Your guide to car loan balloon payments

buyer looking at the payment scheme of his car loan

 Estimated read time: 5 Minutes

There are plenty of loan options to finance your dream car – choosing the right one can be tricky. Here we provide a guide to the ins and outs of balloon payments, their pros and cons and how a balloon payment could suit your car loan requirements.

What do balloons have to do with car loans?

If you’re in the market for a car loan, you may have come across the term ‘balloon payments. While it might sound strange, it’s important to understand what it means and how it works before you choose your car loan. So let’s take a look.

balloon payment

What is a balloon payment?

A balloon payment is a lump sum payment that you make at the end of your loan term. While this final payment is usually larger than regular monthly payments loan payments (hence the reference to balloons), it reduces your monthly repayments during the life of your loan, although you will pay interest on the balloon payment during the loan term.

How does a balloon payment work? 

A balloon payment is set as a percentage of your total car loan amount. You may be able to negotiate the lump sum amount with your lender. It’s determined at the outset of your loan and is part of your loan agreement with a lender.

For instance, you might need a $20,000 loan to buy your dream car. You negotiate your balloon payment to be 30% of the total loan – or $6,000. So the remaining loan amount is $14,000.

At a 7.48% p.a. interest rate, estimated monthly repayments of the $14,000 over five years would be $318*.

This means you’ll pay $318 monthly for 4 years and 11 months and a lump sum of $6,000 in the last month. You will pay $5,068 of interest over the loan term.

Without a balloon payment, your monthly repayments would be $401 – but you’re interest costs would decrease to $4,034. 

 

With balloon payment

Without balloon payment

Loan amount

$20,000

$20,000

Loan term

5 years

5 years

Interest rate

7.48%

7.48%

Balloon payment

$6,000

N/a

Monthly repayment

$318

$401

Total interest paid (over loan term)

$5,068

$4,034

 

You can calculate interest rates, repayments and balloon payments for your car here.

 

The benefits of choosing a car loan with a balloon payment? 

Balloon payments can help reduce the weekly or monthly repayments of your car loan – helping you stick to your budget.

Let’s take the above example. A balloon payment saves you $83 each month on repayments, which can help if you’re on a tight monthly budget. You can use the extra money on other expenses such as groceries or bills – or to save up for the balloon amount over the life of the loan.

But keep in mind you will need to make a larger lump sum repayment at the end of the loan term – and you will pay interest on the balloon payment over the loan term.

 

The disadvantages of balloon payments?

A balloon payment can cost you more over the life of your loan because you pay interest on the balloon payment over the loan term and if you don’t have the cash to payout the balloon payment you may need to take out a loan for the balloon payment. While you save on your regular repayments, the trade-off is that you’re paying off less than the total loan amount over the loan term – and paying interest on the (larger) amount still owing.

You will also need to have the lump sum payment ready at the end of your loan, which could end up being something else you have to save for or finance.

Balloon payments are usually available on new or near new cars.  They may not be an option on an older vehicle.

 

What’s the difference between a balloon payment and residual payments?

Both balloon and residual payments refer to the lump sum amount that is payable at the end of your loan term – but they’re calculated differently and serve a different purpose.

balloon payment meaning
A balloon payment is an agreed-upon amount, determined before the start of a loan. It does not take depreciation into account.
residual payment
A residual payment, typically used on car leases, is based on an estimation of the car’s worth at the end of the loan terms, with depreciation in mind. 

 

Who could consider a balloon payment for their car loan?

If you like to upgrade your car every few years, a balloon payment could be an option that suits your needs. Selling or trading in your car allows you to payout the balloon payment at the end of the loan term and buy a new car through a new loan or with cash.

Car Loans with a balloon payment could also benefit sole traders or small business owners, as they can free up cashflow and allow you to invest the money back into your business. 

 

What are my options at the end of the loan term?

Depending on your circumstances, there are several things you can do when your balloon payment is due.

Borrower pays lump sum payment for car

Pay off your loan

You can pay your lump sum payment and keep your car. Simple.
Borrower sells vehicle to buy new car

Sell your car

Selling your vehicle could help you cover the cost of your balloon payment – and give you the option to buy a new car. 
Borrower may trade in car

Trade in

You may decide to trade in your car for another one. In this case, your balloon payment could be covered by the trade-in value on your existing car.  Any shortfall may be able to be added to your new car loan.
Borrower may refinance to keep car

Refinance

If you’d rather keep your car, but are not able to payout the balloon payment, some lenders might let you take out a new loan for the balloon payment. 

Can I trade in my car with a balloon payment?

Yes, you can. Trading in your car works much like selling it with a balloon payment.

You may choose to trade it in at a time when the value of your existing car is a similar value to your balloon payment. This would mean you will have little or nothing to pay on your existing loan unless there is an existing loan balance. 

Can you pay off a balloon loan early?

This will depend on your lender.

At Pepper Money, our car loans put you in the driver’s seat. So you can repay your Pepper balloon loan before the end of the loan term, if you choose. We do charge an early exit fee.

Ready to get things moving? Explore our car loan options now

Contributor | Andrew Gamble, Head of Sales - Asset Finance

Andrew brings more than 20 years of experience in the finance industry. His strategic vision, leadership and his customer centric approach has contributed to the significant growth of Pepper Money's Asset Finance business. Read more.

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