Tips & Guides

Thinking of applying for a car loan? As with any type of finance, when you apply for a car loan, it’s important you get it right first time if you want to be approved.

Why? If your car loan application is rejected, that rejection is filed on your credit report, which can make it more difficult to get approved next time you apply.

In this post, we’ll look at the five most common reasons car loan applications are rejected, so … Read more

Want to buy a car but don’t have the cash needed to cover the cost upfront? You may have considered applying for a car loan. After all, that’s what car loans are designed to do. They provide car buyers with finance to cover the cost of buying a car, which they then pay back over a period that suits them.

As you would expect, there is plenty to think about as you compare car loans. Repayment periods, interest, fees. What … Read more

Just because you’re a student, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on buying a car. As long as you have a steady source of income, a good credit history, and you meet the lending criteria, you should be able to get approved for a car loan as a student without too much trouble.

Here’s how.

Know what the lender will look for

First up, you need to know what the lender will look for when you apply.

• … Read more

Think of buying a hybrid, low emissions or electric vehicle? You’re not the only one.

According to research conducted by Westpac, seven out of 10 Australians plan to buy an electrified vehicle in the future, with 34% of current petrol or diesel owners saying them aim to do so for their next automotive purchase.

So, aside from lowering your emissions, what kind of benefits can you expect from making the switch?

 

Every state and territory in Australia currently provides… Read more

If your credit is less than stellar – or you simply haven’t had the chance to build up your credit yet – it can be hard to get approved when it comes time to apply for a car loan.

So, what are your options?

While there are some lenders that specialise in offering car loans to bad credit borrowers and borrowers with no credit, those loans can come at a higher cost.

An alternative option could come in form of … Read more

Bad credit? While it always seems far too easy to lose points on your credit score, building them up can feel much harder. So, what can you do to increase your credit score to enjoy a higher credit rating?

Australia’s credit reporting agencies utilise a Comprehensive Credit Reporting system to determine each person’s credit score. In essence, this means they take into account good behaviour, not just bad behaviour when considering each score.

As a result, if you prove yourself … Read more

With cost of living rising and interest rates on loans marching ever upward, many Australians are looking to where they can cut back in order to make everyday life that much more affordable.

While interest rates on car loans are typically fixed – and therefore not subject to rate rises in the same way as most home loans – it may still be beneficial to refinance your car loan under certain circumstances.

For example, you may choose to refinance your … Read more

While the idea of buying a new car can be somewhat daunting, we’ve found the process usually becomes less intimidating when you know what to expect. Which is why we’ve put together these seven easy steps to buying a car, laying out all the need-to-know info that will help you breeze through the car buying process – as you get the very best deal on your new car.

1. Understand exactly how much you can afford

Before you hit the … Read more

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday now in the rear mirror, you may be wondering whether there are any good deals left to be had. Well, if you’re thinking about buying a new car, the answer is most definitely yes!

When buying a new car, it pays to know when to buy if you want to get a great deal. Luckily for you, we know exactly when those times are. So, without further ado, here are the five best times … Read more

With the rising cost of living, you may be looking at ways you can save money. Whether that means making better choices on everyday costs such as groceries, finding ways to save on essentials such as petrol and electricity, or cutting back on luxuries – it can all help to reduce outgoing costs to make budgeting that much easier.

But what about your car loan? Depending on the type of car loan you have, you may be able to save … Read more

Before you apply for a car loan, you want to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible. That means paying the lowest possible amount in interest and fees, on a car loan over the shortest amount of time – while still ending up with loan repayments you can actually afford.

But, with all the car loan options available to you – how do you know you’re getting the best deal for you?

Three words: Use A Calculator. No, not … Read more

Whether it’s due to the rising cost of living, or perhaps a major life change such as divorce or job loss, you may find yourself in a position where you are no longer able to afford your car loan repayments. So, what should you do?

Most importantly, don’t bury your head in the sand. It’s unlikely your financial situation will improve as you ignore it. Additionally, if you are failing to pay loan and other credit repayments on time, not … Read more

Also known as smart travelling, community carpooling allows people to share a ride with others, which in turn allows them to cut down on travel costs, ease congestion during peak travel times, and help the environment.

Wondering if community carpooling is right for you? Here’s what you need to know.

What is Community Carpooling?

When you carpool, you essentially share a ride with others travelling in the same direction – or to the same destination – as you.

Carpooling may … Read more

Over the past two years, used car prices have surged, with some categories seeing increases of as much as 37%. So, what do you do if you still really need to buy a car, but also want to save money?

While negotiating on the price of the car provides an obvious way to keep your outgoings as low as possible, it’s also worth considering how you could save on your car loan before you buy.

In this post, we’ll look … Read more