Car loans generally require you to make repayments over a set period of time. However, some may allow you to make additional repayments or pay off your entire loan early. If you're considering a car loan and want the ability to pay it off early, read our guide to see which loans allow you to do so.
$150 if paid off within first 12 months, $100 if paid off after first the first 12 months and before the end of the term. Break costs also apply as determined by BankSA.
$200 or 2% of the outstanding balance (whichever the greater) at the time the final payment is made. Applies for the first 75% of the original loan term only.
$175 fee applies if you choose a term greater than 2 years and pay it out in less than 2 years. This fee is waived if you pay out your car loan by refinancing to another Westpac personal loan.
How do early repayments work?
There are a few different types of early repayments:
Additional or lump sum payments. These are made during the loan term and do not result in your loan being repaid in full. Lenders still may place restrictions on these payments, especially with fixed rate loans. On variable rate loans, you will find fewer restrictions and you may also be able to redraw additional payments using a redraw facility.
Repaying your entire loan on a variable rate loan. You will find fewer restrictions with a variable rate loan on repaying your entire loan amount before the end of the loan term. In this situation, you repay the loan balance on a variable rate loan or you will be out of your fixed rate period. Break fees are not likely to apply as lenders do not lose as much from letting you repay early.
Repaying your entire loan amount during a fixed rate period. This is where you will find the most restrictions applied. Repaying your entire loan early in this scenario involves paying whatever the loan balance is due to the lender during a fixed rate period, or where a fixed rate already applies to a loan. Here, break costs and administration fees are likely to apply to help the lender cover costs lost to them.
What is the benefit of paying your loan off early?
Repaying your car loan early can help lower the cost of your loan by limiting the amount of interest you pay. However, if you are in a position to repay your car loan early, you should always consider if any penalties or fees will apply, as the cost of these may be bigger than the savings you would make from repaying the loan early.
What else should I know about car loan repayments?
Your car loan repayments will affect how you deal with your loan, so examine them carefully. Before you send through an application, make sure you have considered:
How often you make repayments. Lenders usually give you the option of making weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments. This lets you line them up with your budget.
The flexibility of the repayment options. Check whether you are able to make additional repayments without penalty or if there is a cap on how many additional payments you can make.
How you need to make repayments. Repayments are usually direct debited out of your account automatically, but you may be given other options to pay off your loan. BPAY, electronic transfer and even in-branch deposits may be available.
Making additional repayments on your car loan can be a helpful option that can help you save down the track, but it's not the only feature that lenders have on offer. Remember to compare car loans across all fees, features and rates to find the right one for you.
Elizabeth Barry is an experienced journalist with over 10 years of expertise in personal finance, contributing to outlets like the ABC, Sydney Morning Herald, and 7News. She holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Technology Sydney, and has earned multiple award nominations, including a Highly Commended recognition at the 2017 Lizzies. Elizabeth began her career at Finder in 2013, progressing through roles to become Lead Editor, where she oversaw a wide range of personal finance coverage until 2024. See full bio
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Elizabeth has written 210 Finder guides across topics including:
Hi I’ve just paid off my car loan three years earlier and now I received final payment paperwork with a admin fees add in to it and it’s over $500.00.my question is; was I supposed to pay that admin fee when I pay my loan off early?
DanielleOctober 10, 2017
Hi Oliver,
Thank you for contacting finder. We are a comparison website and general information service, we’re more than happy to offer general advice.
That would depend on your lender. As you can see on the table above, different lenders have different policies. You may review your loan policy or contact your lender directly to verify.
With loans.com.au's caravan loan options, you can borrow up to $100,000 for a new or used caravan. Fixed and variable rates available, but be aware of early repayment fees.
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This NAB secured car loan offers loans of up to $100,000 for new and used vehicles less than 12 years. It has a fixed interest rate with loans of 1 - 7 years, but no penalty if you repay the loan early.
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Hi I’ve just paid off my car loan three years earlier and now I received final payment paperwork with a admin fees add in to it and it’s over $500.00.my question is; was I supposed to pay that admin fee when I pay my loan off early?
Hi Oliver,
Thank you for contacting finder. We are a comparison website and general information service, we’re more than happy to offer general advice.
That would depend on your lender. As you can see on the table above, different lenders have different policies. You may review your loan policy or contact your lender directly to verify.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Danielle