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Many people take out car loans to help cover the upfront costs of buying a new or used vehicle. Like home loans and personal loans, car loan interest rates can fluctuate with market conditions, making it crucial to stay informed about current trends.
After two years of RBA cash rate movements and rate rises, things have finally started to settle, with the Australian cash rate remaining unchanged since November 2023.
While car loan interest rates have remained relatively calm since the Australian cash rate began to stabilise, it’s worth noting that they aren’t always directly influenced by the cash rate. Nevertheless, researching and comparing products is imperative if you want a competitive car loan deal.
Mozo collects data on hundreds of car loans to make comparing your options and finding a loan to suit your needs a little easier. Here’s how car loan interest rates are looking this month:
As we move towards the end of the financial year, we often see more Australians taking out car loans to buy new or used vehicles. However, after two years of cash rate hikes and the rising cost of living, we’ve seen a slight decline in the number of people taking out car loans.
The latest ABS lending statistics reported a 2.7% drop in new loan commitments for road vehicles in February 2024 – quite a change from the 5.7% increase in January 2024.
In terms of car loan interest rates, there were several different product changes this month.
Community First Bank increased both its fixed and variable Car Loans by 30 basis points, bringing them up to 6.29% p.a. (7.35% p.a. comparison rate*). Its Green Car Loan also saw a 35 basis point increase, with its fixed and variable rates now sitting at 5.89% p.a. (6.95% p.a. comparison rate*).
Additionally, Gateway Bank increased its variable-rate Car Loan by 65 basis points to 7.69% p.a. (7.90% p.a. comparison rate*).
Loans.com.au’s fixed Clean Green Car Loan rates went up by 40 basis points, with rates now starting from 6.49% p.a. (7.61% p.a. comparison rate*). The lender dropped its New Car Loan Special rate by 10 basis points, now starting from 6.99% p.a. (8.11% p.a. comparison rate*), and took 40 basis points off its Used Car Loan rate, with rates now available from 7.69% p.a. (8.80% p.a. comparison rate*).
Unity Bank added 25 basis points to its fixed-rate secured Car Loan, which now sits at 7.44% p.a. (7.79% p.a. comparison rate*). Interestingly, Macquarie Bank has pulled its Car Loan product off the market altogether to focus on its home loan and deposit products.
Despite these recent changes, there are still lots of competitive car loan products available in the Mozo database.
These are the lowest car loan interest rates in the Mozo database at the time of writing:
To find out how interest rates are tracking in other banking products, check out our snapshots for home loan interest rates, personal loan interest rates, savings account interest rates or term deposit interest rates.
Fixed, Secured, No vehicle age limit
Get a competitive fixed interest rate on a secured used car loan of up to $75,000 depending on your credit score. No vehicle age limits. Easy online application. Fast pre-approval. Pre-approved funds held for up to 3 months. No monthly account keeping fees, no exit fees and no early repayment fees. Flexible weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments on terms from 1 to 7 years.
Repayment terms from 1 year to 7 years. Representative example: a 5 year $30,000 loan at 6.57% would cost $35,528.12 including fees.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the OurMoneyMarket Used Car Loan
Your selected car loans
Fixed, Secured
Get a competitive fixed interest rate on a secured new car loan of up to $75,000 depending on your credit score. Easy online application. Fast pre-approval. Pre-approved funds held for up to 3 months. No monthly account keeping fees, no exit fees and no early repayment fees. Flexible weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments on terms from 1 to 7 years.
Repayment terms from 1 year to 7 years. Representative example: a 5 year $30,000 loan at 6.57% would cost $35,528.12 including fees.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the OurMoneyMarket New Car Loan
Your selected car loans
Home Owner Discount, Including Demo, Variable, Secured
Low variable car loan rate for purchasing new and demo vehicles from dealers. Personalised loan amounts between $5,000 and $150,000. Flexible repayment options. Choose between the 3 to 7 year loan terms. Good credit history. Stable employment history and Australian citizenship or PR required.
Repayment terms from 3 years to 7 years. Representative example: a 5 year $30,000 loan at 6.24% would cost $35,880.27 including fees.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the loans.com.au New Car Loan - Special
Your selected car loans
Variable, Secured
Repayment terms from 1 year to 7 years. Representative example: a 5 year $30,000 loan at 10.69% would cost $39,053.66 including fees.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the MOVE Bank Any Age Car Loan
Your selected car loans
Variable, Secured
Repayment terms from 1 year to 6 years. Representative example: a 3 year $10,000 loan at 8.99% would cost $11,546.23 including fees.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Teachers Mutual Bank Car Loan
Your selected car loans
Mozo has partnered with one of Australia’s leading car finance brokers, Fido Finance, to help you find a car loan match.
Sound good? To get started, simply provide a few details on what you’re looking for and Fido Finance can help you lock in a great car loan rate.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Car loans Awards
Mozo provides general product information. We don't consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and we aren't recommending any specific product to you. You should make your own decision after reading the PDS or offer documentation, or seeking independent advice.
While we pride ourselves on covering a wide range of products, we don't cover every product in the market. If you decide to apply for a product through our website, you will be dealing directly with the provider of that product and not with Mozo.
