BYD Novated Lease Australia — Dolphin, Atto 3, Seal & Shark 6 Compared

19 March 2026|7 min read

Compare every BYD model available on novated lease in Australia for 2026. Monthly costs, tax savings at different salaries, and which BYD is the best value on salary sacrifice.

Why BYD dominates the Australian novated lease market

BYD has become the most popular brand for novated leasing in Australia, and the reason is simple — they offer the cheapest driveaway prices for well-equipped electric vehicles, and every model in their current Australian lineup qualifies for the FBT exemption. In 2025, BYD overtook Tesla as the number one EV brand for novated lease orders in Australia, with the Atto 3 alone accounting for nearly 20% of all EV novated leases written. The combination of competitive pricing, a 6-year warranty (8 years on the battery), and zero FBT liability makes BYD the go-to choice for salary sacrifice buyers looking to maximise savings. BYD currently sells four models in Australia: the Dolphin hatchback, Atto 3 compact SUV, Seal sedan, and Shark 6 dual-cab ute. All are fully electric except the Shark 6, which is a plug-in hybrid — but the Shark 6 still qualifies for the FBT exemption as a PHEV that was first sold after 1 April 2025 and meets the criteria. Below we break down each model's novated lease costs at different salary levels so you can find the right fit for your budget.

BYD Dolphin novated lease: Australia's cheapest EV on salary sacrifice

The BYD Dolphin is the entry point to the BYD range and one of the cheapest EVs you can novated lease in Australia. The Dolphin Dynamic starts from $33,990 driveaway, while the Extended Range variant is $38,890 driveaway. On a 5-year novated lease with 15,000 km per year, the total package cost including lease repayments, insurance, registration, servicing, tyres, and home charging averages around $9,800–$10,800 per year depending on the variant. For someone earning $70,000, pre-tax deductions of $10,800 reduce taxable income to $59,200, saving approximately $3,510 in tax per year. Your fortnightly take-home pay drops by about $280, but you are driving a brand-new EV with all costs covered — no insurance bills, no rego renewals, no service surprises. For a $90,000 salary, the tax savings increase to approximately $4,050 per year because you are in the 37% marginal bracket. The Dolphin Dynamic offers 340 km of WLTP range, which is enough for most daily commutes and weekend errands. The Extended Range pushes this to 427 km. Both variants come standard with a 12.8-inch infotainment screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reversing camera, and a comprehensive suite of safety features. For a first EV or a second household car, the Dolphin on novated lease is hard to beat on pure dollars saved per month.

BYD Atto 3 novated lease: the sweet spot for families

The BYD Atto 3 is the best-selling EV on novated lease in Australia, and for good reason. It hits the sweet spot of price, practicality, and features that appeals to the broadest range of salary sacrifice buyers. The Atto 3 Standard Range starts at $39,381 driveaway, while the Extended Range is $44,381 and the flagship Extended Range Premium is $49,381. On a 5-year novated lease at 15,000 km per year, total annual package costs range from $11,200 (Standard Range) to $13,200 (Extended Range Premium). At an $80,000 salary, salary sacrificing $12,500 per year for an Atto 3 Extended Range reduces your taxable income to $67,500, saving approximately $4,187 in tax (including Medicare levy savings). Your fortnightly pay reduction is around $320, but that covers the car, insurance, rego, servicing, tyres, and charging — costs that would otherwise total $500–$600 per fortnight if you bought the car on a traditional loan and paid for everything separately from after-tax income. The Atto 3 offers up to 420 km WLTP range on the Extended Range variants, a spacious boot (440 litres), and a comfortable ride that suits family duties. The 7-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty and 8-year battery warranty provide peace of mind for the full lease term and beyond.

BYD Seal novated lease: the performance and style choice

The BYD Seal positions itself as a more premium, sportier alternative to the Atto 3 — think of it as BYD's answer to the Tesla Model 3. The Seal Dynamic starts at $47,888 driveaway, the Premium is $52,888, and the range-topping Performance AWD is $55,888. On a 5-year novated lease at 15,000 km per year, annual package costs range from $13,000 (Dynamic) to $14,800 (Performance). For an employee earning $100,000, salary sacrificing $14,000 per year for a Seal Premium reduces taxable income to $86,000, saving approximately $5,180 in tax per year. This is where the higher marginal tax rate (37 cents on every dollar between $45,001 and $135,000 in 2025-26) really works in your favour. The fortnightly take-home pay reduction is about $340, covering all car costs. By comparison, financing the same car on a standard car loan at 7.5% would cost approximately $1,100 per month in repayments alone, plus another $300–$350 per month for insurance, rego, and charging — about $700 per fortnight from after-tax income. The Seal offers 520–570 km WLTP range depending on variant, a 0–100 km/h time of 3.8 seconds on the Performance model, and a genuinely premium interior with a rotating 15.6-inch touchscreen. For buyers who want something with more presence on the road than the Atto 3, the Seal delivers without pushing past the FBT exemption price threshold.

