11 Best Second-Chance Loans for Bad Credit (Feb. 2024)
Written by: Brittney Mayer
Edited by: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Second chance loans are an opportunity for consumers to right the credit wrongs of their past and get back on track toward a healthy financial life. In the article below, we’ll take a look at our choices for some of the best second chance loans out there.
In a quote often misattributed to Einstein, the definition of insanity is said to be repeating the same action over and over again with the expectation of a different result. Regardless of who originally gave rise to the quote, it’s easy to understand the foolishness of continuing ineffective behaviors.
And that’s how many lenders look at credit risk. Take second-chance loans, for example, which are often sought by those with less-than-stellar credit histories. Many lenders will consider it crazy to repeat the same mistake over and over again — or at all — by offering these consumers second-chance financing.
But this isn’t always the case. Some lenders are more than willing to give those with poor credit a second chance, be it for personal, credit card, or auto loans. Because, as these lenders know, sometimes you really can get a different result. Let’s dive into our list of some of our top selections for installment loans, short-term loans, credit cards, and auto loans available on the market today.
Installment | Short-Term | Credit Card | Auto
Best Second-Chance “Installment” Loans
One of the best ways to ensure you make the most of your second chance at financing is to diligently make on-time payments to build a positive payment history. As 35% of your FICO score, a good payment history can make a big credit score difference. For most consumers, the most affordable — and, thus, easiest to repay on time — type of personal loan is an installment loan.
Named for the series of installments (i.e., monthly payments) used to repay the loan, most personal installment loans extend anywhere from three months up to six years. Installment loans can be obtained in various sizes, making them a good option for most purchases, with our top-rated options offering loans up to $35,000 to qualified applicants.
1. CashUSA.com
 |
- Loans from $500 to $10,000
- All credit types accepted
- Loan requests can be approved in minutes
- Get funds directly to your bank account
- Use the loan for any purpose
- See official site, terms, and details »
| Loan Amount | $500 to $10,000 |
| Interest Rate | 5.99% - 35.99% |
| Loan Term | 3 to 72 Months |
| Loan Example | Representative example |
| Our Expert Review | 4.7/5.0 (see review) |
 |
- Loans from $500 to $10,000
- Helping those with bad credit since 1998
- Get connected with a lender
- Simple form & quick funding
- Get your money as soon as next day
- See official site, terms, and details »
| Loan Amount | $500 to $10,000 |
| Interest Rate | 5.99% - 35.99% |
| Loan Term | 3 to 60 Months |
| Loan Example | Representative example |
| Our Expert Review | 4.6/5.0 (see review) |
 |
- Loans from $250 to $35,000
- Bad credit is no problem
- Available in all 50 states
- Use the loan for any purpose
- Fastest approval and funding
- See official site, terms, and details »
| Loan Amount | $250 to $35,000 |
| Interest Rate | 5.99% - 35.99% |
| Loan Term | 3 to 72 Months |
| Loan Example | Representative example |
| Our Expert Review | 4.3/5.0 (see review) |
+See More Personal Loans for Bad Credit
It’s important to look at each loan factor when comparing quotes for personal installment loans, including the length of the loan as well as the monthly payment and APR. That’s because the loan with the lowest interest rate or monthly payment may not always be the least expensive; how many of those payments you make will also play a role in the total cost of your loan.
Think of it this way: the interest fees are the price you pay for borrowing money from the lender. The longer you borrow that money, the more interest you’ll pay for the privilege. This means the longer your loan terms extend, the more expensive that loan will become. And since lower monthly payments are typically a result of a longer loan, you may need to pay a little more each month for the best deal.
Best Second-Chance “Short-Term” Loans
In some cases, you don’t need an extensive loan for thousands of dollars, but simply a few hundred bucks to get through the week. For these situations, many turn to a short-term cash advance loan. Unlike installment loans, which are repaid via multiple payments, short-term loans are typically repaid as a single lump sum at the end of the loan terms, which includes both the principal and all finance charges.
