You may have been turned down for loans in the past due to bad credit, but secured loans can offer you another chance. These loans use collateral, like your home or vehicle, to secure the loan and provide lenders more confidence in lending to you despite your credit history. Secured loans often come with lower interest rates, better repayment terms, and an opportunity to rebuild your credit. With a secured loan, you can access funds for major purchases or consolidate debt, even with bad credit.
Are There Secured Loans for Bad Credit?
For borrowers with bad credit, secured loans from WeLoans, a reputable broker, provide an opportunity to access funding that may not otherwise be available. Secured loans are loans that require collateral, such as a vehicle, property, or financial asset, to secure the loan amount. You can select loans for bad credit from WeLoans’ website if you need secured loans.
The main benefits of secured loans for those with bad credit include the following:
- Lower interest rates. By providing collateral, lenders view secured loans as lower risk, so they typically offer lower interest rates than unsecured loans. Interest rates for secured loans may be 3 to 4 percent lower than unsecured options.
- Better loan terms. Secured loans often come with longer repayment terms, giving borrowers more time to pay off the loan amount while keeping payments affordable. Terms of 3 to 10 years are common for secured auto loans and mortgages.
- Chance to rebuild credit. Making on-time payments on a secured loan is an opportunity to establish a good payment history and improve your credit score over time. After 12 to 24 months of on-time payments, check your credit score—it may have increased significantly.
- Access to larger loan amounts. The collateral provided allows lenders to offer higher loan amounts, as the asset can be repossessed if payments are not made. Loan amounts of $10,000 up to $500,000 or more are available for secured loans.
How Secured Loans Work?
A financial author Eric Bank said that to obtain a secured loan, you will need to provide collateral, such as a vehicle, property, or other asset to secure the loan amount. The lender can seize the collateral if you default on the loan payments. However, secured loans offer several benefits for those with bad credit:
- Lower interest rates. The collateral lowers the lender’s risk, allowing them to offer a lower interest rate. This can save you money over the life of the loan.
- Better loan terms. Lenders may provide longer repayment periods, higher loan amounts, and smaller down payments for secured loans. This is because your collateral acts as a guarantee, so the lender feels more secure issuing better terms.
- Chance to rebuild credit. If you make on-time payments, a secured loan is reported to the credit bureaus and can help raise your credit score over time. Paying as agreed shows you are creditworthy and responsible, which lenders view positively.
- Access to funds. For those with poor credit, a secured loan may be the only option to access substantial funds for major purchases or expenses. The collateral allows you to still get approved and receive the money you need.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Secured Loans for Bad Credit
Lower Interest Rates
Secured loans provide lower interest rates than unsecured loans or credit cards. Using collateral, like a home or vehicle, reduces the lender’s risk since they can repossess the asset if you default. This allows them to offer more competitive rates. Interest rates on secured loans maybe 3-10% lower than unsecured options. Lower rates mean paying less interest over the life of the loan and potentially saving thousands of dollars.
Better Loan Terms
In addition to lower rates, secured loans often come with better terms. You may be eligible for a longer repayment period, giving you more time to pay off the balance and lower monthly payments. The loan amount may also be higher, providing access to more funds. These benefits are due to the collateral reducing the lender’s exposure.
Chance to Rebuild Credit
Secured loans report to the credit bureaus, so making on-time payments can help rebuild your credit. This is an opportunity to establish a good payment history and improve your credit score over time through responsible borrowing behavior. Paying as agreed shows lenders you can manage debt, increasing your opportunities for approval on future unsecured loans and lines of credit.
Risk of Repossession
The downside is that failure to repay the loan as agreed gives the lender the right to repossess your collateral to recover their losses. You could lose your home, vehicle or other assets pledged as security for the loan. Therefore, only borrow what you can afford to pay back to avoid defaulting and losing your collateral.
What Happens if I Default on My Secured Loan for Bad Credit?
If you fail to make payments on a secured loan, the lender has the right to seize the collateral you used to obtain the loan. They can then sell the collateral to recover the amount owed. This is known as repossession and can negatively impact your financial situation.
To avoid defaulting on your secured loan, it is critical that you make all payments on time according to the repayment schedule. Paying late or missing payments altogether can result in penalties, increased interest rates, and damage to your credit. As a last resort, the lender may repossess the collateral to recover the amount due.
- Repossession: If you default on your auto loan, the lender can repossess your vehicle. If you default on a home equity loan, the lender can foreclose on your home. Either scenario would be devastating and should be avoided.
- Credit damage: Defaulting on any loan can seriously hurt your credit and lower your credit scores. Late or missed payments get reported to the credit bureaus and can remain on your credit report for up to 7 years. This can make it difficult to qualify for new credit and may lead to higher interest rates on future loans.
- Penalties and fees: In addition to repossession or foreclosure, defaulting on a secured loan can result in penalties, like late fees, and higher interest rates. The lender may increase the rate on your loan to account for the added risk of non-payment. These additional charges only make it harder for you to become current on the loan.
Conclusion
In summary, secured loans allow those with poor credit to access financing that would otherwise be unavailable or come with extremely high interest rates. If you need a loan but have been turned down due to bad credit, a secured loan may be your best option to get approved and start improving your financial situation. Check with reputable brokers like WeLoans to find secured loan offers that meet your needs.