BYD Shark 6 novated lease: the first EV ute on salary sacrifice

The BYD Shark 6 is a game-changer for the Australian novated lease market because it is the first electrified dual-cab ute available for salary sacrifice. Priced from approximately $59,990 driveaway, the Shark 6 is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) with a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine paired with electric motors, offering a combined output of 320 kW. It provides approximately 100 km of pure electric range from its 29.6 kWh battery, with a total combined range of over 840 km. The PHEV drivetrain qualifies for the FBT exemption, making it the only ute in Australia that can be salary sacrificed without incurring fringe benefits tax. On a 5-year novated lease at 20,000 km per year (utes typically do more kilometres), the annual package cost is approximately $16,500–$17,500 including lease repayments, insurance, registration, servicing, and fuel/charging. For someone earning $100,000, salary sacrificing $17,000 reduces taxable income to $83,000, saving approximately $6,290 in tax per year. For a $120,000 earner, the savings jump to approximately $6,290 as well (same 37% bracket) but represent a smaller proportion of total income. Compare this to buying a Toyota HiLux on a car loan — the HiLux SR5 costs around $60,000 driveaway, but with zero FBT exemption, the novated lease savings are dramatically lower. The Shark 6 has a 1,200 kg payload, 2,500 kg braked towing capacity, and a well-appointed interior with a 12.8-inch screen. For tradies, farmers, and anyone who needs a ute, this is the most tax-efficient way to get one in 2026.

Monthly novated lease costs at different salaries: BYD comparison table

Here is a comparison of estimated fortnightly take-home pay reductions (what you actually feel in your bank account) for each BYD model on a 5-year novated lease at 15,000 km per year. On a $60,000 salary: Dolphin Dynamic approximately $280/fortnight, Atto 3 Extended Range approximately $345/fortnight, Seal Dynamic approximately $375/fortnight, Shark 6 approximately $450/fortnight. On a $80,000 salary: Dolphin Dynamic approximately $255/fortnight, Atto 3 Extended Range approximately $320/fortnight, Seal Dynamic approximately $350/fortnight, Shark 6 approximately $420/fortnight. On a $100,000 salary: Dolphin Dynamic approximately $235/fortnight, Atto 3 Extended Range approximately $295/fortnight, Seal Dynamic approximately $325/fortnight, Shark 6 approximately $395/fortnight. On a $120,000 salary: Dolphin Dynamic approximately $225/fortnight, Atto 3 Extended Range approximately $280/fortnight, Seal Dynamic approximately $310/fortnight, Shark 6 approximately $375/fortnight. Notice how the fortnightly cost decreases as salary increases — this is the marginal tax rate effect. A higher earner sacrifices the same dollar amount but loses less take-home pay because each sacrificed dollar was being taxed at a higher rate. These figures are estimates based on typical provider quotes and may vary depending on your location, insurer, and specific lease terms. Use our Take Home Pay Calculator and Salary Sacrifice Calculator to model your exact scenario.

Which BYD should you novated lease? Our recommendation

The right BYD for your novated lease depends on your budget, lifestyle, and how much take-home pay reduction you are comfortable with. If you want the absolute cheapest option and maximum savings, the BYD Dolphin Dynamic is the clear winner — it has the lowest package cost and delivers the highest percentage tax saving relative to the car's value. For families or anyone wanting a versatile SUV with more space, the BYD Atto 3 Extended Range offers the best balance of cost, range, and practicality — it is the bestseller for a reason. If you value driving experience, premium feel, and longer range, the BYD Seal Premium punches above its weight and competes directly with the Tesla Model 3, often at a lower total novated lease cost. And if you need a ute, the BYD Shark 6 is in a category of one — no other ute offers the FBT exemption advantage. One final tip: get quotes from at least two salary packaging providers before committing. Interest rates, bundled costs, and management fees can vary by $500–$1,500 per year between providers, which adds up significantly over a 5-year lease.