What Is an Installment Loan?

Susan Kelly Updated on Nov 25, 2023

Introduction


What is an instalment loan? An instalment loan is a typical credit product, and you may be carrying one on your own. It's a form of loan that permits you to take out a certain amount of money whenever you apply for loans. In contrast to other types of revolving credit like credit cards or an unsecured line of credit, you need to determine precisely how much you'll need before borrowing the money. After you've borrowed the money, you'll need to pay back the loan in instalments for a set time frame that you and the lender decide when you get the loan. It is common to pay the loan each month. The timings differ. The loan's term is when the borrower must repay the loan. Every payment is called an instalment; thus, it's known as the instalment loan.


How Does an Installment Loan Work?


When you apply for instalment loans, you instantly get the loan amount or the product you're buying. You repay it, often with interest, in regularly scheduled instalments, referred to as instalments. The typical instalment is the same amount for each instalment over a certain week, month or even year. After the loan has been fully repaid and the account closed for good. A different option instead of an instalment loan can be found as a revolving credit card, similar to credit cards. In contrast to instalment credit, it is a non-renewable credit. Therefore, it can be utilized and paid back repeatedly while the credit account is active and in good condition.


Applying for an Installment Loan


A person who wants to borrow the instalment loans must fill in an application to an institution, usually stating the reason for the loan, for instance, buying a vehicle. The lender talks with the borrower about a variety of choices regarding questions like the amount of down payment, the duration of the loan repayment timeframe, and the repayment amount.



Suppose someone would like to take out a loan of 5,000 USD in order to purchase a sports bike, for instance. In that case, the lender tells the borrower that an additional down payment may yield an interest rate or that the borrower may get lower monthly payments by using a loan with an extended period. The lender will also assess the creditworthiness of the person applying for credit to determine the amount of credit and terms of the loan the lender is prepared to provide. The borrower usually pays back the loan through necessary payments. Borrowers can typically save on interest costs by paying off the loan prior to the expiration of the time stipulated in the loan contract.


Advantages and Disadvantages


Flexible loans can be customized to meet the borrower's particular requirements concerning the loan amount and the duration that best suits the borrower's capacity to repay the loan. They allow the borrower to get financing at a significantly lower interest rate than is normally offered with revolving credit card financing, including credit cards. In this way, the person borrowing the money can keep it in reserve for other reasons instead of making a huge cash expenditure.


A drawback is that the consumer may have to pay for the fixed-interest loan higher than the market rate. The borrower could be capable of refinancing the loan with low interest. Another drawback associated with an instalment loan is that the borrower is locked into a lengthy financial obligation. In an emergency, it can render the borrower unable to make the scheduled payments, resulting in default and possibly the loss of any collateral utilized to guarantee the loan.



Drawbacks to Installment Loans


However, instalment loans do pose a problem. For example, when you get a loan, you cannot increase the amount you're required to borrow as you would with credit cards or lines of credit. Besides, you will have to get another loan to get additional funds. When looking for an instalment loan, ensure you know how much you'll have to get.


Another disadvantage of payday loans could be that your credit determines the interest rate and other loan terms. If you've experienced credit issues before and haven't had the best credit scores, you'll likely pay more interest than those with strong credit experiences. The higher interest rates will result in greater monthly payments and an overall cost of higher borrowing. If you can, try to enhance your credit rating prior to taking out the instalment loans.


In addition to interest, instalment loans could be accompanied by other charges and penalties. Several lenders demand you pay for credit checks and application fees, which add to the cost of your loan upfront. Sometimes, they also charge prepayment penalties, which force you to pay the penalty for repaying the loan early.