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Car loan interest rates are set by the lender, but they are based on the official cash rate set by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).
Each month, on the first Tuesday (except January), the RBA meets and announces whether they have increased, decreased or kept the official cash rate steady. Changes to the rate may be a result of things like inflation, employment stats, economic growth and spending. Simply put, higher rates slow borrowing, economic activity and inflation, while lower rates encourage them.
Australia's lenders generally make changes to their loan products after an RBA announcement.
Like other loan products, car loans come with either a fixed or variable interest rate. Ultimately, the type of interest rate you choose can impact what you pay each repayment period. There are pros and cons to each option, so here's a breakdown of how they work.
A fixed rate car loan is where you receive the same interest rate over the entire life of the loan term. Essentially, if you stick to your regular repayments, you will pay exactly the same amount to your lender each payment cycle. Plus, if interest rates spike during your loan period, your loan won't be affected as you've locked in your lower rate.
The downfall of fixed interest rates is that you won't benefit from any market changes if rates are reduced. Some lenders also charge early repayment penalties on fixed rate car loans - meaning if you pay off your entire loan in full before your loan term is up, you could face a hefty fee.
The other option is a variable rate car loan. Unlike a fixed car loan, a variable interest rate can go up or down during your loan term, typically in line with benchmark interest rates set by the Reserve Bank Of Australia. On the one hand this could work in your favour, but on the flip side, it could end up costing you more if the rate goes up.
There is one solid benefit of a variable rate car loan though, you rarely will pay an early repayment penalty if you square things away ahead of time. So if you plan to throw a little extra cash towards your car loan, and don't mind the risk of a rate spike, a variable loan may be the option for you.
The truth is the interest rate on your car loan is unlikely to be the only cost you face. There may be a range of other additional fees and charges that you need to factor in. This is where the comparison rate comes in.
According to the National Credit Code, Australian lenders must display comparison rates when advertising loan products. The comparison rate incorporates things like the interest rate, fees and charges, so that you, the customer, has a more rounded view of what the loan is going to cost. Make sure you check the comparison rate on a car loan before applying, it may be a lot higher than the headline rate.
If you'd like to compare the difference between a fixed or variable interest rate car loan, check out our car loan comparison calculator.
Your car loan repayments and how much you pay in interest depends on a few things, like the rate you receive, how often you make repayments and the length of your loan term. In short, your repayments are split between paying down your principal (what you borrowed) and paying back interest (what the bank charges).
When you first take out the loan, a larger portion of your repayment will go towards paying interest. As the principal on your loan lessens so does the amount of interest you pay on it. This means towards the end of your loan term, the majority of your repayment will go towards your principal rather than interest.
If you want to figure out how much your car loan might cost you each week, fortnight or month, crunch the numbers with our car loan repayments calculator.
When it comes to the best car loan interest rate, there are plenty of options for you to choose from as most banks and lenders in Australia will have a car loan option. So, it's a good idea to do some research, shop around and find the right rate for your budget.
Here are Mozo we have a range of great tools that can help you find a car loan to suit you:
Don't forget there's also a bunch of general interest rate guides, with all you need to know about how they work across all loan products.
A car loan comparison rate is designed to give consumers a more accurate idea of how much the loan will cost. Not only does it consider the headline rate, but it also takes into consideration any upfront and ongoing charges you may face over the life of the loan. So remember, when comparing car loan interest rates, always refer to the comparison rate when weighing up your loan options.
There is no right or wrong when it comes to choosing either a fixed or variable interest rate car loan, it all depends on your financial situation. See above for breakdown of fixed versus variable rates.
Along with a competitive interest rate, you'll want to find a loan that also comes with flexible repayment features and options. Some of these include free extra repayments, redraws, repayment schedule options (weekly, fortnightly or monthly) and a range of loan terms.
Also remember to keep the fees to a minimum. Avoid forking out too much on charges like application fees, monthly service fees, exit fees or early repayment penalties.
Risk-based pricing refers to a tiered interest rate system, whereby a car loan lender offers a customer a particular rate based on their credit score. Ultimately, interest rates are calculated depending on how much risk a potential borrower poses to the lender (whether they are likely to default on their loan or not).
Rather than offering a "one size fits all" standard rate, risk-based car loan lenders advertise a minimum and maximum interest rate. Based on the customer's data, the lender can offer a rate that sits anywhere between those two numbers. For those with a good credit history (that are "low-risk") will be offered a lower rate, while those with a poor credit rating ("high-risk") receive higher rates.
In some cases, risk-based pricing can be determined by the loan term a customer selects. For example, those choosing a 2-year term may get a lower rate than those that choose a 5-year term. However, this mode of pricing is much less common than that based on credit history.
While car loan lenders may not promote the fact, it is possible to negotiate your car loan rate. Remember, the deal you are offered upfront from a lender may not be the best they can do. So, why not ask?
At the end of the day some lenders would rather take a small decrease in interest payments over losing you as a customer all together.
When taking out a car loan, you ultimately want to pay as little in interest as you can. So, here are some ways to avoid forking out too much in interest:
Your selected car loans