential ceiling for electric vehicles was removed by CBSL Act Directions No. 02 of 2025 (effective 18 July 2025). The Central Bank's FAQ confirms EVs are now treated like any other vehicle type, so an electric car, SUV or van is capped at 50% financing — a 50% down payment.

Is the down payment lower for EVs than for petrol cars?

Not any more. Before July 2025, electric vehicles could be financed up to 90%, needing only a 10% down payment. Since the LTV rules were harmonised, fuel type no longer changes the cap — petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric cars all sit in the same motor-car category with the same down payment.

What down payment do I need for a motorcycle or three-wheeler?

Both fall under the 50% LTV cap for new vehicles, so you need a 50% down payment. On a Rs 600,000 motorcycle that is Rs 300,000; on a Rs 1,400,000 three-wheeler it is Rs 700,000. Registered used units follow the 70% used-vehicle cap.

Does the LTV cap apply to used and registered vehicles too?

Yes. A vehicle registered and in use for more than one year in Sri Lanka is valued by a professional valuer and financed up to 70% of that valuation in the banking sector. Some non-bank finance companies apply a lower cap, so confirm with your lender.

Can a bank lend more than the LTV cap if my income is high?

No. The LTV cap is a hard regulatory ceiling that applies to the vehicle's price regardless of your income. A high income cannot raise the loan above the cap. Income and existing debt only work the other way — they can reduce how much a lender approves.

How is the vehicle's value decided for the LTV calculation?

For a brand-new unregistered vehicle, the value is the amount confirmed by the authorised agent. For a reconditioned import, it is the Customs clearance value or the dealer's invoice. For a registered used vehicle, it is a professional valuer's report. This calculator uses the figure you enter as that value.

When were these figures last verified?

The LTV caps on this page were last cross-checked against the Central Bank of Sri Lanka's Directions and official FAQ on 2026-07-10. The Central Bank has amended these caps several times since vehicle imports reopened in 2025, so the page is reviewed whenever a new Direction is issued.

Sri Lanka · Finance

Sri Lanka Vehicle Down Payment & Loan-to-Value (LTV) Calculator

Enter a price, pick the vehicle type, and see the minimum cash down payment and the maximum a bank or finance company may legally lend — straight from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka's LTV caps. No signup, no ads, sources cited below.

By Induwara Ashinsana— Executive Director, Ryzera TechnologiesUpdated Jul 10, 2026

Vehicle down payment & LTV

CBSL caps · 2026

Vehicle price (Rs)

The full purchase price or valuation of the vehicle, before financing.

Quick prices

Vehicle type

Motor car, SUV or van50% LTVPetrol, diesel, hybrid or electric — fuel type no longer mattersCommercial vehicle70% LTVLorry, bus, single/double cab, tractorMotorcycle50% LTVMotorbike or scooter (falls under 'other vehicles')Three-wheeler50% LTVThree-wheeler / tuk-tuk

Registration status

Brand-new / newly importedUnregistered, or registered under 1 year agoRegistered & usedIn use over 1 year in Sri Lanka (valued by a valuer)

Minimum down payment

Rs 3,250,000

Maximum loan

Rs 3,250,000

Applicable LTV cap

50%

Brand-new / newly imported

Down payment share

50%

Motor car, SUV or van

Down payment vs financedRs 6,500,000 total

50% down

50% loan

Your cash: Rs 3,250,000Lender finances: Rs 3,250,000

Same price, every vehicle type

Vehicle type	LTV	Down payment	Max loan
Motor car, SUV or vanselected	50%	Rs 3,250,000	Rs 3,250,000
Commercial vehicle	70%	Rs 1,950,000	Rs 4,550,000
Motorcycle	50%	Rs 3,250,000	Rs 3,250,000
Three-wheeler	50%	Rs 3,250,000	Rs 3,250,000

A bank may lend less than the maximum after checking your income and existing debt, but never more — the LTV cap is a hard regulatory ceiling.

LTV caps from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka — CBSL Act Directions No. 03 of 2025 (effective 8 November 2025), amending Directions No. 02 of 2025. This tool applies the regulatory ceiling only; it does not compute monthly instalments or check loan eligibility. See the sources cited below the calculator.

How it works

Every vehicle loan, lease or hire-purchase facility in Sri Lanka is bound by a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio— the maximum share of a vehicle's price a lender may finance. The cap is set by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, applies to the vehicle's price or valuation, and is independent of your income. A lender may approve less after checking your finances, but it can never lend above the cap.

The maths is deliberately simple, and this page uses whole-rupee integer arithmetic so the two figures always add up to the price exactly:

Look up the LTV cap for your vehicle type and registration status.
Maximum loan L = floor(LTV × price) — floored to whole rupees so the loan never exceeds the cap.
Minimum down payment D = price − L. For a clean 50% or 70% cap on a round price, this is simply the remaining share of the price.

The current caps come from CBSL Act Directions No. 03 of 2025 (effective 8 November 2025), which tightened the earlier CBSL Act Directions No. 02 of 2025 (effective 18 July 2025):

Motor car, SUV or van (new / newly imported): 50% LTV → 50% down
Commercial vehicle (new / newly imported): 70% LTV → 30% down
Motorcycle (new / newly imported): 50% LTV → 50% down
Three-wheeler (new / newly imported): 50% LTV → 50% down
Registered & used over 1 year: 70% LTV → 30% down (banking sector)

The single biggest change buyers ask about: the old 90% loan ceiling for electric vehicles has been removed. The Central Bank's official FAQ states that EVs are now treated like any other vehicle type, so petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric cars share the same cap. There is no longer an EV financing advantage — only the import-tax concessions, which this tool does not cover. To turn your financeable amount into a monthly instalment, use the vehicle-leasing calculator; to check whether your income supports the loan, use the loan-eligibility calculator.

Worked examples

Brand-new car — Rs 6,500,000

50% LTV

Vehicle type: motor car (petrol, hybrid or electric — same cap)
Maximum loan: floor(50% × 6,500,000) = Rs 3,250,000
Minimum down payment: 6,500,000 − 3,250,000 = Rs 3,250,000
You need Rs 3.25M cash before the bank appointment.

Brand-new double cab (commercial) — Rs 12,000,000

70% LTV

Vehicle type: commercial vehicle (single/double cab, lorry, bus)
Maximum loan: floor(70% × 12,000,000) = Rs 8,400,000
Minimum down payment: 12,000,000 − 8,400,000 = Rs 3,600,000
Commercial vehicles are financed more heavily, so the cash need is only 30%.

Odd price motorcycle — Rs 675,555

50% LTV

Vehicle type: motorcycle (in the 'other vehicles' band)
Maximum loan: floor(50% × 675,555) = floor(337,777.5) = Rs 337,777
Minimum down payment: 675,555 − 337,777 = Rs 337,778
The loan is floored by one rupee so it never breaches the 50% cap; the down payment absorbs the odd rupee.

Frequently asked questions

Sources & references

The LTV caps were last cross-checked against these Central Bank sources on 2026-07-10. The Central Bank has amended vehicle LTV caps several times since imports reopened in 2025; this page is reviewed whenever a new Direction is issued. If a lender quotes you a different cap, ask which Direction number they are applying and email me the details.

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