Back to top

Long-term loans

Long-term loans

Share this guide:

Last updated: 28 October 2022

 Hold your horses! Are you considering taking out a long-term loan? Get informed before you do with our guide as we divulge all you need to know when it comes to borrowing long-term. 

Compare loans today

Get a quick online decision within minutes and check your eligibility applying without affecting your credit rating!

Coming soon
Privacy notice information

How long do long-term loans last for?

Loans are generally considered to be long-term if the repayment period is longer than a year. In some cases, it's possible to get loans with terms of up to 35 years – although with the exception of mortgages, few of us dream of paying off a loan for half of our adult life, do we? Loan terms on this end of the spectrum – ones spanning so long they could see the new generation – are usually what we call secured loans. This means they're protected against an asset; more on this later on.

If you’re looking for a loan for less than a year, then technically you’d be after a short-term loan.

How much do long-term loans cost?

It's pretty tough to give a specific answer for this one, because how much your long-term loan costs will depend on a few factors. Of course, the actual sum you want to borrow will determine your loan cost, but your loan term and interest rate will also be included, as will any additional fees the lender charges.

As an example, let's say you've bagged yourself a boast-worthy interest rate. Although your monthly repayments are reasonable, the loan itself might not be cheap. That's because if your repayment period is ten years, then that's a decade of monthly interest you've got to pay back. Therefore, in the end, it'll cost you more overall.

How much can I borrow?

If you're looking to take out a long-term loan, then £1,000 is usually the minimum you can apply for. If you're looking for less than this figure, then explore other ways to borrow money – credit cards and overdrafts can offer competitive interest rates.

With unsecured loans (also known as personal loans), by and large you're allowed to borrow between £1,000 and £25,000. On the whole you might see slightly higher interest rates than with secured loans but it's really dependent on what loan deal you find.

On the other end of the scale, there's not a strict upper limit when it comes to long-term loans. Each provider will have their own thresholds. However, if you're looking at big sums – those usually categorised as over £25,000 – then you may have to take out a secured loan rather than an unsecured loan. As we mentioned, secured loans mean an asset, like a house or car, is used as collateral. So if you fail to keep up with repayments, it could be your home that's on the line. This is how lenders ensure they get their money back.

Should I take out a long-term loan?

Long-term loans have their fair share of both benefits and drawbacks.

Loans with extensive repayment periods tend to be accompanied by better interest rates than short term loans do. This means that your monthly repayments are far more affordable, allowing you to budget and plan your finances better.

Additionally, it's a competitive market out there, so there's no shortage of long-term loans to choose from. When you run your loan comparison, you'll see just how abundant your loan options are! You can also borrow larger amounts of money with long-term loans as you've got more time to pay it back.

For more information on long term loans and their benefits compared to short term loans, check out our guide on short term vs long term loans.

What to consider before taking out a long-term loan

While you might get low interest rates with long-term loans, don't forget just how long you'll be repaying said loan for. By opting for a more affordable repayment plan, you may end up sacrificing how much money you save overall because you're continuing to make payments over a longer period of time. Whether this is a worthy trade-off depends on what set up you think would work best for you.

If you want to pay off your loan ahead of time – let's say, just for example, you win the lottery – you can't do that without paying early termination fees. They're as exciting as they sound. Factor in what these charges would be by reading your provider's terms and conditions (although, you'd be forgiven for thinking about other things, had you just won the lottery…).

Because long-term loans generally deal with bigger sums, it can be harder to have your loan application accepted. And because the biggest loans get secured against high-value assets like homes, you need to have these as collateral to take out a loan in the first place. Sorry renters.

check

We are an independent and impartial price comparison website.


check

Our services are 100% free to use.


check

usave.co.uk is supported by its users. When you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Danny Lord

Author: Danny Lord

Danny is our Editor-in-Chief, and has been writing news and guides for comparison sites for the last five years.

Don't miss these

Read on our blog

With the government poised to implement tough new measures to...

TalkTalk Confirms Huge Bills Hikes from Friday
Broadband
30. 03. 2022 | Lauren Smith

Budget broadband provider TalkTalk has been notifying customers via email...

A year-long investigation by charity Citizens Advice has revealed a...

All English Schools Will Have Gigabit Broadband by 2025
Broadband
23. 03. 2022 | Lauren Smith

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has announced a new commitment to...

usave digital limited is a free price comparison service; we do not charge you for using our services. usave digital limited is paid a commission, by the provider, for every completed switch made through our website.