Toyota, like many brands, has an in-house finance offering that helps buyers organise car loans for their new cars. There are a number of options, including the Toyota Access car loan with its 'Guaranteed Future Value' agreement.

However, dealer finance tends to be relatively expensive for buyers. Typically, you get convenience in exchange for higher interest rates, higher fees or both.

To get around this, there are three other ways that buyers can typically organise a Toyota car loan:

1. Use a comparison website, such as RateCity, to research options
2. Appoint a finance broker to act on their behalf
3. Go direct-to-lender

If you decide to take your car loan search into your own hands and make a comprehensive comparison, RateCity's comparison tools can take the hassle out of shopping around. Our car loan comparison tables allow you to use filters to narrow down your search to the loan products that best suit your needs, while our car loan calculator can give you a repayment estimate.

You might also like to consider checking out RateCity's car loan leaderboard, which features the top-rated new, used and green car loans offered by a wide range of lenders.

Toyota has the highest market share of any car brand in Australia, partly because it offers a wide range of vehicles that could potentially interest any mainstream car owner.

For example, Toyota sells a variety of models – hybrids, SUVs, vans, utes, sedans, hatchbacks and 4WDs – that might appeal to drivers who want a basic, stylish, family, adventure or eco-friendly car.

Popular models include:

• Camry SL (from $45,504), a sedan with sport, eco and normal driver modes, available in hybrid and petrol
• C-HR (from $34,657), a hatchback with ‘active cruise control’ and ‘smart parking’
• Corolla Hatch Ascent Sport (from $31,034), a hatchback with a 1.8L hybrid engine
• HiLux WorkMate (from $29,850), a ute with ‘hill-start assist control’ to prevent rollback
• Landcruiser 70 WorkMate (from $73,294), a vehicle with a 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel engine
• Kluger GX (from $49,208), an SUV with a braked towing capacity of 2,000kg
• Prius (from $42,328), a sedan that combines petrol and electric power
• RAV4 GX (from $36,487), an SUV with two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options
• Yaris Ascent Sport (from $25,551), a hatchback that comes in automatic or manual

Keep in mind, prices tend to vary depending on location. Toyota’s Australian headquarters is located in Melbourne, and it also has sites in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin and Townsville. Toyota also has more than 300 local dealerships, scattered throughout all eight states and territories.

Besides selling a wide range of vehicles, Toyota offers financing, insurance and maintenance. Warranties for new vehicles last for three years or 100,000 kilometres – whichever occurs first.

Vehicle information and pricing last updated in February 2019

When comparing Toyota car finance options, there are a number of factors to consider, including the following:

Interest rate - Comparing interest rates on different loan products is a great place to start, but be sure to also factor in fees to get a true understanding of the cost of the loan.

Fixed interest rate vs variable interest rate -Fixed rate car loans tend to provide more certainty, while variable rates can fluctuate with the market.

Comparison rate - It's worth looking at comparison rates, as they include the interest rate plus standard fees.

Fees - Some of the fees you may be charged include application fees, establishment fees, extra repayment fees and other ongoing monthly fees.

Loan term - A longer loan term will generally mean lower monthly repayments, but more money spent on interest charges over the life of the loan.

Features - Check if the loan product you're considering offers the features you are looking for. If, for example, you want the flexibility to make additional repayments when you have some cash spare, you might want to choose a loan that offers unlimited extra repayments.

As with most personal finance products, the lender that is offering the loan will check your credit file before deciding whether to approve your application. Your credit score provides the lender with insight into your credit behaviours, and will allow them to determine the level of risk you may present as a borrower. 

Borrowers with good-to-excellent credit scores are generally considered lower risk than borrowers who have average-to-poor credit scores. As such, borrowers with higher credit scores are often rewarded with more competitive interest rates, and a higher chance of approval.

If your credit score is average at best, it may be worth putting some work into improving it before you apply for a car loan in order to minimise the risk of having your application rejected.

For a free credit check that won't affect your credit score, consider visiting RateCity's credit score hub.