As the name suggests, short-term loans are just that; most short-term loans only extend between one week and six months in length, with a few weeks being typical. Amounts that can be obtained are also much smaller than personal installment loans, with our expert-rated options offering loans between $100 and $2,500.
 |
- Short-term loan of $100 to $1,000
- Bad credit is no problem
- Large network of lenders
- Loan decision as fast as a few minutes; funding as soon as next business day
- Required: Income of $1000+/month and at least 90 days on job
- See official site, terms, and details »
| Loan Amount | $100 to $1,000 |
| Interest Rate | 200% - 2,290% |
| Loan Term | Varies |
| Loan Example | Representative example |
| Our Expert Review | 3.9/5.0 (see review) |
5. MoneyMutual
 |
- Short-term loans up to $5,000
- Online marketplace of lenders
- Funds available in as few as 24 hours
- Simple online form takes less than 5 minutes
- Trusted by more than 2 million customers
- See official site, terms, and details »
| Loan Amount | Up to $5,000 |
| Interest Rate | Varies |
| Loan Term | Varies |
| Loan Example | Representative example |
| Our Expert Review | 4.8/5.0 (see review) |
+See More Personal Loans for Bad Credit
Unlike other credit products, most short-term cash advance loans don’t charge an interest fee based on an APR. Instead, you’ll need to pay a flat-rate finance charge based on the amount you borrow. While these fees can seem small (a $15 fee for a $100 would not be atypical), when you extrapolate that fee into an APR, you can end up with a number in the triple digits.
And that only gets worse if you need to extend the loan for any reason, taking on an additional finance charge for the extension. To avoid getting caught in a short-term loan trap, be sure you can repay your loan before signing on the dotted line.
If you may need to borrow funds for longer than a short-term loan can affordably provide, use an installment loan. And if cash isn’t required, you should consider using a credit card instead of a short-term loan if possible, as they’ll generally have a lower APR than a short-term cash advance loan.
Best Second-Chance “Credit Card” Loans
Other than short-term loans with triple-digit APRs, credit cards are likely the easiest type of credit to obtain when you need a second chance at financing. While this means these cards will generally have higher-than-average APRs and may come with extra fees, they can be more affordable than short-term loans and, as revolving credit lines, can be used and repaid more than once.
The three main types of credit cards available to those who need a second chance are unsecured subprime cards, closed-loop store cards, and secured credit cards. Subprime and store cards usually have higher interest rates, while secured cards will require a security deposit to use. Our list of top credit cards for poor credit includes a mix of credit card options to help you compare.
 |
- No credit check to apply
- Adjustable credit limit based on what you transfer from your Chime Checking account to the secured deposit account
- No interest* or annual fees
- Chime Checking Account and qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more required to apply. See official application, terms, and details link below.
- The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Card is issued by The Bankcorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted.
- *Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and OTC advance fees may apply. View The Bancorp agreement or Stride agreement for details; see back of card for issuer.
- See official site, terms, and details »
| Interest Rate | N/A |
| Reports Monthly | Yes |
| Application Length | 5 minutes |
| Reputation Score | 9.5 |
| |
- $400 credit limit doubles to $800! (Simply make your first 6 monthly minimum payments on time)
- All credit types welcome to apply
- Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
- Initial Credit Limit of $400.00 (Subject to available credit)
- Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
- Use your card at locations everywhere Mastercard® is accepted
- Access to your Vantage 3.0 score from Experian (When you sign up for e-statements)
- Checking Account Required
- See official site, terms, and details »
| Interest Rate | 29.99% |
| Reports Monthly | Yes |
| Application Length | 10 minutes |
| Reputation Score | 7.5/10 |
| |
- Earn 3% Cash Back Rewards* on Gas, Groceries and Utility Bill Payments
- Earn 1% Cash Back Rewards* on all other eligible purchases
- Up to $1,000 credit limit subject to credit approval
- Prequalify** without affecting your credit score
- No security deposit
- Free access to your VantageScore 4.0 score from TransUnion®† *See Program Terms for important information about the cash back rewards program. ** Prequalify means that you authorize us to make a soft inquiry (that will not affect your credit) to create an offer. If you accept an offer a hard inquiry will be made. Final approval is not guaranteed if you do not meet all applicable criteria (including adequate proof of ability to repay). Income verification through access to your bank account information may be required. † Your credit score will be available in your online account starting 60 days after your account is opened. (Registration required.) The free VantageScore 4.0 credit score provided by TransUnion® is for educational purposes only. This score may not be used by The Bank of Missouri (the issuer of this card) or other creditors to make credit decisions.
- See official site, terms, and details »
| Interest Rate | 29.99% or 36% Fixed |
| Reports Monthly | Yes |
| Application Length | 7 minutes |
| Reputation Score | 8.0/10 |
+See More Credit Cards for Bad Credit
One of the most important things to look for in a second-chance credit card is one that provides an interest rate grace period. The grace period gives you the time between when a charge is made and when the bill is due to pay off your balance before interest starts to accrue.
