Search and compare car loans across South Australia

Hit the road running with a South Australian car loan. Whether you’re looking for a hatchback to get you from Adelaide to McLaren Vale, a 4WD to handle the conditions up to Cooper Pedy, or a motorbike to cruise from Echunga to Strathalbyn, it's worth comparing car finance options that suit your budget and road trip goals.

If you’re hoping to buy a new car or used car in Adelaide, or anywhere in South Australia, there are a range of Australian car loan lenders offering financing options that may suit your financial needs and budget. Start your comparison today to find the best car loan for you.

Despite what you've been told, there's more to a car loan than searching for a low rate. A lower interest rate doesn't always mean a cheaper car loan. If the car loan has high ongoing fees, it will increase the cost of the loan over time. Whereas a high interest rate car loan with low or no ongoing fees may work out to be more affordable.

Before you hop in the driver's seat, you'll want to make sure you're comparing all factors of a car loan before considering a loan application. Key car loan factors and features to compare include:

• Interest rate. The interest charged by a lender on the principal of the loan. While not the only factor worth looking at, it's still important to compare car loans via interest rate, as it significantly impacts the total cost of the loan.
• Comparison rate. A type of interest rate that provides a more "realistic" view of the cost of a car loan, and takes into consideration ongoing fees - based on a 5-year, $20,000 loan.
• Fees. You may be charged one or more fees by a car loan provider, including upfront fees, application fees, annual fees and more.
• Interest rate type. You may need to choose between a car loan with a variable rate, in which the rate may fluctuate with market conditions, or a fixed rate loan, in which the rate will remain unchanged for a set period of time.
• Secured or unsecured.  As a car loan is a type of personal loan, it must either be secured against an asset (the vehicle), or you may opt for an unsecured personal loan. By offering up the car as collateral against the loan, you lower the level of risk to the lender that you may default. Because of this, secured car loans tend to have lower interest rates on average, compared to unsecured loans.
• Loan repayment type. Choose between making weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments on your car loan, depending on your financial situation and budget.
• Loan term. A car loan term refers to the length of time you must make repayments the loan plus interest. A short-term car loan may be 1-4 years, and a long-term car loan may be 5-years or more. The longer your loan term, the more total interest you may pay on top of your original loan amount. 
• Vehicle status. Your vehicle status may also impact the car loan you choose. It can be easier to find financing options for new cars, but as they're more expensive, choosing a new vehicle may mean taking on a bigger car loan. Whereas used vehicles may be more affordable, but there may be fewer financing options depending on the age of the vehicle. Also, some car loan lenders may define new cars as being up to 2-years old, so keep this in mind.
• Car loan lender. Much like when you work with a broker to get a home loan, South Australian car dealerships may have pre-relationships with specific lenders. This has its advantages and disadvantages, as obtaining finance from a car dealership may be more convenient, especially if you can get pre-approval or full approval for a car loan then and there. But, you may miss out on nabbing a potentially better deal by shopping around and comparing your car loan lender options, whether from a big four bank, credit union or online lender.

As with any credit product application, you’ll still need to meet strict lending criteria set by a car loan lender, including:

• Being 18 years or older
• Being an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Meeting minimum income requirements
• Being employed in one role for a minimum amount of time
• Having a good to excellent credit score

Whether you prefer face-to-face banking or online applications, each car loan provider will have its own eligibility criteria, so it's worth reviewing this before applying. 

Disclaimer: Keep in mind that having a bad credit score or no credit history doesn't necessarily mean you'll be rejected for a car loan in South Australia. Learn more about your bad credit car loan options here.

It's not just interest rates and fees you'll need to factor into your car loan budget. When searching for your South Australian car loan, it's worth calculating how all the costs of car ownership may impact your personal finances, including:

• Car insurance
• Stamp duty
• Registration
• Petrol costs
• Regular services, maintenance and repairs
• Road tolls