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We do the heavy lifting, so you don't have to. We work with a wide range of leading providers to help you borrow the money you need.
It’s simple to compare loans with us, and we’ll show you your chance of being approved for each loan deal.
It's simple and speedy to compare loans with us. We show the important information upfront and once you find a loan you like, you click through to the provider and can apply within minutes.
When you compare loans with us, you don't have to worry about hurting your credit score. We carry out a soft search and also show your chances of being accepted for a loan.
Our comparison service is highly rated. We currently have a 4.9/5 star rating on Feefo – our customers praise the ease of using our site and the savings they’ve made.
To control high inflation, the Bank of England have raised interest rates. Higher interest rates make it more expensive to borrow but there are some things you can do to make a loan more affordable for you.
Improve your credit score: Generally, the better your credit rating the more competitive interest rates you’ll be offered. This is because a good credit score signals to lenders you’re a trustworthy borrower. It’s wise to get your credit score into shape before applying for a loan so you can benefit from a better interest rate
Shop around: It’s always smart to explore your options when looking for a loan, but doing so when interest rates are on the up could help you save money. If you use a price comparison website like ours, you can order results by interest rate to make sure you’re getting the most competitive deal.
MoneySuperMarket is a credit broker – this means we’ll show you products offered by lenders. You must be 18 or over and a UK resident.
There are different types of loans available depending on your needs. Which loan you can get will depend on your financial situation…
An unsecured loan, or personal loan means you don't need to use something you own as collateral. Lenders use your financial history to decide if you qualify and how much you can borrow - it helps if you have a good credit score and have kept up with debt repayments before.
With a secured loan or homeowner loan, you put up an asset - usually a property that you own or pay the mortgage on - as security. If you don’t keep up with the repayments, the lender can seize the asset – meaning you could lose your home.
Guarantor loans are another option if you have poor or limited credit. They work like a regular loan, except that you need a guarantor when you apply. This is someone (normally a family member) who promises to make your repayments if you miss any.
It’s important for you to work out what your loan will cost you in terms of monthly repayments over the term.
Use our loan calculator: Whether you’re looking to take a £5,000 loan or even £15,000, our loans calculator can help you work out how much you can afford to borrow by entering how much you can afford to pay back each month and the length of time you can afford to pay that amount (and at what interest rate.)
Loan term length: Smaller loans tend to have higher interest rates, which can affect the affordability of your loan. Taking out a loan over a longer term can bring down monthly repayments
You can use a loan for a range of purposes, including:
Found your dream car but don’t have the savings to buy it outright? A loan can help you enjoy your new wheels by spreading the cost of the car into manageable repayments.
Looking to make renovations to your house? From a new kitchen to a new bathroom, a home improvement loan can help fund the cost of home improvements.
A bridging loan can help you to buy a new property before you sell your current home, by ‘bridging’ the gap between sale and completion.
Finding one low interest rate loan for all your debts can bring the ease of having just one payment to deal with instead of different cards and loans on the go (where it may be easy to lose track and miss payments!).
Whether your holiday is abroad or in the UK, a holiday loan can help towards the cost of your next adventure if you don’t have the savings to help out.
While a wedding may be the best day of your life, it can also be an expensive one! A wedding loan can help manage the cost of your big day and minimise money worries.
If you’re looking for more information about loans, you’ve come to the right place. We have many guides you can read to help you get to grips with loans.
Different types of loans explained
Can I get a loan with a bad credit score?
There is no ‘typical’ amount to borrow when it comes to personal loans. Borrowers will need loans of different sizes at different times depending on the purpose of the loan. If you’re looking for a large loan, say over £25,000 then a secured loan could be more suitable.
You can apply for a loan of any size, but here are some commonly requested loan amounts:
When you apply for a loan, it’s not always clear what deal you’ll be offered or whether you’ll be accepted. But when you’re pre-approved for a loan, you know the deal you see is the deal you’ll get – you’ll know where you stand, with information that will help you make the right choice.
