Can you pay off your car loan early?

Because saving money is great, but surprise fees? Not so much - here’s what to know before you rush in.

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Key takeaways

  • Ask your lender for a payout figure before making any early repayment, as it includes fees and interest you may not see in your regular balance.
  • Compare the total interest you'll save against any early exit fees to decide if paying off the loan early actually puts you ahead.
  • Check your loan terms to see if you're allowed to make extra repayments or pay it off early without being hit with penalties.

Which car loans allow early repayment?

BrandCar loan(s)Can you repay early without penalty?Fees that apply
AussieAussie Car LoanNoFees are determined by the lender. The amount will depend on how much you have left on your loan term and how much you still owe.
BankwestBankwest Car LoanNotransparent--green-tickAn early repayment fee applies if the loan is paid off in the first 24 months.
BankSABankSA Secured Personal LoanNo$150 if paid off within first 12 months, $100 if paid off after first the first 12 months and before the end of the term. Break costs also apply as determined by BankSA.
Bendigo BankBendigo Bank Secured Car LoanNo$20 fee for paying your loan back early.
Beyond BankBeyond Bank Special Low Rate, Low Rate, Fee Free and Flexi Car Loantransparent--green-tickNo fee applies.
CommBankCommBank Secured Car LoanNoYou will be charged an early repayment adjustment if you repay your loan early.
CUACUA Fixed Rate Car Loantransparent--green-tickNo fee applies.
EsandaEsanda Car LoanNo$50 administration fee plus $680 pro rata for unrecovered costs of providing the loan. Break costs may also apply.
Gateway BankGateway Bank New Car Loan, Car up to 5 years and over 5 yearstransparent--green-tickNo fee applies.
IMBIMB New Car Loan, IMB Secured Personal Loantransparent--green-tickNo fee applies.
loans.com.auloans.com.au Car Loantransparent--green-tickEarly repayment fee applies if the loan is paid off before the last 12 months of the loan term.
NRMANRMA Car LoanNo$200 or 2% of the outstanding balance (whichever the greater) at the time the final payment is made. Applies for the first 75% of the original loan term only.
RACQRACQ Car LoanNotransparent--green-tick2% or minimum $200 if paid before 75% of the loan term, otherwise $0.
RACVRACV Car LoanNoThe fee is $160 or 1.25% of your remaining loan amount, whichever is greater.
WestpacWestpac Car LoanNotransparent--green-tick$175 fee applies if you choose a term greater than 2 years and pay it out in less than 2 years. This fee is waived if you pay out your car loan by refinancing to another Westpac personal loan.

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How do early repayments work?

Paying off your car loan early usually means contacting your lender for a "payout figure". This includes the remaining balance plus any interest accrued since your last repayment plus any fees your lender charges for closing the account early.

There's a difference between fixed and variable rate loans:

  • Fixed loans may charge break fees if the lender loses out on interest due to your early exit.
  • Variable loans are more flexible and often allow extra repayments and early payouts with fewer fees.

You may also need to provide written notice if you're repaying the full amount early.

If you are not in a position to completely repay the loan, but want to knock some off it you could make additional repayments. These are made during the loan term and do not result in your loan being repaid in full. Lenders still may place restrictions on these payments, especially with fixed rate loans. On variable rate loans, you will find fewer restrictions and you may also be able to redraw additional payments using a redraw facility.

What is the benefit of paying your loan off early?

Repaying your car loan early can help lower the cost of your loan by limiting the amount of interest you pay. However, if you are in a position to repay your car loan early, you should always consider if any penalties or fees will apply, as the cost of these may be bigger than the savings you would make from repaying the loan early.

Fees and charges to watch for

Before you rush to pay out your loan, get familiar with these potential charges:

Fee TypeDescription
Early termination feeA fee for ending the loan before its scheduled end date
Break feeCommon with fixed loans. Compensates the lender for lost interest
Discharge or closure feeA final admin fee for closing your account
Additional repayment feeSome loans charge if you pay too much above your regular instalments

Always ask for a payout figure to see the true cost of ending your loan early.

Example case study: How Jason saved $940

Jason borrowed $25,000 for a car in 2021 with a fixed rate of 6.49% over 5 years. After receiving a work bonus in 2024, he asked his lender for a payout figure. They quoted him $15,230 including a $250 break fee and $200 discharge fee.

Jason compared that to what he'd pay if he stuck to the original loan: $16,820 in repayments over the next two years. By paying early, he saved $1,590 in interest. After fees, he came out $940 ahead and knocked two years off his loan.

Pros and cons of paying off a car loan early

Benefits

  • Save on interest. The faster you clear the principal, the less you pay in interest.
  • Improved cash flow. Once it's gone, that monthly repayment is one less thing to worry about.
  • Debt-free living. You'll own your car outright with no ongoing obligations.

Drawbacks

  • Early exit fees. Some lenders charge a fee for breaking the loan early.
  • Lost investment opportunities. If you use savings to pay off the loan, that money might have performed better elsewhere.
  • Possible impact on credit score. Paying off the loan closes an account which may reduce your overall credit history length.

Finder survey: What percentage of Australians in each state have taken out a car loan?

ResponseWAVICSAQLDNSW
No56.78%67.58%54.67%53.68%60.4%
Yes43.22%32.42%45.33%46.32%39.6%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1113 Australians, December 2023
Data for ACT, NT, TAS not shown due to insufficient sample size. Some other states may also be excluded for this reason.

What else should I know about car loan repayments?

Your car loan repayments will affect how you deal with your loan, so examine them carefully. Before you send through an application, make sure you have considered:

  • How often you make repayments. Lenders usually give you the option of making weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments. This lets you line them up with your budget.
  • The flexibility of the repayment options. Check whether you are able to make additional repayments without penalty or if there is a cap on how many additional payments you can make.
  • How you need to make repayments. Repayments are usually direct debited out of your account automatically, but you may be given other options to pay off your loan. BPAY, electronic transfer and even in-branch deposits may be available.

Making additional repayments on your car loan can be a helpful option that can help you save down the track, but it's not the only feature that lenders have on offer. Remember to compare car loans across all fees, features and rates to find the right one for you.

Compare car loans

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Finder Score for car loans

To make comparing car loans even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Interest rates, fees and features across 200+ car loan products and 100+ lenders are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score, the more competitive the product.

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Journalist

Elizabeth Barry is an experienced journalist with over 10 years of expertise in personal finance, contributing to outlets like the ABC, Sydney Morning Herald, and 7News. She holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Technology Sydney, and has earned multiple award nominations, including a Highly Commended recognition at the 2017 Lizzies. Elizabeth began her career at Finder in 2013, progressing through roles to become Lead Editor, where she oversaw a wide range of personal finance coverage until 2024. See full bio

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2 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    OliverOctober 9, 2017

    Hi I’ve just paid off my car loan three years earlier and now I received final payment paperwork with a admin fees add in to it and it’s over $500.00.my question is; was I supposed to pay that admin fee when I pay my loan off early?

      Default Gravatar
      DanielleOctober 10, 2017

      Hi Oliver,

      Thank you for contacting finder. We are a comparison website and general information service, we’re more than happy to offer general advice.

      That would depend on your lender. As you can see on the table above, different lenders have different policies. You may review your loan policy or contact your lender directly to verify.

      I hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Danielle

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