Unsecured car loans allow you to buy a vehicle without using it as collateral against the loan.
They usually have higher interest rates because they post an extra financial risk to the lender.
If you're buying a used car or a lower valued car, an unsecured car loan might be right for you.
What is an unsecured car loan?
An unsecured car loan is a loan which allows you to purchase a vehicle without needing to attach the car to the loan as security.
Because the car isn't used as security, there aren't restrictions on what type of vehicle you can buy. With secured car loans, factors like the age and value of the car affect the amount you can borrow (or if you can borrow at all). And because the loan is unsecured you can use some of your loan amount to pay for other costs like insurance or vehicle upgrades.
An unsecured car loan is a higher risk for the lender because there is no guarantee attached, and so you should expect a higher interest rate than you would with a secured car loan. You may also be subjected to stricter eligibility criteria in terms of your own financial stability.
Is an unsecured car loan right for me?
An unsecured car loan could be the right option for you if:
You're purchasing an older or second-hand car
Because secured car loans come with restrictions regarding the type and age of vehicle you can use as security, an unsecured car loan may be better for you if you're buying a car that isn't new.
'New' can mean different things to different lenders though. Age restrictions can extend up to 12 years with some lenders, but can also be as little as 2 years.
Some loans also have criteria around the vehicle value. So you may want to consider an unsecured car loan for that reason. However, keep in mind secured used car loans are available in many car purchase cases.
You want to borrow funds for two or more purposes
If you're borrowing money to buy a car but you also want to consolidate debt, purchase your rego or even get the vehicle modified, an unsecured car loan may work better for you. This is because you are generally only able to borrow the value of the car with a secured car loan, so the lender can be sure it will be able to recoup its cost if you default on the loan.
You simply don't want to use your car as security for the loan.
Using your car to guarantee your loan can give you access to lower interest rates and can also help you to get approved. However, if you don't want to risk losing your vehicle if you default on the loan, you may want to opt for an unsecured loan.
Unsecured vs secured car loans: The pros and cons
Pros
Cons
Unsecured car loans
No restrictions on the type of car you purchase
Use the funds for other purposes
Interest rates are higher than with secured car loans
More stringent eligibility criteria for the loan as it is more of a risk for the lender
You won't get access to features available with most car loans, such as pre-approval
Secured car loans
Lower rates than unsecured car loans
You may have a better chance at being approved as the loan is less risky for the lender
Your car must meet the lender's eligibility criteria
You may not be able to borrow above the value of the car
You will not be permitted to make modifications to the car, if you wish to
How to take out an unsecured loan to buy a car
The borrowing process may differ slightly between lenders, but generally you will need to take the following steps when financing your car with an unsecured loan:
1. Find your vehicle
It's good to get an idea of what kind of car you want to buy and how much it will cost before you start looking for a loan. Even if you don't settle on a specific car, it's a good idea to get a ballpark figure so you can start comparing your loan options.
2. Work out what repayments you can afford
How much will you be able to comfortably repay each month? Remember to take into account the on-road costs for your new vehicle when considering your budget.
3. Compare unsecured car loans
Now it's time to start your comparison. Look at how competitive the interest rate is and check for upfront and ongoing fees. The comparison rate will give you a good idea of the overall cost as it includes interest and fees. Finally, check for features that are important to you such as repayment flexibility or the ability to repay the loan early. See our "how to compare" section below for more information.
4. Check that you're eligible
Lenders have set minimum eligibility criteria that you will need to meet in order to be approved for the loan. This will typically include a minimum age requirement, minimum income, credit history requirements and employment requirements. Minimum eligibility criteria for loans are listed at the bottom of every finder.com.au review. If you are unsure if you meet any of the set criteria, contact the lender directly.
5. Apply for the loan
Once you're sure you meet the minimum requirements you can click "Go to Site" to apply online. Have your ID, financial and employment documents on hand to complete the application.
6. Organise your funds with the lender
Lenders disperse funds in different ways. The lender may prefer to pay the car seller directly or send the funds to your bank account. Discuss the best way to receive the funds with your lender.
Interest rates in January 2025
The average unsecured personal loan is 10.95%
The average secured personal loan is 10.29%
The average fixed interest rate for an unsecured personal loan is 9.59%
The average variable interest rate for an unsecured personal loan is 11.69%
*The data here is from Finder's personal loan database in January 2025
How can I compare unsecured car loans?
Here is what to look at when comparing your options:
Interest rate
The interest rate is the most important thing to take into account. Generally, the lower the rate, the lower your repayments will be. The first thing you should do is to compare the interest rate that different lenders. You'll also need to choose between a fixed interest rate and a variable interest rate.
Comparison rate
The comparison rate reflects the true cost of the loan because it takes into account the fees that are payable as well as the interest rate. If the comparison rate is considerably higher than the interest rate, it means that the loan comes with a number of fees attached.
Fees
Look for up-front fees such as application or establishment fees as well as ongoing fees such as monthly or annual fees. You may also find fees for additional payments or repaying the loan early which can make the loan restrictive, so check if these will apply.
