What Are Installment Loans, and How Do They Work?

Advertising Disclosure: When you buy something by clicking links on our site, we may earn a small commission, but it never affects the products or services we recommend.

Upset couple reviewing tax documents
fizkes / Shutterstock.com

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on The Penny Hoarder.

An installment loan is a lump sum of money that you borrow and then pay back in fixed intervals. Installment loans are often used to finance a major purchase, like a house, car, or boat, or to finance an education, though you can get an installment loan for practically any reason.

If you’re wondering what an installment loan is, you’ve come to the right place. Learn more about how installment loans work, the pros and cons, and how to get an installment loan.

What Is an Installment Loan?

A woman writes a check to pay bills
AVAVA / Shutterstock.com

An installment loan is a type of loan that lets you borrow money and repay it in equal monthly payments or according to another predetermined schedule. You pay back the principal loan amount, plus interest, in fixed monthly payments until you’ve paid back the loan.

Installment loans usually have a fixed interest rate that doesn’t change throughout the life of the loan. However, some installment loans, like private student loans, have a variable interest rate that can change while you’re paying back the loan.

Some installment loans also charge origination fees to process your application. Depending on the type of installment loan, you may owe prepayment fees if you pay off the loan early. But if you don’t make payments according to the repayment terms or you make late payments, you could incur additional fees and hurt your credit score.

Installment loans work differently than revolving credit, like a credit card. Revolving credit, like a credit card or a line of credit, allows you to borrow money and repay it over and over again, while you make payments on an installment loan until it’s paid off in full. Payday loans are also different from installment loans in that you repay a payday loan in a lump sum instead of fixed installments.

Types of Installment Loans

Woman reviewing credit card debt
bacho / Shutterstock.com

Installment loans can be secured loans, which means they’re backed by collateral, or unsecured loans, which aren’t backed by collateral. Mortgages and vehicle loans are two types of installment loans that are secured. Examples of unsecured installment loans include student loans, personal loans, and debt consolidation loans.

Mortgage Loans

Home in the Dallas-Forth Worth area
Trong Nguyen / Shutterstock.com

A mortgage loan is one of the most common types of installment loans that are used to purchase a house, condo, or land. Most mortgages are repaid at fixed interest rates over periods of 15 years or 30 years. Your home is the collateral on a mortgage, so if you fail to make payments, your lender can seize your property.

Vehicle Loans

Shady car salesman
Photographee.eu / Shutterstock.com

Car loans are also installment loans that are secured loans. Because your vehicle serves as the loan collateral, it can be repossessed if you don’t make car loan payments. Repayment terms typically range from 24 months to 84 months, with the most common being 72 months.

Student Loans

Teen girl with computer and money
ViDI Studio / Shutterstock.com

A student loan is an installment loan, whether you’re borrowing from the federal government or a private lender. The standard repayment term for a federal student loan is 10 years. Federal student loans have a fixed interest rate. For private student loans, the repayment terms vary by lender. Private student loan interest rates may be fixed or variable.

Personal Loans

Woman with surprise medical bill
Antonio Guillem / Shutterstock.com

A personal loan is a form of installment credit that you can take out for virtually any reason. You borrow a lump sum of money, then pay it off in regular intervals. Common reasons for taking out a personal loan include medical expenses, home improvement projects, debt consolidation, or paying for a wedding or vacation.

Debt Consolidation Loan

Debt Consolidation Loan
Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com

A debt consolidation loan is a personal loan that you use to combine multiple debts so you have one monthly payment, often at a lower interest rate. Because more of your monthly payment goes toward the principal balance, a debt consolidation loan can reduce the time it takes to pay off debt. APRs range from 6% to 36%, depending on your credit score.

Home Equity Loans

Homes in Las Vegas, Nevada
SoleilC / Shutterstock.com

A home equity loan, or second mortgage, is a type of secured loan that lets you borrow against your home equity. You pay it off at a fixed interest rate over a set schedule. It’s similar to a home equity line of credit (HELOC) in that both let you borrow against your home equity, however, a HELOC is a type of revolving credit that typically has a variable interest rate.

Buy Now, Pay Later Credit

Couple with a credit card
Prostock-studio / Shutterstock.com

Buy now, pay later services, like Klarna and AfterPay, offer a form of installment credit. You typically split the purchase price into four interest-free payments. The installment payments are billed to your debit card or credit card.

Installment Loan Pros

Happy woman finding out about tax refund or saving money on taxes
Have a nice day Photo / Shutterstock.com

Installment loans have several advantages and disadvantages you need to know about.

Here are the upsides:

  • Predictable payments. Personal loans have a fixed payment schedule and most have fixed interest rates. Because you know the amount of your monthly payments, you can work them into your budget.
  • Lower interest rates. Installment loans often have competitive interest rates that are much lower than credit card interest rates, particularly if you have good credit. The best installment loans have rates as low as 2.99% APR. That’s one reason installment loans are often a good choice for debt consolidation.
  • Allow you to finance major purchases. An installment loan is often the only way to borrow enough to finance a major purchase, like a home, car, or boat.
  • Less impact on your credit score. Taking out an installment loan hurts your credit score less compared to charging up a credit card or line of credit. Your credit utilization ratio, or the amount of open revolving credit you’re using, accounts for 30% of your credit score. You want your credit utilization to be as low as possible. Unlike revolving credit, installment credit doesn’t affect your utilization ratio.

Installment Loan Cons

Couple making a mortgage payment
fizkes / Shutterstock.com

And here are the downsides:

  • Risk of borrowing too much. Unlike a line of credit where you can borrow as much or as little as you want, with an installment loan, you have to decide how much to borrow upfront. This could lead you to borrow too much money.
  • Fees. Many installment loans have fees, such as origination fees, documentation fees, and prepayment fees that can add to the cost of borrowing. Missed payments can also lead to late fees and hurt your credit.
  • Risk of losing collateral. Many installment loans are secured loans, meaning they’re backed by collateral. A mortgage and car loan are two examples. If you don’t make payments, you could lose your collateral.

Get smarter with your money!

Want the best money-news and tips to help you make more and spend less? Then sign up for the free Money Talks Newsletter to receive daily updates of personal finance news and advice, delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our free newsletter today.