Guides
Plain-English guides to getting finance right.
Free, honest guides to personal loans and car loans in Australia, no jargon, no sales pitch. We write the things we’d want our own family to read before making a big financial decision.
Featured guide · Free PDF
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Personal Loan or Car Loan Finance Broker.
Choosing a broker shapes the rate you get, the lender you end up with, and even your credit score. This guide walks you through exactly what to look for, and what to avoid, so you can choose with confidence.
What this guide answers
The questions worth answering before you choose.
How do I choose a personal loan or car loan finance broker?
Look for a broker who holds an Australian Credit Licence (or is an authorised credit representative), is a member of AFCA, compares more than one lender, and tells you clearly how they get paid and what the loan will cost, all fees included, before you commit.
How do finance brokers get paid in Australia?
Noddle may charge a brokerage fee for arranging your loan, and may also receive a commission from the lender. The brokerage fee can be paid upfront or capitalised into your loan. All fees and commissions are disclosed in our Credit quote before you proceed.
Does using a finance broker affect my credit score?
It doesn’t have to. Applying directly to several lenders yourself records multiple hard enquiries, which can lower your score. A broker can assess your fit with an Access Seeker (soft) enquiry first, and only submit a full application, and its hard enquiry, to a lender likely to approve you.
Is it better to use a broker or go directly to a lender?
Going direct to one lender means one offer and one view of the market. A broker compares multiple lenders at once, can negotiate on your behalf, and protects your credit score by checking fit before applying, which is hard to do well on your own.
What questions should I ask a finance broker before choosing one?
Ask: Are you licensed and an AFCA member? How many lenders do you compare? How are you paid, and do I pay you anything? Will you run a hard credit enquiry, and when? Can you show me the full cost, rate, fees and repayments, before I commit?
More guides
Fresh off the press, with more on the way.
We write these one at a time and only publish them when they're genuinely useful. Here's our latest, plus what's coming next.
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Free PDF · Available now
What goes into your credit score, and how it's calculated
A plain-English breakdown of every factor in an Equifax credit score, what helps it, what hurts it, and how Australian credit scoring actually works.
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Coming soon
Car loan vs personal loan: which is right for you?
Secured vs unsecured, rates, and when each option actually makes sense.
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Coming soon
How to compare loan offers without getting caught out
Comparison rates, fees, and the fine print that changes the real cost.
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