
to 20.99%
to 23.83%
A personalised loan from $2,001 to $75,000 that varies based on your credit history and financial situation.
⭐ Finder Exclusive: Apply before 30th of June 2022 to secure a 0.20% p.a. discount for the full term of your loan.
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This is the first broad filter for finding the best personal loan for you. You need to ask yourself why you're taking out the loan.
Different types of personal loans are suited to different loan purposes. For instance, a secured personal loan may be a good way to finance a used car. An unsecured loan may be better suited to general purposes where you can't offer collateral.
Depending on the reason you're looking to borrow, the type of personal loan that is best for you will differ – so your first step is to find a loan that matches your loan purpose.
After you've found a loan that caters to your specific loan purpose, you have to consider the features you want.
Personal loans come with a variety of features. This includes how much you want to borrow, over what term, as well as the type of interest you wish to pay – that is, fixed or variable.
Other features include the ability to make additional repayments, and repaying the loan early without penalty and redraw facilities.
Once you've accounted for your preferences, you can compare your loan options to find a loan with the features you want.
Apart from filtering for your specific needs, you also need to find a loan you can afford. Here's where comparison really pays off. Comparing loans can help you find the most affordable loan with all the features you're after.
Keep an eye out for the interest rate, as well as the comparison rate – which will give you an idea of the overall cost of the loan. The range for a competitive comparison rate is anything under 10% p.a.
As well as low interest, you should look for low or no fees, as these will add to the cost of your loan. These will include establishment and monthly fees.
Some loans also come with limited time offers. This could be a discounted interest rate or fee waivers. These offers can help you keep down the cost of the loan in the long run, so consider looking out for them.
There are a range of personal loans you can apply for. If you're not sure what type of loan you need, we've highlighted the options. We've also included what you should keep in mind and watch out for.
Type of loan | What it's best for | What to watch for |
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Unsecured personal loan |
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Personal line of credit loan |
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Secured car loans |
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Secured loan |
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Short term loans |
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The answer is yes and no.
Finding the lowest interest rate is a good indication of a competitive personal loan, but interest rates are not the only feature you should look into. You should also consider other features and fees involved.
Some loans advertise low interest rates but come with high fees. In this case, the loan may cost you more than the benefit you receive from a low rate. This is why you should take note of the comparison rate. It will give you an indication of the overall cost of the loan.
Additionally, if you want features like the ability to repay the loan early, you should consider break costs. Some loans allow you to repay the loan early without penalty. If that's a priority, you should account for this cost too.
When you're looking for a personal loan, there are some common misconceptions and mistakes you can make. You should avoid:
🔍 Applying for the first loan you find. The first loan you find may not be the best loan. By searching for other loans and comparing them, you can find what works best for you.
💵 Looking only at the interest rate. As we've mentioned above, you should also consider the comparison rate and loan features.
👀 Not reading loan terms and loan restrictions. You should always be aware of all the fees and restrictions associated with the loan. There could, for instance, be fees associated with extra repayments. Likewise, you may be restricted in terms of how you use the funds. For instance, a car loan can only be used to purchase a car.
💲 Applying for more than you can afford. Lenders are bound by responsible lending laws. According to these laws, they cannot lend you more than you can afford. If you apply for more than you can reasonably repay, your application will likely be rejected. You can work out how much you can afford using a personal loan calculator.
⚠️ Applying to multiple lenders. You may think you're increasing your chances of getting a loan, but this is a no go. This is because every loan application is entered into your credit file. Multiple loan applications in a short period act as a red flag, reducing your chances of getting a loan. Your credit score could also be impacted.
🤔 Not considering all your options before applying. A personal loan may not always be the best option for you, depending on your circumstances. For instance, if you're a low income earner, there are loans designed to address this. You should only apply if you're certain that what you want is a personal loan. It is also important to be sure that using a personal loan is the cheapest option for you.
💻 After you've compared and found a loan from the table above, you can click "Go to Site".
✍This will take you directly to the lender's website, where you can start the application process.
❗Keep the documents you need on hand. These will include your driver's licence, financial and employment documents, and bank details. If you're applying for a secured loan, you will need details of the asset.
This depends on a number of factors. These include the type of loan you're looking for and what you need the loan for. For instance, a secured car loan will have a lower rate than an unsecured loan.
What you define as the best interest rate for you will also have to take into account your credit history. A lender may advertise the best rate, but you may not be eligible for it unless you have excellent credit. You'll have to adjust your rate expectations based on your credit history.
"Best" is relative to the borrower's circumstances. With a bad credit personal loan, you may have to readjust what you think is best (for example, low cost). Instead, you may have to look into other factors, like which loans you're eligible to apply for. Neobanks, nonbanks and P2P lenders, for instance, may be more amenable to bad credit borrowers. Once you've picked out the loans you can apply for, you can start filtering for cost and features, and select the best from the lot.
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Elizabeth Barry is senior editor for Finder's global financial niches. She has written about finance for over six years and has been featured in a range of publications and media including Seven News, the ABC, Mamamia, Dynamic Business and Financy. Elizabeth has a Bachelor of Communications and a Master of Creative Writing from the University of Technology Sydney. In 2017, she received the Highly Commended award for Best New Journalist at the IT Journalism Awards. Elizabeth's passion is writing about innovations in financial services (which has surprised her more than anyone else).
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You'll receive a fixed rate between 5.35% p.a. and 19.09% p.a. based on your risk profile.
Apply for a loan up to $70,000 and repay your loan over 3, 5 or 7 years terms.
You'll receive a fixed rate between 6.49% p.a. and 15.99% p.a. ( 7.41% p.a. to 16.84% p.a. comparison rate) based on your risk profile
Apply for up to $50,000 to use for a variety of purposes without needing to add security. Available to self-employed applicants.
You'll receive a fixed rate between 6.99% p.a. and 18.99% p.a. ( 7.91% p.a. to 19.83% p.a. comparison rate) based on your risk profile
Borrow from $5,000 to $55,000, with 1 years to 7 years loan terms available. This loan comes with no fees for extra repayments and no early exit fees.
You'll receive a fixed rate between 6.95% p.a. and 22.49% p.a. based on your risk profile
A loan from $5,000 to use for a range of purposes. Benefit from no ongoing fees and no early repayment fee.
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