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Personal Loans vs Car Loans

If you’re in the market for a car, it’s worth finding out the best finance option for your needs. Learn all about car loans and personal loans right here.
Woman behind wheel of car

Personal Loans vs Car Loans

If you’re in the market for a car, it’s worth finding out the best finance option for your needs. Learn all about car loans and personal loans right here.
  Written by 
Thomas Perrotta
Thomas Perrotta is the managing editor of Savvy. Throughout his time at the company, Thomas has specialised in personal finance, namely car, personal and small loans, although he has also written on topics ranging from mortgages to business loans to banking and more. Thomas graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Media, majoring in journalism, and has previously had his work published in The Advertiser.
Our authors
 
  Reviewed by 
Bill Tsouvalas

Reviewer

Bill Tsouvalas
Bill Tsouvalas is the managing director and a key company spokesperson at Savvy. As a personal finance expert, he often shares his insights on a range of topics, being featured on leading news outlets including News Corp publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun, Fairfax Media publications such as the Australian Financial Review, the Seven Network and more. Bill has over 15 years of experience working in the finance industry and founded Savvy in 2010 with a vision to provide affordable and accessible finance options to all Australians. He has built Savvy from a small asset finance brokerage into a financial comparison website which now attracts close to 2 million Aussies per year and was included in the BRW’s Fast 100 in 2015 as one of the fastest-growing companies in the country. He’s passionate about helping Australians make financially savvy decisions and reviews content across the brand to ensure its accuracy. You can follow Bill on LinkedIn.
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Last updated
February 21st, 2025


When you’re on the lookout for a new car, you’re bound to come across a wide range of lenders offering both car loans and personal loans for your car. So, which one should you choose? Are they the same thing?

It’s important to understand how they’re different and when each option might be best for you, so we’ve broken down how each of them work, their pros and cons and more to give you the best shot at locking in the best one for your needs.

What are the differences between car loans and personal loans?

Although car and personal loans share their similarities, they also have their fair share of differences. This table shows how these two finance types stack up:

Car loansPersonal loans
Loan security?Required (car being purchased)Not required (both unsecured and secured available)
Loan amount?Up to 100% of car’s value (or more if on-road costs are included)Up to $75,000 (unsecured) or $100,000 (secured)
Loan terms?One to seven yearsOne to seven years
Loan usage?Buying a carFlexible to your needs (including buying a car)
Interest rates?Lower than unsecured personal loansUnsecured: higher than car loans
Secured: rates may be similar to car loans
Early repayments?Yes, but fees typically applyUnsecured: yes
Secured: yes, but fees may apply
Deposit required?NoNo

The Pros and Cons of Dealer Finance and Car loans

Car loans
  • Lower interest rates and fees
  • Higher potential maximum loan amount
  • Typically come with fixed interest rates, which are better for budgeting
  • Some lenders allow you to include on-road costs in your loan
Personal loans
  • Use your loan however you like, not just to buy your car
  • Are often faster to process, approve and fund
  • No need to put up an asset as collateral
  • Free early repayments can help you save
  • Not all cars will qualify for a loan
  • Funds can only be used towards a car or approved car-related costs
  • If you default, you could lose your car
  • Higher interest and fees in most cases
  • Lower borrowing limits
  • May be harder to get approved for the amount you want (or at all) if your credit isn’t the best
Car loans
Personal loans
Car loans
Personal loans

What’s cheaper: a car loan or a personal loan?

As we’ve mentioned above, car loans have lower interest rates than unsecured personal loans. As a result, you’re likely to find that, out of a car loan and personal loan of the same size, the car loan is cheaper. Here are some examples of what each of these loans might look like:

Type of loanLoan amountLoan termInterest rateMonthly repaymentOverall cost
Car loan$25,000Five years6.50% p.a.$490$4,350
Personal loan$25,000Five years8.25% p.a.$510$5,595
Car loan$50,000Five years6.50% p.a.$979$8,699
Personal loan$50,000Five years8.25% p.a.$1,020$11,189

Interest rates are for example purposes only and do not reflect the rate you will receive on your car or personal loan.

Which type of loan is best for me?

Ultimately, the best choice for you depends on what you want out of your loan. Let’s take a look at some of the situations where you might choose a car loan over a personal loan and vice versa:

  • You’re buying a new or near-new vehicle: in almost all cases, a car loan will be the most suitable option when buying a new car or one that’s only a few years old.
  • You’re buying an old vehicle or a fixer-upper: cars like these often won’t qualify for a secured car loan. You’ll have to take out a personal loan if that’s the case.
  • You want to use your loan for multiple purposes: if you want to finish a few renovations or consolidate debts at the same time, a personal loan allows you to do that.
  • You want the cheapest available option: you’ll find that car loans will cost you less than unsecured personal loans.
  • You want to add a balloon payment to your loan: a balloon payment is a bit like a deposit, except you pay it at the end of the loan. Having one reduces your repayments but increases your interest overall. These are only available on certain car loans.
  • You want the freedom to pay off your loan early: clearing your debt ahead of schedule could potentially save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. While some car loans allow you to do this for free, you’re more likely to be able to pay off your car early with a personal loan.

Helpful guides on car loans

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