Personal Loan Or Car Loan - Know The Difference

Planning to buy a new car with the help of loan. Read to know about the advantages and disadvantages of both car loan & personal loan and choose wisely.

10 Nov,2022 12:16 IST 22 Views
Personal Loan Or Car Loan - Know The Difference

Choosing between a personal loan and a car loan can often be difficult for someone who is buying a new car or even a second-hand automobile. The person’s specific requirements would mostly determine which option is better.

Despite the fact that car loans are specifically made to finance the purchase of a new or used vehicle, some considerations, like those that apply to other secured loans, may influence the borrowers’ choices.

Understanding Personal Loan

A personal loan is an unsecured debt product, hence no collateral is needed to obtain one. A personal loan can be utilised for any legitimate purpose. It can be a good alternative to meet short-term monetary requirements for financing a vacation, repaying other high-cost debt, meeting healthcare expenses, arranging a wedding, and even for buying costlier products such as cars and bikes.

Understanding Car Loan

A secured loan used to purchase a four-wheeler is called a vehicle loan. Car loans are secured, which means they are supported by a lien on the vehicle that serves as its collateral. When a borrower is in default on payments, a lien gives the lender the right to reclaim the vehicle. The lien is lifted after the debt is entirely repaid.

Typically, a car loan covers 80% of the vehicle’s on-road cost. The borrower is responsible for paying the final 20%. An auto loan can only be used to purchase cars, as opposed to personal loans that can be used for anything.

Differences Between Personal Loans and Car Loans

There are a few differences between personal loans and car loans that borrowers should understand before deciding which debt product to avail.

Collateral:

A personal loan doesn’t require the borrower to submit any asset as collateral with the lender. In the case of a car loan, the vehicle itself acts as the security.

Interest Rate:

The interest rate on a car loan is generally lower than on a personal loan. This is because a car loan is backed by a collateral.

Tenor:

A personal loan is usually for a shorter tenor, ranging from a few months to as many as five years. A car loan is usually availed for at least two-three years, going up to seven-eight years.

Amount:

The amount in the case of a car loan will depend on the cost of the car. In the case of personal loans, the amount depends on the borrower’s income and credit score.

Ownership:

In the case of a personal loan, ownership of the vehicle rests with the buyer. But car loans are secured debts, so the vehicle’s ownership lies with the lender until the borrower fully repays the loans.

Credit Score:

A borrower’s personal loan application may be rejected if the credit score is too low. But such a person can still get a car loan because the vehicle acts as the collateral.

Conclusion

The borrower should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of both the loan products before deciding which option to take for financing a car.

In general, a car loan carries a lower interest rate than a personal loan. However, borrowers can get a personal loan at competitive rates if they have a good credit score. On the other hand, personal loans are easier to avail and offer greater flexibility when it comes to using the money borrowed and paying it back.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. IIFL Finance Limited (including its associates and affiliates) ("the Company") assumes no liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in the contents of this post and under no circumstances shall the Company be liable for any damage, loss, injury or disappointment etc. suffered by any reader. All information in this post is provided "as is", with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results etc. obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Given the changing nature of laws, rules and regulations, there may be delays, omissions or inaccuracies in the information contained in this post. The information on this post is provided with the understanding that the Company is not herein engaged in rendering legal, accounting, tax, or other professional advice and services. As such, it should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional accounting, tax, legal or other competent advisers. This post may contain views and opinions which are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency or organization. This post may also contain links to external websites that are not provided or maintained by or in any way affiliated with the Company and the Company does not guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any information on these external websites. Any/ all (Gold/ Personal/ Business) loan product specifications and information that maybe stated in this post are subject to change from time to time, readers are advised to reach out to the Company for current specifications of the said (Gold/ Personal/ Business) loan.

Most Read

Franking and Stamping: What’s the difference?
14 Aug,2017 03:45 IST
43746 Views
Like 3365 3365 Likes
Difference Between 24 Karat and 22 Karat Gold
8 Dec,2022 09:26 IST
29851 Views
Like 628 628 Likes
Personal Loan With Low CIBIL Score
21 Jun,2022 09:38 IST
25508 Views
Like 1058 1058 Likes
Why Gold Is Cheaper In Kerala?
14 Jan,2023 09:35 IST
1859 Views
Like 432 1802 Likes

Get in Touch