Tips & articles

Car Loans vs Personal Loans: What is the difference?

Choosing the right loan can make a big difference for your finances. A personal loan offers flexibility, letting you use the funds for a variety of needs, from buying a car to consolidating debts, covering repairs, or funding life’s unexpected expenses.

A car loan, on the other hand, is designed specifically for purchasing a vehicle. While it can offer competitive rates and structured repayment terms, the funds are tied to the car itself and cannot be used for other purposes.

At NOW Finance, we help you compare your options and choose the loan that fits your needs, goals, and budget. With clear terms, fast approval, and competitive rates, you can borrow with confidence and focus on what matters most.

NOW Finance Personal Loans

At NOW Finance, borrowing is simple, transparent, and fair. That’s why our personal loans come with no fees, clear terms, and flexible options, so you always know exactly what you’re paying.

Whether you’re renovating your home, consolidating debts, buying a car, or covering important life expenses, our personal loans are designed to give you choice and control.

You can borrow up to $50,000 unsecured or up to $100,000 secured, choose a repayment term between 18 months and 7 years, and, if approved, access your funds in as little as 24 hours.

With NOW Finance, what you see is what you get.

Secured vs Unsecured – what’s the difference?

A secured loan is secured against an asset, such as a car you already own. Because the loan is secured against that asset, you may be able to borrow more – up to $100,000 and potentially access a lower rate.

An unsecured loan does not require you to provide an asset as security. Approval is based on your credit history and ability to repay, making it a simple process if you don’t want to tie the loan to your belongings. You can borrow up to $50,000.

NOW Finance Car Loans

Looking to buy a new or used vehicle? A NOW Finance Car Loan is designed to help you purchase the car, campervan, or other eligible vehicle you want. You can borrow from $3,000 up to $150,000 with no monthly fees and no early payout fees, so you can focus on the purchase, not the fine print.

You’ll enjoy flexible terms, competitive fixed rates, and the confidence of knowing your rate upfront.

Get a personalised, fixed-rate quote in just two minutes without affecting your credit score, and once approved, funds can be available in as little as 24 hours.

Who’s eligible?

To apply for a NOW Finance loan, you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident aged 18 or over, have a valid driver’s licence or passport, be employed (not on probation) with no history of bankruptcy or unpaid defaults, and meet minimum employment requirements – at least 2 years if self-employed or 3 months if in a casual role.

Disclaimer: This article contains factual information only and does not constitute financial advice, a recommendation, or an offer of any kind. It has been prepared without considering your personal objectives, financial situation, or needs. Before taking any action, you should assess whether the information provided is appropriate for your circumstances. If this article discusses the acquisition or potential acquisition of a specific credit product, you should obtain and review the relevant disclosure documents before applying. The information is believed to be accurate as at the date of publication; however, changes in circumstances after this date may affect its accuracy.

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Important Information
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

All applications for finance are subject to NOW Finance’s lending and approval criteria. No fees apply only to new NOW Finance Secured Personal Loans and new NOW Finance Unsecured Personal Loans. An establishment fee of up to $595 applies to NOW Finance Car Loans. If you do not comply with the terms of your loan, we may pass on to you any third-party enforcement or recovery costs incurred by us.

ABOUT COMPARISON RATES:

Comparison Rates are designed to help you understand the overall cost of a personal loan by taking into account the interest rate, fees and charges, the loan amount, and the loan term. All comparison rates shown are based on a loan of $30,000 over 5 years for the respective product type referenced.

NOW FINANCE PERSONAL LOANS:
  • Loan terms: 18 months to 7 years
  • Loan amount: $5,000 – $50,000 (Unsecured); $15,000 – $100,000 (Secured)
  • Interest rates: 5.95% p.a. – 26.95% p.a. (Unsecured); 5.95% p.a. – 21.65% p.a. (Secured)
  • Comparison rates: 5.95% p.a. – 26.95% p.a. (Unsecured); 5.95% p.a. – 21.65% p.a. (Secured)
NOW FINANCE CAR LOANS:
  • Loan terms: 18 months to 7 years
  • Loan amount: $3,000 to $150,000
  • Interest rates: 7.59% p.a. – 15.39% p.a.
  • Comparison rates: 8.43% p.a. – 16.29% p.a.
ABOUT PERSONALISED QUOTES:

Your personalised quote will provide you with an estimate of your interest rate and repayments. The final rate offered, if one is offered, may differ once you have completed a loan application and told us about your personal financial circumstances and credit history.

WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for the examples given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate.

Representative example: A borrower with excellent credit taking out a $30,000 NOW Finance Unsecured Personal Loan over 5 years at an interest rate of 5.95% p.a. (5.95% p.a. comparison rate), would pay an estimated total of $34,703.50 using the fortnightly payment option. Rates on offer are subject to change without notice.

Get your personalised quote in 2 minutes

Apply online in 10 minutes, with funds as soon as 24-48 business hours.