Types of Emergency Loans
Vehicle expenses
Cars, trucks, business vehicles, motorbikes, scooters, or other vehicles can come with extra expenses. Repairs, replacement parts, new tyres, servicing, upgrades, safety features, and cleaning, to name a few. Accidents can happen, and fixing a scratch or dent in your vehicle may be required. Baby or child car seats or boosters may be required. Additional items like roof racks, trays, and equipment storage may need to be installed for a project or trip.
Equipment repair or replacement
Items we rely on for personal or business use can be broken, stopped working, or faulty. Repairing or replacing equipment, including tools or electronic equipment like computers, tablets, phones, and lawn maintenance items, can be costly and inconvenient. When an item needs to be repaired or replaced quickly, and there is no time to save up, an emergency cash loan might be considered.
Unexpected medical expenses
While we can certainly do our part to stay safe and healthy, sometimes we simply can’t prepare for the unexpected. A fall, accident, illness, or medical problem may require treatment quickly. Insufficient cash in your emergency savings may require extra cash to cover all or part of a medical bill. A trip to the dentist, a specialist appointment with out-of-pocket fees, physiotherapy sessions, prescription medications, or costs of other treatments are common reasons for this type of loan.
Veterinarian bills
We love our pets, and they are a part of our family. When they become sick or injured, we want to ensure they receive the care and treatment they need. Veterinarian bills can be costly, especially if your pet has to be admitted overnight or over multiple days. Not everyone opts to take out pet insurance. An emergency cash loan might be an option if you have to pay an expensive vet bill and don’t have the cash to cover it.
Moving expenses
Moving house is already stressful enough, with searching for a new home, packing, donating, throwing things away, and organising everything. When an unexpected expense is added to the mix, it can add to the stress. Extra cleaning expenses, losing money from your bond, running out of time and having to hire help or an extra vehicle to help you move your belongings are all common. An emergency loan may help ease the financial burden you are experiencing until you can get back on your feet with your budget.
Home repairs or renovation expenses
A burst pipe or water leak. An electrical fault. A broken water heater. Storm damage or flooding. When you own a home, there are plenty of reasons why you may find yourself needing quick cash to cover repairs or to pay tradesmen or service providers. It’s also common for renovation costs to exceed the amount you had budgeted for. Instead of leaving a project incomplete and holding up further renovations, you may opt to secure extra cash short term to cover the extra expenses.
Before applying
If you’re in a bind and need money fast, an emergency loan can be a lifesaver. But before you take out a loan, it’s crucial to understand how they work and the potential risks.
Emergency loans are typically short-term loans with set fees meant to be used in case of an unexpected expense or financial emergency. They are not intended for long-term use or large purchases.
Emergency loans can come from various sources, including banks, credit unions, online lenders, and family or friends. The interest rate or fees on an emergency loan will vary depending on the lender and the borrower’s creditworthiness.
Emergency loans are intended to be used as a last resort after all other options have been exhausted. Borrowers should be aware of the potential risks involved with taking out an emergency loan, including interest rates, fees, and the possibility of being unable to repay the loan.
Before taking out an emergency loan, borrowers should always exhaust all other options, such as saving up money in advance or asking friends or family for help. Emergency loans should only be considered for genuine emergencies and not as a way to cover regular expenses.
Find out more about taking out an emergency loan through Cash Today here.
At a glance
Simple loan rates & fees
See our simple rates and fees below, and then view more information about rates & fees to work out repayments and total costs for different amounts and terms .
Small loans
Up to $2000
| Small loans (SAAC) | |
| Loan amounts | $500 – $2,000 |
| Loan term | 1 – 12 months |
| Establishment fee | 20% |
| Monthly fee | 4% |
| Interest rate | N/A |
Medium loans
Up to $5,000
| Medium loans (MAAC) | |
| Loan amounts | $2,001 – $5,000 |
| Loan term | 3 – 24 months |
| Establishment fee | $400 |
| Monthly fee | $0-$18 |
| Interest rate | 19% – 48% |
Second chance loans
$500 with no credit check
| Second chance loans (SAAC) | |
| Loan amounts | $500 |
| Loan term | 1 – 12 months |
| Establishment fee | 20% |
| Monthly fee | 4% |
| Interest rate | N/A |
Larger loans
Up to $80,000
| Large loans (personal) | |
| Loan amounts | $5,001 – $80,000 |
| Loan term | 3 – 7 years |
| Establishment fee | $310-$1035 |
| Monthly fee | $0 |
| Interest rate | 7.24% – 19.99% |
*Please note that the figures shown are indicative only and may not include all fees and charges. All applications are subject to assessment.
Applying
Find out how likely you are to qualify for our lower rate loans.
Healthier financial history = access to lower loan rates
- Our competitive personal loan rates are between 7.24% – 19.99% p.a. and our urgent loans are between 19% and 48% p.a.
- The loan rate that you are offered will be dependent on your individual circumstances, loan amount, and the type of loan
- For example, a secured car loan is likely to have lower rates than an unsecured loan with a vague purpose
Great
Good chance of approved for a loan. Likely to qualify for a loan with lowest rates.
