What Is a Car Title Loan?
A car title loan is very similar to a regular loan that you pay off month to month, except that instead of borrowing against your credit, you borrow against the value of your vehicle. A car title loan is an example of a “secured loan” because you offer you vehicle as collateral. Typically, this means that the lender takes the “title” or ownership of the vehicle into their possession as security against you potentially defaulting on the loan. Nevertheless, you keep your vehicle and drive it as normal.
Because the loan is secured in this way, interest rates are often less than a similar, non-secured loan, where no collateral is offered in case of a default. Furthermore, because the loan isn’t based on your credit score, people with bad or no credit can often obtain this type of loan: your weak or non-existent credit score is offset by the fact that the lender is in possession of something of value, the vehicle title. Hence, the lender sees the risk of loaning the money as lessened.
Whether you have good or bad credit, a car title loan can be a good route to go when life causes unexpected financial hardships such as lawyer fees, vet bills or auto repairs because vehicle loans can be processed in as little as an hour if the borrower:
- has a valid driver’s license.
- provides proof of vehicle ownership.
- has proof of insurance.
- shows proof of residency.
- provides proof of income.
Rest assured that companies offering car title loans must be properly licensed to provide auto title loans and obtain vehicle titles. And carfunder.ca works with you to arrange monthly payments appropriate for your budget without pre-payment penalties. So, when used responsibly, an auto title loan can be a good way to augment income without having to be concerned about short re-payment periods, high financing charges or additional out-of-pocket fees.