This means if you can pay off your purchases before the end of the grace period, you won’t be charged interest on those purchases. Keep in mind that grace periods only apply to new purchases; transactions considered to be balance transfers or cash advances will start accruing interest as soon as the charge posts to your account.
Best Second-Chance “Auto” Loans
While not as easy to obtain as some other types of credit, second-chance auto loans can be easier to get than many people think. Essentially, auto loans are secured loans, with the vehicle itself acting as a sort of collateral against default (i.e., if you don’t pay back your loan, the lender can sell the car to get their money back), which means less risk to the lender.
That reduced risk is what makes second-chance auto loans attainable for a range of credit scores, and is also part of the reason auto loans typically have lower APRs than other credit products for the same credit demographic. There are generally no set credit score requirements for second-chance auto loans, but you’ll need to meet basic income requirements to qualify for our expert picks.
 |
- Network of dealer partners has closed $1 billion in bad credit auto loans
- Specializes in bad credit, no credit, bankruptcy, and repossession
- In business since 1999
- Easy, 30-second pre-qualification form
- Bad credit applicants must have $1500/month income to qualify
- See official site, terms, and details »
| Interest Rate | 3.99% - 29.99% |
| In Business Since | 1999 |
| Application Length | 3 minutes |
| Reputation Score | 9.5/10 |
| Our Expert Review | 4.9/5.0 (see review) |
10. LendingTree
 |
- Auto loans for purchase, refinance, and lease buyouts
- Nationwide lender network
- Get matched with up to 5 lenders that fit your financial profile
- It only takes a few minutes and is free with no obligation
- See official site, terms, and details »
| Interest Rate | Varies |
| In Business Since | 1998 |
| Application Length | 4 minutes |
| Reputation Score | 9.5/10 |
| Our Expert Review | 4.7/5.0 (see review) |
11. myAutoloan.com
 |
- Loans for new, used, and refinancing
- Queries a national network of lenders
- Bad credit OK
- Get up to 4 offers in minutes
- Receive online loan certificate or check within 24 hours
- See official site, terms, and details »
| Interest Rate | Varies |
| In Business Since | 2003 |
| Application Length | 2 minutes |
| Reputation Score | 8.5/10 |
| Our Expert Review | 4.6/5.0 (see review) |
+See More Auto Loans for Bad Credit
Since the vehicle itself will act as the security for the loan, most lenders will require you to provide details about the vehicle you wish to purchase during the application process, including the make, model, year, and trim style. This is so the lender can verify that the vehicle is actually worth the amount of the loan in case they need to sell it to recoup losses.
Most lenders will offer the ability to check for loan pre-qualification if you don’t have a specific vehicle in mind but still want to get an idea of what size loan you can get (and at what rate). Pre-qualification generally uses a soft credit inquiry, rather than a hard inquiry, so it won’t impact your credit score.
As with personal installment loans, be sure to look at all the factors of your auto loan when comparing offers. You may consider extending your auto loan as far as you can to secure the lowest monthly payment but that can be a costly mistake in the long run. The longer the loan, the more interest you’ll end up paying over the life of the loan.
Some Creditors Will Give You Another Chance at Financing
As with beauty, insanity can often be in the eye of the beholder. According to the fictional Jane Fulton, those who repeat the same actions while expecting different results are downright bonkers. And many lenders agree with the character’s assessment. For second-chance lenders, however, offering credit lines to those with poor credit isn’t crazy, it’s sound business.
Of course, the unfortunate reality is that some second-chance borrowers will end up with the same credit-damaging results. But borrowers who can use that financing responsibly can have wonderfully different results, including a better credit score and an easier time obtaining new credit in the future.
Advertiser Disclosure
BadCredit.org is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free for users, we receive advertising compensation from the financial products listed on this page. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear on the page (including, for example, the order in which they appear). BadCredit.org does not include listings for all financial products.
Our Editorial Review Policy
Our site is committed to publishing independent, accurate content guided by strict editorial guidelines. Before articles and reviews are published on our site, they undergo a thorough review process performed by a team of independent editors and subject-matter experts to ensure the content’s accuracy, timeliness, and impartiality. Our editorial team is separate and independent of our site’s advertisers, and the opinions they express on our site are their own. To read more about our team members and their editorial backgrounds, please visit our site’s About page.
