What Do You Need to Know About Applying for an Installment Loan?

Learn what documents are needed when applying for an installment loan and understand all of your options before making a decision.

What Do You Need to Know About Applying for an Installment Loan?

Common things you'll need to apply for an installment loan include bank statements, identification, personal banking information, social security number, proof of income, and possibly other personal or financial information.

Installment loans

come in many different shapes and sizes. To understand what you need to apply for an installment loan, it is important to learn more about the requirements and apply for a loan online. The loan details presented here are current as of the publication date, but you should check lender websites for more up-to-date information.

The installment loan lenders listed here are selected based on factors such as APR, loan amounts, fees, and credit requirements. Unfortunately, installment loans can have their downsides. There are different types of installment loans, and they can be secured or unsecured. This refers to whether you need an asset, or “collateral,” that could be used to repay the loan if you can't.

The interest rate, repayment period, charges and penalties for each loan may be different. So whatever you're looking for in the market, it's a good idea to go shopping. Applying for an installment loan often requires a rigorous credit check, which can temporarily lower your credit score by a few points. Many installment loans come with fixed payments, meaning that the amount the borrower pays to finance the loan doesn't change over the life of the loan.

Finding an installment loan with the best rates depends largely on factors such as your credit and your finances. Qualifying for an installment loan can be a short-term solution to cover emergency expenses or budget deficits, depending on your credit rating and overall financial situation. To read more about the top-rated offers, check out WalletHub's full review of the best installment loans. After you borrow the funds, you will need to repay the installment loan for a fixed period, which you and the lender will determine when you apply for the loan.

Examples of installment loans include mortgage mortgage loansA mortgage is a loan, granted by a mortgage lender or a bank, that allows a person to buy a house. Before you apply, consider a joint or jointly signed installment loan or secure an unsecured loan with collateral. This page focuses on personal loans because they are what is most commonly associated with the term “installment loan”. Auto loans are generally repaid in monthly installments in a range of 12 to 96 months, although not all lenders issue loans with terms within that range.

An installment loan refers to business and personal loans that extend to borrowers and require regular payments. To apply for an installment loan, you'll need to provide government-issued identification, proof of income, checking account, and social security number verification. Compared to payday loans, installment loans offer longer personal loans, ranging from 3 to 24 months, and are available both in-store and online, depending on your state. Installment loans give you a lump sum of money through a bank transfer or paper check and then require you to make payments at regular intervals until the amount borrowed is repaid in full, with interest.

In addition to mortgage loans, which are variable-rate loans, most installment loans are fixed-rate loans. When considering applying for an installment loan it is important to understand all of your options and what is required from you as a borrower. Knowing what documents are needed ahead of time can help make the process smoother and faster.