Compare Loans

Unsecured Loans

An unsecured loan can provide an accessible and affordable way to borrow money for anything that you wish to purchase without having to use your property as a guarantee against repayments.

Pros of Unsecured Loans

Unsecured loans are a flexible means of borrowing anything between £1,000 and £25,000 for between one and six years. By borrowing only what you need and by tailoring the duration of the loan to the amount that you afford to repay, unsecured loans can become a cost-effective method of borrowing money.

Cons of Unsecured Loans

It is important to think carefully about the amount you need and that you are able to repay what you borrow. Make sure that you look at the total amount repayable (TAR) before taking out a loan as this will give you the clearest indication of how much the loan will cost.

Homeowner Loans

Secured loans (or homeowner loans) allow property holders or existing mortgage holders to borrow money against their homes. These loans can be taken out over a long period to make repayments affordable.

Pros of Homeowner Loans

Homeowner loans can be a good option if a poor credit history makes it difficult to secure a cheap credit card or an unsecured loan. A longer repayment period can make loans more affordable, even if lenders receive more interest as a result.

Cons of Homeowner Loans

With a loan secured against a property, lenders risk losing their home if they are unable to keep up with repayments. Since interest rates on these loans are often variable, there is ample opportunity for rates to increase over the long repayment span. Penalties might apply for paying off the loan early. Lenders should check terms carefully for these details.

Car Loans

Car loans – as may be evident – are for vehicle purchases. These loans can be anywhere between £500 and £50,000 and are to be paid off in monthly instalments. The bank or lender pays for the vehicle in full, which is then repaid with interest on a monthly plan.

Pros of Car Loans

Taking out a car loan is a quick way to raise the cash needed to purchase a new car and can spread the cost of a vehicle rather than facing a lump sum. The loan is not secured against a property, but rather the vehicle that has been purchased.

Cons of Car Loans

If you don't keep up your repayments, the car will be repossessed by the lender to pay off the loan. Car loans also tend to have a higher APR than standard unsecured loans. It is difficult to get a car loan if you have a poor credit score, so be sure to check this before approaching a lender.

Business Loans

Business loans, usually valued between £25,000 and £250,000, are advanced to organisations for use within the business environment. They can be used in a variety of ways: from capital expenditure to improving efficiency in purchasing decisions.

Pros of Business Loan

By taking out a business loan, companies have an opportunity to invest and grow. Loans can go towards equipment, training, or recruitment. They can help to solve a cash-flow problem or support cost-efficient processes that might not otherwise be possible. Business loans can help firms to improve their profitability, increase sales volumes, and expand into new markets.

Cons of a Business Loan

Lending criteria for business loans can be stringent. Expect lenders to demand business accounts and a business plan before accepting a loan application. It is also common for the business premises to be used as collateral against the loan, which could put this at risk in the event of non-repayment or default.

Payday Loans

Payday loans are fast-track short-term loans for people who are facing a financial shortfall ahead of their next payday. These loans are high cost and are normally advanced for a maximum term of 30 days, though they can be rolled-over at the lender’s discretion.

Pros of a Payday Loan

Applications for payday loans are normally processed quickly, and deposits can be made into a borrower’s account on the same day, making them very useful in the event of an emergency. Payday lenders also tend to be less prejudiced than banks against social housing or a poor credit history in the past.

Cons of a Payday Loan

Payday loans are a notoriously expensive form of credit, especially if they are allowed to roll over and accumulate charges over a longer period. Some lenders are not particularly scrupulous in their affordability checks; it’s down to you to make the right decisions. Taking out a payday loan might also influence a lender’s decision when it comes to future mortgage applications (read more).

Social / Peer-to-Peer Lending

Social lending, peer-to-peer lending, and crowd-funding, are all conducted through online funding platforms which allow investors and borrowers to agree deals independently of banks.

Pros of Peer-to-Peer Lending

Peer-to-peer lending is a flexible option for savers, who can choose how much to invest into the lending scheme, who to lend to, and how long to lend it for. If borrowers are accepted following stringent credit checks, they can gain access to finance, and often at much cheaper rates than usually found through banks. Both savers and borrowers benefit from the lenders’ low overheads, which helps to keep default rates very low.

Cons of Peer-to-Peer Lending

Though peer-to-peer lenders undertake rigorous checks on borrowers and use a variety of methods to reduce any one investor’s exposure to losses, they do not currently insure against losses through a deposit guarantor scheme such as the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which protects savers with mainstream banks.

Personal Asset Loans

Personal asset loans allow a borrower to release up to £1 million in assets without having to sell them. The lender arranges valuations of assets such as watches and antiques and can advance the cash in as little as 24 hours. Loans are subject to a flat rate of interest per month, and assets are returned once the full amount has been repaid.

Pros of Personal Asset Loans

The valuation of assets can be done at the borrower’s convenience. The arrangement fees and interest on these loans can prove cheaper than selling the goods, and are considerably cheaper than payday loans. Because the loan is secured against submitted assets, credit checks are not required and thus taking out a personal loan will not compromise future lending decisions.

Cons of Personal Asset Loans

These loans are straightforward arrangements; a failure to repay means that your assets are lost to the lender. Unlike secured or homeowner loans, personal asset lenders do not typically lend against property.