When you’re pre-approved, the loan amount, duration and interest rate are all confirmed
When you know what you’ll be able to borrow and how much it will cost, you can choose a loan that’s right for you
This helps protect your credit score as you’re less likely to be rejected when you apply for credit
If your credit score isn’t so good, it can be difficult to get a regular loan. With this in mind, a bad credit loan could be an option. These loans are aimed at those with a poor or limited credit history, so they’re easier to qualify for. But they usually have higher interest rates and lower borrowing limits – so they can be more expensive over their term.
"Too often, looking for an unsecured personal loan starts with “how much can I borrow” rather than “how much do I need.” Even though larger loans can carry smaller interest rates, think carefully about the cost of the project you’re embarking on – from getting hitched to hammering existing debts. It will all need repaying in the end. Have an up-to-date budget to hand so you know what you can afford to repay before you start.
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We’re here to help find the right loan for you, so we’ll tell you which rates you’re guaranteed to get.
Tell us a little about yourself, your finances and the loan you want
We’ll search through loans from a wide range of lenders on the market
You’ll be able to sort loans by the overall cost and the likelihood you’ll be accepted
We’re aware that some fraudsters are trying to use the MoneySuperMarket brand to trick consumers into handing over money or financial details, by offering fake loans with eye-catching interest rates.
The best way to stop these scams is to report them.
If you think you’ve been contacted by a fraudster, please stop all communication with them and report it to Action Fraud.
If it’s someone impersonating MoneySuperMarket, please contact our customer services team
If you're asked to pay an up-front fee for a loan - it's likely to be a scam
Check out our tips on how to keep you and your family safe from scams.
When applying for a loan, you’ll need to provide personal details such as your name, contact details and address. You’ll also have to let the lender know your employment status and your income. You will also be asked what you need the loan for and how much you’re looking to borrow. You should expect to be asked about any debts and assets you have as well as if you’re a homeowner.
A secured loan is a loan you can take out that’s tied to an asset of yours as security. For example a mortgage is a type of secured loan, and the asset would be the house you take the mortgage out on – when you repay the loan the house is yours, but if you don’t repay then the lender could seize your house.
An unsecured loan isn’t tied to any collateral, and as a result you normally need at least a fair credit score to qualify. There is also often a maximum amount you’ll be allowed to borrow.
The amount you’ll be eligible to borrow will depend on your personal circumstances – if you have a poor or limited credit history, you may not be able to borrow as much as someone with a good credit history.
The length of your loan can vary depending on the type of loan you take out and the provider you choose, but it could be anywhere between a year and ten years. Taking out a loan for a longer period of time may reduce your monthly payments, but you may end up paying more for the loan due to interest payments.
Different lenders and different types of loans will have varying requirements, but in general whether or not you qualify will depend on your personal details and your credit history. However you can always compare loans on MoneySuperMarket – all you need to do is answer a few questions about the loan you want to take out and you’ll be given a tailored list, which you can sort by interest rates and the likelihood of your application being accepted.
You can generally apply for loans by contacting the provider you choose – either by calling through the phone, sending an application form through the post, applying online, or dropping in to their branch (if they have one) to apply in person.
For many loans you’ll need a good credit history to be accepted, but some providers also offer loans designed for people with poor or no credit. For example, you can get guarantor loans where someone else will commit to make your repayments if you can’t.
A soft-search or soft-application is a way of finding out where you stand in terms of getting a loan without leaving a mark on your credit report. It’s a useful way of finding a loan you’ll be eligible for without harming your chances of being accepted.
Missing repayments can mean you might be fined by your lender, and it could also end any low or zero interest incentives you have. It may even lead to a hike in the interest rate you’ll make future repayments at.
APR, or your Annual Percentage Rate, is the interest rate at which you pay back money you’ve borrowed. It takes into account the actual interest rate you pay, plus any other fees or charges involved in the deal, to give you a more complete picture of what you loan will cost.