Repayment flexibility
Most lenders will let you choose between weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments. Which repayment program would suit your lifestyle best? Also, check whether you can make additional repayments and repay the loan early without penalty. Repaying a loan early can save you money over the life of the loan. Consider if this flexibility is important to you or not.
Redraw facility
Redraw facilities allow you to withdraw any extra repayments you’ve put into your car loan. These can be useful in emergencies when you may need the cash. Would you benefit from a redraw facility? If it's something the lender offers, check if a fee or limit applies.
Frequently asked questions
Unlike secured loans, unsecured car loans do not require collateral, but they typically come with higher interest rates due to increased risk for the lender.
It may be possible, but expect higher interest rates and stricter eligibility criteria. Some lenders specialise in offering loans to those with lower credit scores.
The main benefits include not risking your vehicle as collateral and potentially quicker approval processes, especially if you have a strong credit history.
Matt Corke is Finder’s head of publishing ventures. Prior to this he was head of publishing for Australia, New Zealand and emerging markets. Matt built his first website in 1999 and has been building computers since he was in his early teens. In that time, he has survived the dot-com crash and countless Google algorithm updates.
See full bio
Rebecca Pike is Finder’s money editor, with over 7 years of experience in mortgages and personal finance. A frequent TV and radio commentator, she frequently appears on Sunrise and 7News, Today and 9News, as well as Sky News, Channel 10 and across radio and print. Rebecca previously served as Editor of Mortgage Professional Australia. She has a Master’s degree in Journalism as well as ASIC-recognised certifications in Tier 1 Generic Knowledge and Tier 2 General Advice Deposit Products, which comply with ASIC guidelines.
See full bio
Rebecca's expertise
Rebecca
has written
284
Finder guides across topics including:
Want to buy a classic car but don't have the ready money? There are still financing options available for classic vehicles. Find out what loans you have to choose one and which one will work best for you.
Find out the range of RACV Car loans available for you to compare. You can finance a new car and lock in a competitive rate for your loan – find out about all the fees and features that come with this loan to apply today.
Important information about this website
Finder is a comparison service. We do not compare every product or every provider in the market.
We make money through commercial arrangements with some of the providers on this site. Products marked 'Sponsored', 'Promoted', 'Featured' or 'Advertisement' appear as a result of a commercial arrangement.
Our editorial content, product reviews and any 'Top Pick' designations are prepared independently of these commercial arrangements.
The default order of products in our tables can be influenced by commercial arrangements. You can re-sort or filter using the controls above each table.
Some content on this site may be generated or supported by AI tools. You should verify details directly with the provider.
Finder is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stand by our editorial principles.
Our comparison service does not include every product or every provider in the market. Some product issuers offer their products under multiple brands or through associated companies. Where we can, we identify the underlying issuer so you can compare like with like, but you should always check with the provider directly to confirm which brand you are dealing with.
Finder is a comparison website and an intermediary. We are not a product issuer and we do not provide personal financial or credit advice. When you click a link to a product, or apply for a product through our site, you deal directly with the product issuer. We may receive a referral fee, commission or other payment from the issuer if you click through, apply or take out a product. We describe these arrangements in more detail under 'How we make money' below.
Product features, fees, terms and eligibility criteria are set by the product issuer and may change. We rely on information supplied by issuers when we present product details on our site. Before you apply for or take out any product, you should confirm the details directly with the issuer.
We earn revenue from Finder in four principal ways:
Referral fees and commissions. When you click a product link, complete an enquiry form or apply for a product through our site, we may receive a referral fee, commission or other payment from the product issuer. We may also receive payment based on the volume of leads or conversions we send to an issuer.
Sponsored placements. Products marked 'Sponsored', 'Promoted', 'Featured' or 'Advertisement' appear as a result of a commercial arrangement between Finder and the issuer. These labels always indicate a paid placement. We do not use them for editorial choices.
Display advertising. Banner advertising, newsletter advertising and similar display ads on our site are paid by advertisers.
Content sponsorship. Some articles, videos and social media posts are sponsored by an issuer and are clearly labelled as such.
Our editorial opinions, product reviews and any 'Top Pick' designations are prepared independently of these commercial arrangements. A 'Top Pick' is an editorial choice made by our writers and editors based on the criteria described on each comparison page. A 'Top Pick' is not a personal recommendation and does not mean the product is appropriate for your circumstances.
If you would like to know whether we have a commercial arrangement with a specific product issuer, please contact us.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the default order can be influenced by commercial arrangements we have with product issuers. In some categories, sponsored or featured products appear in the top positions of the table by default, and are always labelled as such.
Other factors that influence default order include price, fees and features, and (where relevant) our editorial view of the product.
You can re-sort every comparison table using the controls above the table. You can filter by product features that matter to you. The order you see after re-sorting or filtering is not influenced by commercial arrangements.
Some content on this site is generated or supported by artificial intelligence tools, including our AI-powered assistant FinderBot. AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify important information directly with the product issuer before making a financial decision. For more information about FinderBot, see the FinderBot Terms of Use and FinderBot Privacy Collection Notice.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.