Characteristics:
- Credit score: Good (above 600)
- Stable employment or income with clear repayment affordability
- Low Debt-to-Income Ratio (well below 36%)
- Positive Savings History
- Minimal existing loans
- No disqualifying conditions.
OK
May be approved for smaller loan amounts, loan rates may be higher.
Characteristics:
- Credit score: Ok (above 400)
- Recent job changes/ gaps in employment but clear repayment affordability
- Debt-to-Income Ratio approaching 36%
- No new loans in the last 90 days
- No disqualifying conditions.
May not be suitable
Unlikely to approved for a loan over $1,000 or qualify for lower loan rates.
Characteristics:
- Credit score: Low (less than 400) or none
- May have a high debt-to-income ratio (DTI) above 36% or significant outstanding debts
- May have a history of unemployment or frequent job changes
- No disqualifying conditions.
Automatically declined
Will not be approved for a loan.
Characteristics:
- Displays one or more disqualifying conditions.
- Unable to afford repayments
- No regular income
- Risky debt-to-income ratio (DTI) above 60%
Consider improving your financial health and applying at a later date.
Am I eligible for a loan?
If you want to understand whether you are able to be approved for a loan, there are a few things to consider.
Loan requirements
- Proof of Australian residency (utility bill) and regular income
- Driver’s license or other identification (over 18 years of age)
- A read-only 90-day bank statement (via online bank verification)
- Credit check
- Repayment affordability can be established
- No direct debit dishonour transactions in bank statements
Credit check
Credit history
A history of responsible borrowing shows that you’ve paid your bills on time and haven’t maxed out any credit cards.
Credit score
A good credit score is a strong indicator of your creditworthiness and could mean that you are eligible for loans with lower interest rates than another applicant with a less favourable credit score.
Debt-to-income ratio (DTI)
If you have a low debt-to-income ratio (DTI) this is the best position to be in for getting approved for a loan. A great debt-to-income ratio is 3.6 (36%) or less.
The higher your debt-to-income ratio, the less likely you are to be approved. That’s because you will be making repayments on your existing debt, and have less available funds to comfortably make repayments on a new loan. A debt-to-income ratio of 6.0 (60%) or higher is considered risky for lenders.
How to calculate your debt-to-income ratio
Debt-to-income ratio = Total debt divided by total annual gross income
This can be expressed as a number or a percentage.
Resource:
Debt-to-income ratio calculator
Loan amount and purpose
The amount you’re borrowing and what you’ll be using it for can also affect your approval odds.
Generally, smaller loans for specific purposes (like a car repair) are easier to get approved for than large loans with a vague purpose.
Collateral
Some loans, especially larger loans such as home renovation loans or car loans, require collateral. This is an asset the lender can seize if you default on the loan.
Having collateral can improve your chances of getting approved, especially if your credit score isn’t perfect. In some cases it can also qualify you for lower loan rates.
Income and employment
If you have stable full time employemt with income that would allow you to comfortably repay a loan, this makes you most likely to be approved for a loan.
It is still possible to be approved for a loan with part-time employment if your regular expenses are lower and affordability can be established.
Other forms of supplementary income are also considered such as government benefits.
Your total income amount, your employment history, and any other sources of income will be taken into consideration when making an approval decision on a loan application.
Responsible lending
Understanding your individual circumstances
At Cash Today, we understand that unexpected expenses can arise. While we’re here to help you access the cash you need quickly, we’re committed to responsible lending practices. This means we take the time to assess your individual circumstances before offering a loan.
Prioritising your financial well-being
We prioritise your financial well-being and want to ensure you can comfortably manage repayments. We also offer clear and transparent loan terms so you understand the full cost upfront. If alternative solutions like payment extensions or budgeting tools can better address your situation, we’ll be happy to point you in those directions.
Lower rates reward good track records
If you can demonstrate a strong financial track record you are more likely to get approved for personal loans and qualify for lower loan rates. If your income compared to your ongoing expenses shows that you have the ability to comfortably afford higher loan repayments you may be able to get approved for higher loan amounts.
Preventing financial stress
In the event that your financial history reflects more unstable income, a poor credit rating, or a high debt-to-income ratio, your application may be declined if it is determined that repaying the loan would not be affordable and result in further financial hardship for you.
You may only be approved for smaller loan amounts with lower repayments, and you may not qualify for lower rate loans and need to carefully decide whether you are willing and able to accept paying higher rates for the loan.
Protecting your future
It’s important to note that even if you can comfortably afford repayments, your application might not be approved. This is because we assess your financial history to ensure responsible lending. We want to avoid situations where the loan could negatively impact your long-term financial health. This includes missed payments that could damage your credit score and make it harder to access future loans.
Disqualifying conditions
If you display one or more of the following loan disqualifying conditions you are not currently eligible for a Cash Today loan.
- Opened a personal loan in the last 90 days
- Already has two or more payday loans under $2000
- Bank statements in the last 90 days display transactions for online gambling
- Bank statements show payments made to collection companies, payment arrears, or dishonours in the last 90 days
- Bank statements show wage advances such as Wagetap, Wagepay, MyPayFast, Beforepay, in the last 90 days
- Bankruptcy
You should consider seeking alternative options for financial assistance, or delay applying until your 90 day financial history reflects that you are eligible to apply as well as able to comfortably afford repayments.