The Pros And Cons Of Paying Off Loans Early (2024)

FAQs

Is there a downside to paying off a loan early? ›

Paying off the loan early can put you in a situation where you must pay a prepayment penalty, potentially undoing any money you'd save on interest, and it can also impact your credit history.

The drawbacks of loan prepayment include: Prepayment penalty: There's a possibility of incurring a fee for settling the loan ahead of schedule. Reduced credit history: Early repayment may lead to a shorter credit history, which could have a slight, short-term impact on your credit score.

In some cases, it's possible to see a drop in your credit score after you've paid off a loan. This isn't due to a conspiracy to keep you in debt, though. Remember, credit scores are designed to predict risk, particularly the risk of a potential borrower defaulting on a debt.

While paying off your debts often helps improve your credit scores, this isn't always the case. It's possible that you could see your credit scores drop after fulfilling your payment obligations on a loan or credit card debt. However, that doesn't mean you should ignore what you owe.

Some lenders may charge a prepayment penalty of up to 2% of the loan's outstanding balance if you decide to pay off your loan ahead of schedule. Additionally, paying off your loan early will strip you of some of the credit benefits that come with making on-time monthly payments.

Credit scores are calculated using a specific formula and indicate how likely you are to pay back a loan on time. But while paying off debt is a good thing, it may lower your credit score if it changes your credit mix, credit utilization or average account age.

For personal loans and car finance, early repayment can be an effective way to save some expense if your loan has more than 12 months left of its term. For terms with under 12 months remaining, the amount you have left to pay back in interest might be less than the early repayment charge.

If you find you have a bit more money in your account you might decide to repay your loan early. This could mean you end up paying back less in interest in the long term. It's important to remember that if you repay your loan early, you will be charged an Early Repayment Fee.

"In many cases, paying off a personal loan early will save the borrower money in interest," says Thomas Nitzsche, senior director of media and brand at Money Management International, a nonprofit credit counseling agency. With loan payments out of the way, you free up money to pad your monthly budget.

Can you pay off a 72 month car loan early? ›

There are no legal restrictions to paying off your auto loan early but it may come with fees from your auto loan provider. Paying off a car loan early can be a good option to save money and reduce your debt, but whether it is a good idea depends on your unique financial situation.

Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.

Whether you're paying off a loan with a lump sum or you plan to chip away at it with larger payments, paying off your loan faster will likely mean tightening up your budget. Consider where you'll get the money to pay off your debt — is it being diverted from your retirement savings plan?

You will need a credit score of 580 or higher to get a $30,000 personal loan in most cases, along with enough income to afford the monthly bill payments. Other common loan requirements include being at least 18 years old, being a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident, and having a valid bank account.

Yes, it can be a good idea to repay your personal loan early as you will be charged a less interest on the loan amount. Also, once you clear your loan early, not only will you be able to save considerable, but your overall credit score will also improve allowing you to avail another loan if necessary.

Save money on interest

You'll pay less interest by paying off your loan early since the lender will have less time to collect interest from you. But even an extra payment here and there can make a difference.

As of November 2023, the average interest rate on a personal loan with a 24-month term was 12.35%, according to data from the Federal Reserve. So, by using a personal loan to pay off your credit card debt, there could be significant savings, as the average credit card rate is currently 21.47%.