Car Loans Frequently Asked Questions

Vehicle finance, also known as a car loan, is money that a consumer borrows with the express purpose of buying a vehicle, such as a car, motorbike, van, truck or campervan. Vehicle finance can be used for both new and used vehicles.

The resale value is the price you could realistically charge if you were to sell your car. Almost every car loses value each year, although at different rates. As a guide, cars depreciate on average by 14 per cent per year in the first three years and then eight per cent per year after that.

If you’re planning to apply for a car loan with RACV, the best way to start is by having a clear picture of your requirements. By getting pre-approval on your car loan, you’ll be able to go shopping for your new car with a definite budget that will help you narrow your search. Once you’ve decided to buy a car with the help of a loan, you may have even identified the type of car you would like to purchase, you can seek pre-approval on a car loan from RACV. 

You can apply for pre-approval by filling out a form online and uploading the relevant documentation regarding your identification, income, debt and credit history. Once you submit your application, RACV will review and verify the documents. If you meet their eligibility criteria, you will get pre-approval for the amount they are willing to lend to you. With this pre-approval, you can go car shopping with the confidence of knowing what you can afford.

You may be looking to refinance your car loan to get lower interest rates or reduce the total monthly amount you have to pay. Often, this leads to the question ‘can I refinance a car loan with the same bank?’

While it’s always worth shopping around for a better deal or at least to compare offers from other lenders, you can sometimes refinance to a different loan with the same lender. It may be simpler,  as the lender already has your details and knows your repayment history. 

Having said that, knowing the terms offered by other lenders may help you negotiate a better deal with your current lender.

If you’re driving someone else’s car, say your friend’s, and you’re involved in an accident, whose insurance is responsible, yours or your friend’s? Does car insurance cover driving other people’s cars?

The short answer is yes. A few car insurance providers offer insurance cover for people to drive someone else’s car. It’s always better to double-check this before you get behind the wheel.

If you’re not covered, you can opt for non-owner car insurance which lets you drive someone else’s car and be protected against liability. However, you will not benefit from other coverage such as damage to the vehicle, replacement rental or medical expenses.

Getting comprehensive insurance driving other cars can be done with temporary insurance. It’s recommended that you do this if you plan to drive someone else’s car, even for a short duration. You can choose between policies that cover you for a fortnight, a month or even a pay-as-you-drive option with temporary insurance.

Alternatively, you can ask the car’s owner to check with their insurer if you can be added to the policy. This will ensure that you are covered fully with comprehensive car insurance driving other cars. Do note that adding you could increase the annual premium for the owner.

You can apply for a CommBank car loan pre-approval online, over the phone or by visiting a branch. The steps to apply for CommBank car loan pre-approval are similar to any other car loan application and include the following:

1. Consider checking your credit rating before applying for the loan. The lender uses your credit score and credit history to help determine your creditworthiness, and decide if you should be granted approval. Your credit score will likely also be used to determine what interest rate they are prepared to offer you.
2. Gather all the required documents and your personal information. This should include proof of income, identity and residency.
3. Review all the terms and conditions, interest rate and additional fees related to the loan to ensure it meets your requirements.
4. Submit your application to CommBank for approval.

Commonwealth Bank will then review and confirm all your details and, if successful, offer you pre-approval. Once you receive the pre-approval for the car loan from Commonwealth Bank, you can start shopping around for a new car with the knowledge you have finances secured.

If you are planning to purchase a vehicle for business use, you may be considering a chattel mortgage as an alternative to a standard car loan. 

With a chattel mortgage, the lender registers a security interest on the asset in the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR). The vehicle belongs to your business, so you can claim depreciation while repaying the loan. A chattel mortgage offers some advantages to small businesses, but you will also need to consider the disadvantages of a chattel mortgage. 

The biggest disadvantage is that such a mortgage is not regulated by the National Consumer Credit Protection Act (NCCP Act). So you need to understand the terms and conditions fully before you enter into an agreement for a chattel mortgage. 

As your car is offered as security for a chattel mortgage, there is a risk that it could be repossessed if you are unable to make repayments. The higher interest rate charged on chattel mortgages is another disadvantage. Unlike a lease, you have to pay for the maintenance of the vehicle in a chattel mortgage. 

Casual employment is common, and if you are a casual employee, it doesn’t mean that you’re not eligible for a car loan. But you’ll need to prove your repayment capability while applying for an ANZ car loan for casual employees.

Before applying, it’s important to consider the minimum eligibility criteria, which stipulates that a borrower must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa, is at least 18 years old, and earns an annual income of at least $15,000. 

Also, applying for a loan amount lower than what you can afford and working for some months before applying could increase your chance of approval. If possible, consider submitting a letter from your employer that will prove income stability. Lenders are more likely to approve your application if you’re able to demonstrate your ability to save, reducing their risk.

Getting pre-approval for a credit union car loan can make the process and paperwork required to buy a car more streamlined and less stressful. You can apply for pre-approval for a credit union car loan, online or contact your credit union. You’ll be asked to provide relevant documentation regarding your income. After you submit your application, your credit union will review and evaluate it along with the documents you submitted. If you meet the eligibility criteria, your loan will be pre-approved for a specific amount.

With pre-approval for a credit union car loan in hand, you can negotiate your new car’s price with peace of mind you have the funds.

You can easily apply for pre-approval on your Westpac car loan over the phone, in the branch or online. A fast way to apply for pre-approval is by applying online as the application process only takes around 10-15 minutes to complete.

While filling out the application, you’ll need to answer specific questions about your financial situation, like your income, assets, debts, and expenses. You’ll also have to provide supporting documentation, especially if you’re not an existing customer.

Once you’ve submitted the application, and meet the eligibility criteria, Westpac will likely take up to 2 days to provide pre-approval. After you get pre-approval, you’ll know the size of the car loan Westpac is willing to offer you. You’ll then have 30 days to find your new car within the pre-approved amount.