How to get a $30,000 loan

You can find $30,000 loans in Canada with various lenders including banks, credit unions and private loan companies. You’ll usually need good to excellent credit to qualify, and you can use the money to pay for just about anything. Learn more about how to find the best $30,000 loan for your personal situation.

Compare $30,000 loans

Where to get a $30,000 loan

You can apply for a $30,000 loan with the following types of lenders:

Banks

Many banks offer $30,000 loans to eligible borrowers with good to excellent credit. Bank loans usually come with competitive interest rates and may be a good choice if you’d rather do your business in person with an established financial institution. You won’t typically qualify for a $30,000 loan in Canada with bad credit.

• Sample lenders. Providers include BMO, TD Bank, RBC, CIBC, Scotiabank, Canadian Western Bank and National Bank.

Credit unions

Credit unions sometimes offer $30,000 loans to established members who have good to excellent credit. These loans come with rates that are equal to or better than bank rates. It’s unlikely you’ll qualify for $30,000 with a poor credit score.

• Sample lenders. Providers include Meridian, Servus, Vancity, connectFirst, Conexus, First West, Steinbach, Alterna Savings and Coast Capital Savings.

Online lenders

Some private lenders offer online $30,000 loans to borrowers with good to excellent credit. You can apply and qualify without ever leaving your house. You’ll typically pay higher interest rates, but you’ll get your money fast.

• Sample lenders. Providers include Mogo and Symple Loans. You can also apply to an online broker like Loans Canada and LoanConnect.

Types of $30,000 personal loans

You can choose from a secured or unsecured $30,000 loan with fixed or variable interest rates.

Unsecured vs secured loans

Loan type	What’s it best for	How it works	What it costs	What happens if you default
Unsecured personal loans	Best for good to excellent credit.	Lenders base their loan decision on your credit score, with no need for collateral.	Interest rates are often between 7% and 20% with good credit.	Credit score goes down if you default.
Secured personal loans	Best if you want lower interest rates or if you have bad to fair credit.	Secure your loan with an asset such as your home or vehicle to get a lower interest rate.	Interest rates typically range from 5.4% to 11% with good credit. You’ll pay more if you have bad credit.	Your asset will be repossessed and sold to pay off your loan if you default.

Fixed vs variable rate loans

Loan type	What’s it best for	How it works	What it costs	What happens if you default
Fixed rate personal loans	Best for predictable payments.	Interest rates stay the same for your loan term.	Pay the same amount onto your loan every month.	Consequences of defaulting depend on if you have a secured or unsecured loan.
Variable rate personal loans	Possibility of lower interest rates some months. But in the current environment, be prepared for rates to increase.	Interest rates fluctuate in line with the Bank of Canada’s prime rate.	Pay off more of your principal each month if rates go down. Pay more interest if rates go up.	Consequences of defaulting depend on if you have a secured or unsecured loan.

Who’s eligible for a $30,000 loan?

$30,000 loans are typically reserved for Canadian citizens or residents with good to excellent credit score over 660. You will need to show proof of a steady job, home address and a reasonably high income to qualify.

Required documents

To apply for a $30,000 loan in Canada, you’ll usually need to provide the following documents to verify your personal details.

• Government-issued ID. Personal ID such as your passport or driver’s licence.
• Proof of income. Recent pay stubs, employment records and tax records.
• Debt-to-asset ratio. Lists of assets and debts to make sure you can qualify for funding.
• Credit score. Consent for your lender to run a credit check.

Steps to get approved for the best $30,000 loan

Follow these 3 steps to get approved for the best $30,000 loan for your personal situation:

1. Shop around. Compare multiple lenders and loan types to get a fuller picture of how much you should pay based on your credit score and other personal factors. You can compare $30,000 loans using a loan broker or by comparing loans manually.
2. Prequalify. Apply to prequalify with as many lenders as possible. Some lenders will only do a soft credit check, which won’t damage your credit score, and you’ll get to see the actual rates you might qualify for (instead of comparing the advertised rates). It also lets you see if you get rejected or approved so you have a better idea of your options.
3. Finish the application. Fill out an application form once you’ve decided on the lender you want to go with (usually the one with the best rates). A full application will require you to submit financial documents as well as agree to a hard credit check, which will temporarily bring down your credit score.

What is the monthly payment on a $30,000 loan?

Example: $30,000 loan over five vs seven years at 6.99%, 8.75% and 10.15%.

The amount you pay will depend on your loan term and interest rate. Longer terms will give you lower monthly repayments, but you’ll end up paying more in interest over the life of your loan.

Loan amount	APR	Loan term	Monthly payment amount	Total cost of the loan	Extra cost compared to the cheapest option
$30,000	6.99%	5 years	$593.89	$35,633.67	–
$30,000	6.99%	7 years	$452.63	$38,021.24	$2,387.57
$30,000	8.75%	5 years	$619.12	$37,147.02	$1,513.35
$30,000	8.75%	7 years	$478.87	$40,225.48	$4,591.81
$30,000	10.15%	5 years	$639.63	$38,377.67	$2,744.00
$30,000	10.15%	7 years	$500.36	$42,030.55	$6,396.88

Your goal when choosing a loan term is to get a payment that fits your budget, while also making sure the total interest you pay is as low as possible.

Can you get a $30,000 loan with bad credit?

It will be very difficult to find a $30,000 loan with bad credit. If you have bad credit, chances are you’ll only get approved for much lower loan amounts. This is because lenders want to manage their risk, and they view borrowers with bad credit as higher risk of defaulting. Steer clear of any lender that offers a $30,000 bad credit loan with guaranteed approval. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it’s likely not legitimate.

Can you get a $30,000 loan with no credit check?

No, you should definitely avoid any lender offering a $30,000 loan in Canada with no credit check. Legitimate lenders will always want to see your credit score for a large loan, even if you secure the loan with an asset or get a cosigner. They’ll want to make sure you have a solid history of repaying your bills before they lend you a large amount of cash.

Frequently asked questions

• What can you use a $30,000 personal loan for?

  You can use a $30,000 loan in Canada for just about anything you want. For example, you can use funds for vet bills, medical bills, dental services, retrofitting your home, property investments, buying a recreational vehicle or paying for a wedding or other large life event. Many people also use $30,000 loans to pay for debt consolidation. Find out the best debt consolidation loans in Canada.

• What are the eligibility requirements for $30,000 personal loans?

  To get a $30,000 loan in Canada, you'll need to be a Canadian citizen or resident who is the age of majority in your province (18 or 19 years old). You may also need to make a specific monthly income and meet credit score requirements (usually 660+ to start).

• How can I get a $30,000 loan instantly?

  You won't be able to get a $30,000 loan in Canada instantly because lenders must first review your finances before approving. However, if you need a $30,000 loan as fast as possible, online lenders usually give faster approval and funding than banks and credit unions. You can apply online, receive pre-approval within minutes and get your money within a few days.