From
fixed rate
From
comparison rate
Rate dependent on risk profile
0 interest car loans or new car loans at a 1% p.a. is usually offered by dealers.
At first glance, this offer is as it appears. You purchase the car at the advertised price and then make monthly repayments on the principal of the car without any interest being applied to it.
However, while it may sound like a good deal, there are a number of things you should be aware of before committing to a 0% car loan.
Find out how a 0% car finance actually works and whether it might be right for you.
This depends. A 0-1% car loan won't necessarily cost less than a normal loan with a higher rate, as it may come with additional fees or costs, or charge you a high price for the car.
Interest-free car finance offers will also generally require you to make a larger balloon payment at the end of the loan term. This will reduce the size of your regular repayments but will need to be budgeted for throughout the loan term so that you have enough saved to cover the balloon payment when the time comes.
By comparison, standard car loans will require you to pay more interest, but the repayments you make will be consistent and your debt should be paid off in full within the loan term, which may make it easier to budget for.
Interest-free car loans are offered by dealership financiers and are generally used as a sales tactic. While you won't pay any interest on the loan, you may not actually be saving any money compared to a normal car loan. The dealer may be charging you a higher price for the car, or adding on extra fees and charges that end up costing you more than any interest repayments would. This will also generally be true of deals offering 1% finance, as the total cost of the loan may still be greater than a regular car finance option that charges a higher rate.
The 0-1% interest may also only be offered for a certain period of time, after which the loan reverts to a higher interest rate. You may also be required to make a large lump sum payment at the end of the loan, called a balloon payment, that will lower the size of your repayments but may be harder to budget for.
As with any financial product, it's important that you understand the terms and conditions of any 0% car loans you may be considering, and you should always compare a range of different loans to find the finance option that's right for you.
Here are the main points to keep in mind:
Car manufacturers may offer no-interest – or 0% car finance – deals through their dealerships in order to entice new business. It is very unlikely to find a traditional lender offering a car loan with a 0% or 1% interest rate.
When it comes to car finance, there are a number of 0% loan options that may work in your favour. Consider the points below when comparing.
Before you lock yourself into this type of arrangement, you should always compare a range of loan products. While paying 0% or 1% interest on your car finance may seem the best option, this will not necessarily be the case and you may be able to save money by using a regular car loan.
A review of CarMoney's new car loan. Find out if this loan is right for you.
Find out more about how you can be a driver with DiDi, even if you don't own your own car. Rent a car and start making money using the ridesharing platform.
Changing lifestyles could make car ownership a less convenient option.
Easily find out if your car is affected by the Takata airbag recall.
Think you know Australia's favourite car maker?
Aussies are paying up to 185.14% extra for vehicles compared to our American friends.
Take advantage of a low fixed rate with Heritage Bank’s Car Loan.
Australian Military Bank lets you finance a car, motorbike or boat up to five years old with its competitive car loan. Find out about the rates and fees in this review.
When you're shopping around for a new car, you surely want the cheapest car loan possible.
Our car loan repayment calculator will help you work out how much your monthly, weekly or fortnightly car loan repayments will be to help you budget.