When you see a rate advertised as the representative APR, this means the lender is required to offer this rate to at least 51% of applicants – however it doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to receive this interest rate yourself.
Representative 16.5% APR
Maximum APR 99%
Debt consolidation is when you take out a single loan to repay the debts you have with different providers – this way you can pay off the debt with a single monthly repayment, rather than lots of repayments to a variety of lenders.
A repayment holiday is when you don’t have to make any loan repayments for a certain period of time that you’ve agreed with your lender. They’re generally good for when you’ve had a temporary change of circumstances, such as unemployment, maternity, or unexpected expenditures.
You’ll normally be able to pay off all or part of your loan early, though some lenders may have an early payment charge.
If you’re struggling with your finances and you think you might not be able to make your repayments, you should call your lender as soon as possible – they may be able to help you work out an easier repayment plan or a repayment holiday. Not letting your bank know could mean you’ll be penalised for missing any payments.
When the interest rate increases, this can make it more expensive to borrow. When it comes to the loan you’ve taken out, if you’re on a variable interest rate then your APR will reflect your lender’s rate.
So, in short, if interest rates rise and you’re on a variable interest rate with your loan, your APR may go up. However, if you’ve taken out a fixed rate loan then the APR won’t rise when interest rates do.
Many households are struggling to make ends meet as the cost of living keeps rising. There's little spare cash around to build up an emergency fund, which means it can be tricky to pay for a new washing machine or boiler if your old one breaks down. Maybe you need a new car, or perhaps you're planning a holiday, a wedding or a home makeover?
Let’s face it, most people at some point in their lives need to borrow some money. So it’s important to understand the pros and cons of the different types of loan, as well as how to secure the best rates. If not, you could end up with a poor deal – and costly credit can send you into a downward debt spiral.
Loans can broadly be divided into two categories: secured and unsecured. With a secured loan, the lender will insist on some sort of security against the money you borrow, often a house or car. If you default on the payments, the bank or building society can then sell the asset to clear the debt.
You can usually borrow large amounts with a secured loan, and at a lower rate of interest. Plus, you can pay back the debt over a long time period, perhaps 10 or 15 years.
However, secured loans are more risky than unsecured loans because you could lose your collateral if you cannot clear the debt. You should therefore think very carefully - and consider other options - before taking out a secured loan.
You can typically borrow as little as £1,000 up to a maximum of £25,000 with an unsecured loan – also known as a personal loan.
The interest rate is usually fixed and you pay back the debt over a set term, normally one, three or five years. Personal loans can therefore help you to budget because you know at the outset the full cost of your borrowings and how long they will take to clear.
For example, if you are getting married and the wedding is set to cost £7,500, you could take out a loan for £7,500 at 3% over three years. Your monthly payments would be fixed at £217.98 and you would pay total interest of £347.11 over the 36-month term.
Representative example: If you borrow £7,500, you would make 36 monthly repayments of £217.98. The total amount repayable is £7,847.11. Representative 3.0% APR, 3.0% (fixed) p.a.
If you have run up other debts at high rates of interest, a personal loan can be a good way to manage your borrowings and bring down the cost. Let’s say you have built up a debt of £3,000 on a store card that charges interest of 29%. You could take out a loan for £3,000 at, say, 9%, to pay off the store card balance and reduce the monthly payment. If you also cut up the store card, you would not be tempted to go on a spreading spree and add to your debt burden!
Interest rates on personal loans vary across the market, but as a rough rule of thumb, the more you borrow, the lower the rate. For example, you might pay interest of 9% on a £3,000 loan, but only 3% on a loan of £7,000. It can therefore make sense to borrow a larger amount, say £7,000 instead of £6,500. Just make sure you don’t take on a debt that you cannot afford to repay.
The size of the loan will to some extent determine the term of the loan. It is, for example, difficult to pay off a £7,000 loan in just one year as the monthly payments would be relatively high. However, if you borrow only £1,000, a term of 12 months is more manageable.
