Car Loans Secured and Unsecured

What is the real difference in cost and conditions between car loans that are secured or a unsecured personal loan and how that difference affects their loan and their repayments. The difference can vary depending on the bank or finance company, but is bigger when the true cost of each is taken into account.

Before discussing secured and unsecured car loans in more detail, let's first have a look at the various components that determine the cost of your loan and of your monthly repayments. The cost of a loan is the total you repay less the amount borrowed. Hence, let's say you are repaying $20,000 at 12% interest rate over 36 months; you will repay at the rate of $664.29 per month. That would total a repayment of $23,914.44, and the cost of the loan would be $3,914.44 plus any set-up or administration fees. A car loan calculator will enable you to work this out for yourself.

An substitute to a car loan package would be car hire purchase (HP), where you hire the car over the repayment period and receive the onwership papers to the vehicle with your final payment. Until then the car belongs to the HP company.

However, most credits are either secured or unsecured, and not all lenders offer car loans that are unsecured so let's consider secured loans first. Secured car finance is one whereby the lender offers the loan with the car as security. If you fail to make payments, the lender can sell the car to recoup their money. It is possible to get a secured car loan when the motor vehicle gets past a certain age, often 7 years, but you may find the loan term only being approved on a shorter term or not at all by using your home or some other form of security. These however are not strictly classed as car loans. It is generally the car that is the security.

Secured car loans can include on-road expenses such as the registration, loan protection insurance for disability,death or unemployment and comprehensive auto insurance as part of the financing deal. Loan insurance makes sure that the loan is paid off in the event of your death during the loan period, and car insurance is needed to make sure that the car is in good condition should it be needed to repay the loan in the event of you defaulting on your loan commitment.

This might look hard , but these are conditions you see with most secured car loans, not only car loans. You can normally have a secured car loan over one to five years, and the interest rate will be lower than that for an unsecured car loan where the lender charges extra to compensate for their added risk. As with any loan, a deposit will result in lower payments, or a shorter term, whichever you prefer.

Balloon payments could be an option on your finance package, which is like a deposit in reverse, payable at the end of the period. This is popular by those whose income will increase over the period, and they will be in a better financial position to pay a lump sum in 3 - 5 years time. This too results in either a lower monthly repayment or a shorter repayment term.

If you are buying a used car, your loan will be priced differently according to the lender and the age of your car. Many will charge higher loan rates, and the current credit crisis has changed the outlook of many lenders to unsecured car loans in particular. Many no longer offer unsecured loans due to the increased risk in the current economic climate.

However, they are still available, and some car loan brokers can put you in touch with a choice of lenders that are still willing to offer you an unsecured car loan. In addition to the interest rate on such loans, you should also compare the fees charged, since they can involve a considerable outlay for you before you get the loan.

The major differences between secured and unsecured car loans, therefore, can be summed up as:

Secured finance are more affordable to repay, with generally lower interest rates.
Secured loans demand fully comprehensive car insurance, while unsecured loans do not.
Both loans could require life insurance cover for the loan, but secured loans are more likely to.
You can sometimes include insurance, registration and other costs in the secured loan, but not with an unsecured car loan.

Fees for unsecured auto loans can be considerably higher than for secured loans.
Not all lenders will offer unsecured auto loans.There few doubts that if your car is young enough to be given a loan with the car as security, then that should be your option. You might be able to arrange a secured loan for an older car with your home as security, but you will have to make sure that maintain the repayments since lenders are becoming unsympathetic in the current economic climate.

Comparison Car Loans Interest Rates

A comparison rate was introduced in 2003 to help consumers identify the true cost of a loan. It includes the car loans interest rate, loan fees both upfront and ongoing, and charges relating to a loan. It shows the rate to a single percentage figure to give a true comparison of the coast of the loan.

How is a comparison rate calculated?
Comparison rates are calculated on:
• the amount of the car finance;
• the term of the car loan;
• the repayment frequency (for example monthly payments or weekly payments);
• the interest rate charged; and
• Any fees and charges directly connected with the loan.

What doesn’t a comparison rate include?
• Government charges or taxes, such as stamp duty and mortgage registration fees.
• Any fees and charges which are not ascertainable (cannot be calculated) at the time the comparison rate is provided
• Any fees and charges which may or may not be occur and charged. They may depend on some event which may or may not occur. This may be an early termination fee or a late payment penalty.

When must I be provided with a comparison rate?
Comparison rates are provided for:
• Finance which is wholly or mainly for personal, domestic or household purposes and not proximately for business use.
• Fixed term credit or credit that must be repaid within a specific time period. (A car loan with a term of 5 years) An example of a loan that would not have to provide a comparison rate would by a credit card which does not have to be repaid within a particular time period.

From 1 July 2003 a comparison rate must be included in any advertisement for fixed term consumer credit which shows an interest rate by credit providers, car finance brokers, and businesses advertising goods that also refer to finance to a particular credit provider.

Consumers must be provided with comparison rate schedule which lists of the comparison rates for a standard range of finance amounts and terms.



Where can I get further information?

A list of frequently asked questions about comparison rates is available at www.creditcode.gov.au

Questions can also be directed to your nearest Fair Trading Centre.

Car Loans tips For Aussies

There are many things to consider in your purchase of a motor vehicle. There are many choices and it can be confusing to which vehicle to choose. Once you have decided on a car then to what price and possible trade in price to be negotiated. With most car purchases financed, it is also important to remember everything when going through comparing car finance packages.

Australian car loans can vary because of many factors. Car Finance direct from a bank is quite often not the cheapest solution.

When time to purchase a new car, the next question is usually how you are going to pay for it rather than which car you are going to buy.

Financing your next car is a very important process, as you want to choose a finance package most suitable to you. There can be many things to check including car loans interest rates, fees and charges, break fees if you paid it out earlier or if you can pay extra payments.

Remember to consider the time it will take to approve and settle your car loan. Does the car finance company suit your criteria to approve the finance?

You can have unsecured or secured car finance, which can be very different costs on your loan.It can be a requirement of the car finance company to have fully comprehensive on your car before and while you pay off your car loan.

Finance companies can assist to ensure you have a hassle free car purchase and help with additional resources like encumbrance checks to ensure that there are not any outstanding loans from the prior owner left against the motor vehicle. They could have available title checks to confirm the ownership of the car you are purchasing. Most will arrange clear transfer to seller of the amount financed on the car purchase.

Car loans, subject to the finance company's approval can be financed to the full cost of the purchase including on-road costs and taxes, car Insurance, motor vehicle breakdown warranties, loan protection for death, disability and unemployment.

Older cars can be ok. Car loans can apply for all ages new and used depending on the car loan lender.

Finance structures can be flexible to suit your circumstance. Options to consider on your car loan could be delayed payment car loans so you first payment starts at a extended time into your finance contract, interest only payment options including balloon payments, extended finance terms and structured car finance payments to suit your life style or your work cash flow.

There are many motor finance options available for imported cars.

Commercial car finance options are available that could be suitable for business use. Some choices to consider that relate to business car financing are chattel mortgage car finance, commercial hire purchase, car lease, operational car lease and fully maintained car lease packages. Be careful because the structure of your business car finance can affect your taxation claim.

Dealing through a reputable car loan broker can give you a choice of car finance lenders. It is important to know that you may get car loan interest rates and loan fees and charges cheaper than banks.