How do I get a Quick cash loan online?
Emergencies and cash flow shortages happen to the best of us. While it may be relatively easy to get a quick cash loan in Australia – you need to be mindful of unhealthy debt cycles.
We’ll take look at the various options you have when you've found yourself in a bit of a pickle – from using a credit card to taking out a payday loan, let's get the ball rolling!
Are quick loans legit?
Absolutely. Quick loans are as legit as regular personal loans and are offered by banks, credit unions, and a range of online lenders. You simply pay for the speed and convenience in the form of higher loan costs.
What can quick loans be used for?
Perhaps you want to consolidate very small, high-interest debts or need to make a certain retail purchase, buy a plane ticket, or pay for a minor medical procedure. All these can be accomplished by using a quick loan.
Quick loans are also ideal for getting a cash emergency situation under control. This could take the form of an urgent dental procedure, vehicle repairs, or groceries.
Where can I get a quick loan?
Quick loans are available from just about every lender on the market. From major banks, credit unions, and boutique lenders to popular retailers, and alternative providers.
Each of these lenders will have its own lending criteria, terms, and rates but all providers must abide by the rules and legislated caps as per the ASIC.
Cost of quick loans
Quick loans come at a huge cost; apart from carrying unbelievable high interest, if you don’t repay the loan as and when agreed, you’ll pay hefty penalties that will certainly worsen any financial woes that made you take out a loan in the first place.
You must also be aware that some payday loans are simply more expensive than others – compare a few offers before clicking on the submit button, it will make a huge difference.
Caps on loans between $70 and $2,000
- An establishment fee (once-off) of a maximum of 20% of your loan amount
- A management fee charged months of no more than 4% of your loan amount
- Government fees
- A maximum of 200% of your loan amount in the event of default
- Enforcement expenses as incurred by the lender
How long will I wait for loan approval?
Another reason that this is such a popular option amongst Australians is that it’s almost instant. All you have to do is fill out a simple loan application and you’ll be approved within the hour.
If you're lucky enough to have a provisional offer available with your regular bank, you can access credit instantly. Credit cards and overdrafts are revolving lines of credit that are also available instantly.
Types of quick loans available
Quick loans do not have a set definition and can include any type of loan that you can apply for and get in a couple of hours (or even minutes!).
That said, they're usually unsecured and offer between $70 and $5,000 with loans terms of between 16 days and 12 months. Some refer to them as payday loans, others as short-term loans.
Quick loans can take the form of either an unsecured or secured loan – the former being slightly more popular due to the fact that you do not have to put up collateral to secure it and it can be approved in minutes.
It may be worth mentioning that a secured loan will generally offer you more money at better rates than an unsecured loan. This is because the lender takes on a greater degree of risk by borrowing you money without any guarantee that they’ll be able to recover it in the event that you default.
Payday loans
This is the most popular option for people with bad credit since the only guarantee you need to give the lender is that your next paycheck will be enough to pay the loan.
The amount that can be borrowed will depend on your monthly income. Loans can vary from $70 to $2,000 - a fairly decent amount that can, in most cases, cover a financial emergency and tide you over for the month.
Logbooks loans
A logbook loan or title loan requires you to give up ownership of an asset (your car) in exchange for a loan. This generally takes the form of giving up the title to your vehicle in exchange for a very expensive, very non-flexible loan and lenders will not borrow you more than half the market value of your vehicle. If you don’t make the repayments you’ll end up losing the asset.
The majority of people who opt for a logbook loan have very poor credit and simply can’t find another way of borrowing money. This is because most logbook lenders do minimal–to–no credit checks and this more often than not, ends up putting them in even more serious and devastating financial circumstances. Consider any and all other options before this one.
Apart from a super high APR, you'll lose your vehicle if you don’t make the agreed repayments. Another way that you can get your hands on some cash fast is to pawn a valuable item at a pawnbroker. You may never get the actual value of the item but most movables are fairly disposable and one can certainly survive without them.
Credit cards
If you haven’t reached or exceeded your credit card limit, you can easily solve your cash flow problems by using your credit card. This is a suitable option if you don’t need a large sum of money.
You'll have to pay a certain percentage of the total amount that you use which would have been explicitly specified along with your limit when you accepted the credit card offer.
The benefit of using a credit card rather than taking out a quick loan is the relatively low interest and flexible repayment options when compared to other quick loan options. Perhaps the most notable benefit is that you’ll have instant access to funds – a luxury that only a credit card can offer.
If you manage your spending correctly and have the determination to make sure your debt doesn’t get out of control you may also consider using a balance transfer credit card to avoid having to pay any interest at all.
Alternatives to taking out a quick loan?
There are many alternatives to taking out a quick loan. One of the best would be arranging a salary advance with your employer. You can get the quick cash you need without having to pay any interest, penalty fees, or even worry about repaying the loan.
Most employers would be willing to allow this provided that you don’t abuse this facility by asking for an advance too often. If your employer isn’t willing to help you out then consider borrowing some money from a family member or friend, they also won’t be charging you any interest (unless you explicitly agree to do so).
You could also consider selling some items that you no longer need or want in order to avoid taking out a loan or borrowing money from those around you.
How to get a quick loan with bad credit
If you have bad credit you may struggle to get approved for an unsecured, short-term loan from traditional lenders. There are, however, many lenders who offer bad credit loans with reasonable repayment terms.
You can make your life a lot easier by using a loan comparison website or broker to help you identify the ideal loan provider for your unique set of circumstances.
Are you eligible for a quick loan?
- You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- You must be 18 years or older
- You must be employed and have a stable income (Centrelink benefices can apply too)
- You must be able to demonstrate reasonable affordability (based on your income and expenses)
What you need to apply
- An ID (a passport or Medicare card)
- Proof of income in the form of your most recent payslips
- 3 month's worth of bank statements
- A utility bill as proof of address
How do I apply for a quick loan online?
Applying for a loan with your regular bank is one of the first options you should consider. You may already have provisional approval, in which case you can simply accept the offer.
If no provisional offer is available and you're not heavily in debt and have a good track record with your banking institution you could have a loan within a few hours.
For those looking for an alternative to traditional bank loans, you have an array of boutique lenders ready to provide you with a quick, affordable loan. All you need to do is review the below list of lenders, choose your ideal loan, and hit apply!