There are several different types of financing options available, each of which meet specific requirements, including:

• Unsecured Car Loans: Car finance that doesn't require you to provide collateral.
• Secured Car Loans: Car finance that does require you to provide collateral, typically the car itself.
• Balloon payment: A finance schedule agreement in which car loan repayments are divided up so that they begin smaller, with the borrower paying a larger portion of the loan (say 25 per cent of it) at the end of the loan term.
• Chattel Mortgage: A specialist car finance option for business use.
• Operating Lease: More like a long-term car rental arrangement, involving a company leasing a car for an extended period.
• Commercial Hire Purchase: Closer to a rent-to-buy arrangement, generally involving a finance company buying a car on your behalf and letting you use it in return for regular rental payments. After several payments, you may own the car.
• Car Lease: Similar to a commercial hire purchase, but with more options. You rent the vehicle for a set period, and at the end of the lease you either return the car or buy it.
• Novated Lease: Like a car lease, but with a more complicated ownership structure, as you acquire the car from a second party (usually an employer) who leases it from a third party (a finance provider).
• Green Car Loans: Car finance for buying an electric, hybrid, or fuel-efficient vehicle. Toyota has a number of eligible cars in their fleet, including the Prius and the RAV4 Hybrid.

The total cost of your Toyota car loan will depend on the purchase price of the specific car you want to buy, as well as the interest rate you're offered and any upfront or ongoing fees payable.

When you're shopping for a new Toyota, it's important to consider the cost of your preferred vehicle and how it might work with your budget. Toyota has a fleet of vehicles at different price points to suit a variety of buyers' needs.

Once you have an idea of how much your new Toyota might cost you, you might like to consider using RateCity's car loan calculator to get a repayment estimate based on your preferred loan amount, interest rate, loan term and credit score. It can also calculate the total interest payable over the life of the loan, as well as the total cost of the loan.

The amount you may be approved to borrow for the purchase of a Toyota vehicle is determined by your personal financial situation and the lender's eligibility criteria. The following factors will generally be assessed along with your application: 

• Your income - How much you earn and your employment status.
• Your savings - This may include any amount you wish to put down as a deposit.
• Your credit score - This will allow lenders to determine the level of risk you may pose.
• Lending criteria - Lenders often have lower and upper limits to how much you can borrow.

What this means is that if you want, say, a $40,000 car loan to fund the purchase of your preferred Toyota vehicle, it's not guaranteed that you'll qualify for one, regardless of which financing option you choose. 

As a general rule, buyers who have higher salaries, higher savings rates and longer-term full-time employment may be able to get bigger loans than buyers who have lower salaries, lower savings rates and less stable employment. Your credit score can also affect how much you might qualify for, as well as the interest rate you may be offered.

Applying for a car loan to buy a Toyota vehicle can be a fairly easy process if you do your due diligence and are well prepared. Here are six steps to guide you through the car loan application process:

1. Check your credit score: You can do this for free by visiting RateCity's credit score hub. It's a soft credit check, so it won't affect your credit score. Knowing what your credit score is can give you a better idea of the interest rates you might qualify for.
2. Make a comparison: RateCity allows you to easily compare a wide range of car loan options from a great selection of lenders, so you can find one that best suits your individual needs.
3. Assess your budget: Use our car loan calculator to get an estimate of the total cost of the loan repayments based on your preferred loan amount. This could put you in a better position to make an informed decision.
4. Check the lending criteria: Once you have compiled a shortlist of potential car loans, check to see whether you meet all the eligibility requirements. Keep in mind that these can differ from one lender to the next. Consider reaching out to the lender if you're unsure about anything.
5. Prepare your application: Once you've used RateCity's comparison table to compare your options, you can click directly through to the lender's website where you can apply online for your preferred car loan.
6. Submit your application and await a decision: After you submit the information required, you may receive an instant response from the lender with an update of your application status, or this may take a little longer. Car loan approvals can happen in as little as a few hours to as long as several days.

Before you submit a vehicle loan application, it's important to read the product disclosure statement (PDS) of your preferred loan product including any disclaimers that may be listed.

For information specific to your personal circumstances, consider speaking to a financial adviser or car loan broker.