Search and compare car loans for temporary residents

Car loans for temporary residents are essentially the same as car loans for permanent residents, but with stricter lending criteria.

Before you start your loan application process, it’s a good idea to review the type of car loan that best suits you. Temporary residents, if eligible, can choose between a secured or unsecured car loan with either a fixed or variable interest rate.

Secured

Temporary residents are usually offered secured car loans, as these provide a higher level of security to the lender. Secured loans use the car being bought as collateral on the loan. This means that if the borrower defaults on their loan repayments, the lender can repossess the vehicle to cover their losses.

Unsecured

It is rare to find a credit provider that will provide an unsecured loan to a temporary resident. This is because an unsecured car loan represents a higher risk to the lender. If, however, you have been living in Australia for several years, own your own home and have a high income, some lenders might grant you an unsecured loan.

Fixed rate

Fixed rate car loans have a set interest rate that does not change over the length of the loan. Non-resident loans often have short loan terms, so fixed rates make it easier for the lender to calculate interest costs, and also easier for the borrower to budget for repayments.

Variable rate

Variable rate car loans can be available to non-residents, but this is not as common as with fixed rate loans. The interest rate charged might vary over the loan term. However, as temporary resident car loans often have short terms, this may not be the case.

Car loans for temporary residents represent a higher risk to the lender as you are in Australia temporarily. Even if you plan to stay for the long haul, the legal uncertainty of your residency can impact upon your car loan application.

The higher risk means lenders may apply stricter lending criteria compared to car loans for permanent residents. These criteria can vary from lender to lender, and are worth noting before you decide which car loan is best for you. Essentially, you need to prove you are a trustworthy and credible borrower.

Eligibility criteria will vary between lenders, but on the whole they will look at your:

Income stream

Many lenders will require you to earn at least $50,000 per year, from a regular income stream.

Australian credit rating

When applying for a loan, lenders will look at your credit rating in Australia only; overseas credit ratings will not be considered.

Visa length

Before you apply for a car loan, consider how long you have left on your visa. Car loan terms will usually be a minimum of two years, so if you have less than one year left on your visa, you probably will not qualify for a temporary resident car loan.

Visa type

If you’re on a student or working visa with a path to permanent residency, this could positively impact upon your application. However, if you are on a holiday or bridging visa with no expiry date, this could negatively impact on your application. If you’re unsure of your visa type, you can check your status on VEVO.

The good news is that if you have a bad credit rating overseas, Australian lenders will not consider this in assessing your loan eligibility. This means that if you have a good credit score in Australia, you may still be eligible for the loan.

However, if you have a bad credit rating in Australia, it will be more difficult for you to get approval for a car loan. Paying bills on time via direct debit or making monthly rental payments can help improve your credit rating and should be considered before applying for a car loan.

Remember that applying for multiple loans in a short amount of time or getting a negative credit rating will damage your overall credit score. This could affect your ability to get the car loan you desire. Applying for more money than you need is usually not a good idea either, as a higher amount will mean higher repayments and potentially higher interest and you may get knocked back if you can’t afford the repayments.

As of March 2018, the temporary work visa (457) was replaced with the temporary skill shortage visa (482). All temporary residents, regardless of whether you are on a 457 or 482 visa, will have their car loan applications assessed on their ability to repay the debt in the time they are expected to stay in Australia.

The process of applying for a car loan on a 457 or 482 visa is similar. While each lender has their own criteria, temporary residents will need to supply more documentation to prove their eligibility, and affordability tests are more stringent.

Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa holders who have been working in Australia with the same employer for three years may be eligible to apply for Permanent Residency through the Transitional (TRT) Stream. This path to permanent residency for temporary residents on a 482 visa may improve their chance of securing a car loan, however, this depends entirely upon the lender and their eligibility criteria.

A non-resident's ability to get a car loan will depend upon the lender’s criteria, their visa and financial situation. However, there are a few things non-residents can do to improve their chances of getting a car loan before beginning the application process.

Check visa expiry dates

Applying for a car loan when you have enough time left on your visa to account for a two to five-year loan term may improve your chances of approval. This is because the loan term for temporary residents always ends at least three months before your visa ends.

Proof of Australian residence

If you can prove that you are renting, or even own an Australian residence, you may have a greater chance of receiving approval on a car loan. Paying monthly rent and expenses from a savings account and providing bank statements to the lender is a great way to prove that you can meet loan repayments.

Do not breach your visa requirements

Working visas often come with certain requirements, such as restricting working hours and choice of employers. Many non-residents can only work with one employer, for a certain number of hours per week. If you breach your visa by either working more hours than stipulated or having multiple jobs, you may not be denied a car loan.

Save a cash deposit

Cash savings put borrowers in good stead when applying for car loans, especially when a deposit is needed and you must prove you earned it. If you can prove that these savings have been held in an Australian bank account, as a result of receiving regular, stable income, this will put you in a better position to get your car loan approved.

Prove regular, stable income

If you receive a steady income in an Australian bank account, you may increase your chance of loan approval. Many lenders look for income earners over $50,000 per year, who earn regular income. Seasonal income, regardless of whether it amounts to a larger amount, is often viewed less favourably than continuous, regular income.

Say for instance Lee is a temporary resident from Canada, and he is on a 457 visa that expires in six months.

His friend, Anna, is also a temporary resident from Canada, but she is on the 482 TSS visa that expires in four years. Lee will need a lender to agree to a car loan term of three months, which is highly unlikely.

If Anna can prove she is a reliable candidate, she has a greater chance of approval as the lender can offer her a loan term of up to three years and nine months.

Before you decide which car loan is best for you, it’s important to compare the different car loans available on the following features:

Loan term

The loan term on a temporary resident car loan is usually restricted to ending no less than three months before the expiry date on your visa. As loan terms are often around two to three years, it can add up to high monthly repayments. Make sure you calculate your car loan repayments to ensure you can afford them.

Hidden fees

After you have reviewed the repayment amounts, you need to dig a little deeper into each car loan you consider. Many fees for car loans - including application fees and ongoing monthly or annual fees - are hidden. Make sure you read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and any other documents before you agree to a car loan.

Flexibility

Another key feature to look at when comparing car loans for temporary residents is their flexibility. If you manage to secure extra funds, potentially as a gift or at tax time, you may want to pay off your car loan quicker than agreed. Some lenders charge early exit fees when borrowers repay their loan early, to recoup the interest you would have paid if you made repayments over the agreed loan term. Before you sign anything, make sure you read the fine print and check if you will be charged any fees for early exit or extra repayments.

Lender reviews and reputation

Once you compare the fees, term and flexibility of the loan, and you have a few options in mind, the next thing to do is a little online research. Search for consumer reviews about the lender and the specific loan you want to apply for. You can do this by searching for [Loan Name] [Lender Name] Customer Reviews. Look out for third party review sites that are subjective, and not just the reviews the lender shows on their website. If the loan looks too good to be true, it probably is.