Ever since the pandemic, the market for used cars in India has grown significantly owing to their affordability. However, when planning their budget or comparing offers from different lenders, many people only consider the loan’s interest rate. But did you know there are numerous other fees associated with your loan as well? Few of these are mandatory to pay, while others arise only during unusual circumstances.
What is the APR for a used car loan?
The Annual Percentage Rate or APR refers to the actual cost of availing a used car loan. It represents the amount you are required to pay in addition to the original loan amount. APR is calculated after considering the interest rate and other fees associated with a
used car loan.
Used Car Loan Charges
The list of charges applied on a used (or pre-owned) car loan is quite extensive. However, we are only describing the ones that are very commonly applied by lenders.
Most of these charges are not mandatory for used car loans and are only applied under unusual circumstances. Accordingly, the charges have been categorized into mandatory and non-mandatory charges.
Mandatory charges for used car loans
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Processing Fees
This one is perhaps the most common type of fee and applies to almost every type of loan. A processing fee is charged to cover administrative and other costs incurred by your lender in processing your used car loan application. The processing fee for this loan is up to 3% of the loan amount requested, subject to minimum and maximum amounts specified by each lender. In case your loan is not processed because of forged documents, incorrect information, or other factors, the lender is not obligated to refund this amount.
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Valuation Charges
The loan amount for a used car loan is determined by the car’s current market value as per a range of factors. A few of these include insurance claims, dents on the car, engine condition, car-related documents, and a few more. If any of the preceding items are found to be unsatisfactory, your car will fetch less value.
Calculating the value of a used car is a complicated process, and your lender puts in a lot of effort to do so. As a result, they charge a valuation fee for the process, including GST.
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Documentation Fees
Your lender will also charge a documentation fee to cover the costs of verifying the various loan-related documents such as KYC, income proof, registration certificate, insurance papers, etc. This is charged at a flat rate plus GST and is non-refundable.