What are the pros and cons of a car loan?

Pros of getting a car loan

Here are the benefits of getting a car loan to fund your vehicle purchase.

Immediate financing

The main reason people take out a car loan is that it provides near-immediate financing to acquire their desired vehicle. This can be beneficial for those who are in urgent need of getting a car without having to resort to borrowing from friends, family, and financial institutions.

If you plan to use the car for business purposes, waiting a long time to acquire it could severely limit your operational logistics. A chattel mortgage, on the other hand, grants you access to the finance you need right away and allows you to use and produce income with the purchased car before the end of the loan’s term.

For more information, see this guide from Westpac about chattel mortgages

Builds credit history

If you pay your car loan on time, you can reap the benefits of a good credit score. This can positively affect your chances of being approved for future loans. It’ll also give you the ability to secure more favourable loan terms in the future, such as housing loans.

Of course, this is considering that you promptly pay your loan in the first place. If you foresee yourself having a healthy amount of disposable income that’ll last you the length of the loan’s term, taking a car loan is one surefire way to build up your credit score.

However, if you think that the loan terms are too tight for your financial capabilities, it might be better to look for alternatives or hold off on loan activities for now.

Increased spending power

Moreover, getting a loan means that you’ll still have some of your finances stashed away in case you need them for emergency purchases in the future.

More tax deductions

A business vehicle is typically eligible for various tax benefits. This includes work-related travel expenses, such as using the car for your job, carrying work tools, or travelling from an alternative workplace to your main one.

Tax benefits that are specific to car loans are also eligible for possible deductions. For instance, you can claim tax benefits from the depreciation of your car if it’s paid using a car loan. And just in case you were wondering about interest rates getting taxed, don’t worry—interest paid on car loans is eligible for deductions as well.

Cons of getting a car loan

There are a few cons you should be aware of before getting a car loan.

Long monthly repayments

Getting a car loan can lock you into a multi-year contract with a host of monthly repayments. This can be quite the financial strain, especially if you’re already budget-strapped and dealing with multiple loans already.

If your income isn’t stable, there’s a risk that you might have difficulty paying off the loan each month. So while a car loan might vastly improve your working abilities, it’s necessary to weigh the downsides as the decade-long financial burden may limit your lifestyle and other business opportunities.

A down payment is still necessary

A loan may seem like a helpful way to avoid paying a large amount upfront, but don’t be fooled—you’re still likely going to have to pay a substantial down payment.

Car loans are usually structured in such a way that you need to pay at least 20% of the total cost upfront. While this is better than having to pay the full price right away, it’s still a hefty sum you’ll have to have on hand before signing the contract.

High-interest rates

Paying the price of the car upfront means you don’t have to worry about interest rates. However, if you don’t have enough money and have to opt for a car loan, interest rates can range anywhere from 5% to 10% depending on who you’re lending from and your own credit score.

This means you could be shedding out more than a thousand dollars in interest fees alone for the entire duration of your loan. If that’s not something you can afford, getting a car might not be a suitable option for you in the meantime.