You also have to consider the cost implications of the loan term as the longer the term, the lower the monthly payments – but the higher the total cost.
The interest rates on personal loans depend partly on the loan amount and term. But lenders also assess your creditworthiness, usually by looking at your credit file.
The lowest rates are reserved for the best customers – that is, borrowers with a spotless credit record. If you are judged likely to default on the loan because of a poor credit history, you will be charged a higher rate of interest or your application will be turned down.
In other words, there is no guarantee that you will qualify for the advertised rates. Lenders are allowed to boast of low representative rates if those rates are charged to 51% of successful applicants, which means almost half could be charged a higher rate.
You can pay off your debt before the end of the loan term if you come into some cash. But watch out for early repayment fees. Many lenders levy a penalty for early repayment, which could wipe out any potential interest savings. Some lenders also charge arrangement fees for personal loans, which you should factor into your cost calculations.
You should try to work out how much you can afford to borrow and pay back before applying for a loan. This way you can look for loans in your borrowing range, giving yourself the best chance of being accepted as well as ensuring you don’t take on a loan that you can’t afford – you could even try MoneySuperMarket’s loan calculator for guidance.
Likewise it’s better to avoid taking out a loan without thinking carefully whether you need it, and whether the cost of the loan is worth what you’re taking it out for. For example, it’s probably not a good idea to take a loan out for everyday purchases – a credit card might be more suitable.
Interest free periods can be useful when you’re borrowing, but you should always keep an eye on how long this will last. Once the interest free period ends you may be moved on to a high rate instead, so it can be a good idea to pay off as much of your debt as you can during this interest free period.
Variable rate deals mean the interest rate at which you make repayments can change whenever the lender decides to change it – though often lenders will use the Bank of England base rate as a guideline. While this means that your repayments could be less if the base rate falls, they could also go up if the rate rises, so it could be a good idea to ensure you’ll be able to cope with interest rate fluctuations before taking out a variable rate loan.
Loan sharks should always be avoided – they’re illegal, not regulated by any financial organisations, and they generally charge massively high interest rates. What’s more, if you aren’t able to repay them you may be pressured into borrowing even more money, which could lead to a spiral of debt.
Payday loans may be legitimate, but they can come with incredibly high interest rates sometimes reaching over 1000% - which could make even a small loan turn into a debt spiral. Learn more with our guide to payday loans.
Every loan application you make, just like credit applications, leave a mark on your credit report. Too many of these will give lenders the impression that you are desperate to take out a loan, which could imply that you’re struggling to manage your finances – as a result, lenders may be more reluctant to let you borrow from them in the future.
Rather than making lots of applications and hoping one will stick, you may be better off running a soft check on your credit score to see what kinds of loans you’ll be eligible for. This way you can minimise your applications and reduce the chance of you damaging your credit.
Often with loans, the more you borrow the less interest you’ll end up paying. It can vary by lenders, but you should always check on the interest rate they charge as there might be a chance you actually pay less overall by choosing a bigger loan with a lower interest rate.
The best way to find the right deal on a loan is to shop around, and by comparing deals on MoneySuperMarket you’ll be able to browse a list tailored specifically for you. All you need to do is answer a few questions about the loan you need and you’ll be able to compare loans from a number of different providers by the rate you’ll pay back at as well as how likely you are to be accepted.
Bad credit doesn’t mean you won’t be able to get a loan, however it will make it harder to be approved. You can boost your credit score in a variety of ways, from making credit card payments on time to registering on the electoral roll. Read our guide to find out more about how you can boost your credit score.
You work hard to earn your money, and we don’t think you should waste a penny of it paying over the odds on your household bills. That’s why at MoneySuperMarket, we’re on a mission to save Britain money.
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You might be wondering if we work with all the companies in the market, or if our commercial relationships with our partners might make us feature one company above another. We’ve got nothing to hide, and we want to give you clear answers when it comes to questions like these, so we’ve pulled together everything you need to know on this page.