Short-term loans in BC offer fast and easy access to emergency cash. Bad credit won’t stop you from getting a loan, and you can borrow up to $5,000. But short-term loans can be very expensive to repay, and you’ll need to watch out for scams and sketchy lenders.
If you need an emergency loan, keep reading to learn how to compare short-term loans in BC and find one that’s right for you.
Short-term loans you can get in BC
- Cash advances (easier to get)
- Installment loans (harder to get)
- Payday loans (easier to get)
Compare short-term cash advances in BC
Cash advance providers offer short-term loans ranging from approximately $20 to $350. You pay no interest on these cash loans, but you may pay a monthly subscription fee.
Compare short-term installment loans in BC
Alternative lenders offer short-term installment loans of up to $5,000 with lenient eligibility requirements. However, watch out for high interest rates and fees.
⚠️ Warning: Be cautious with payday loans
High-cost payday loans are unsustainable for borrowing over a continued period of time and are expensive as a means of longer-term borrowing. View payday costs and regulations by province here. If you're experiencing financial hardship call Credit Counselling Canada for free financial counselling (Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm at +1 866-398-5999). You may also want to consider payday loan alternatives.Compare short-term payday loans in BC
Payday lenders in BC provide fast access to loans of up to $1,500. There are no credit checks and you can get funded in less than an hour, but these types of loans are extremely expensive and often need to be repaid by your next payday.
Maximum borrowing costs of payday loans per province
Always refer to your contract for exact repayment amounts and costs.Province | Max. cost of borrowing a $100 payday loan | Cooling off period to cancel loan | Max. penalty for returned cheque or pre-authorized debit |
---|---|---|---|
Alberta | $15 | 2 business days | $25 |
British Columbia | $15 | 2 business days | $20 |
Manitoba | $17 | 48 hours excluding Sundays and holidays | $20 |
New Brunswick | $15 | 48 hours excluding Sundays and holidays | $20 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | $14 | 2 business days | $20 |
Nova Scotia | $15 | Next business day (2 days for online loans) | $40 (default penalty) |
Ontario | $15 | 2 business days | $25 |
Prince Edward Island | $15 | 2 business days | N/A |
Quebec | Limit of 35% AIR | N/A | N/A |
Saskatchewan | $17 | Next business day | $25 |
Option 1: Cash advances
Cash advance providers offer interest-free short-term loans that are typically designed to be repaid with your next paycheque. Loan amounts range from approximately $20 to $350, and there are no credit checks required to apply.
You typically won’t need to worry about loan fees, but you may need to pay a monthly fee to qualify for an advance. You might also need to pay a small fee to get instant access to funds—otherwise it could take up to three business days to get your money.
Pros and cons of short-term cash advances
- Easy to apply
- No credit checks
- No interest charges
- More affordable than other options
- Potential to rebuild credit
- Small maximum loan amount may not be enough for your needs
- Membership fee may apply
- You may need to pay an extra fee to get an instant loan
Am I eligible for a short-term cash advance?
Requirements vary between providers, but generally you’ll need to:
- Be a Canadian resident
- Be at least 19 years old
- Have an active Canadian bank account
- Have recurring income paid into your account
How to apply
Sign up online or via mobile app. Provide your name, date of birth, contact details and bank account information.
Option 2: Short-term installment loans
Installment loans provide a lump sum that you can repay over a term ranging from around 3 - 24 months. Loans of up to $5,000 are available, with rates typically ranging from 18% to 47%. Some lenders might also charge a broker fee. You can apply directly with a lender or compare multiple lenders using a loan search platform.
Some lenders have minimum credit score requirements, but other online lenders are willing to work with borrowers who have bad credit. These lenders will assess your income and employment situation before deciding whether to approve your loan application.
Pros and cons of short-term installment loans
- Access large loan amounts of up to $5,000
- Options for good and bad credit
- Repay what you borrow in installments
- Wide range of lenders to choose from
- High rates for bad credit
- Some lenders conduct credit checks
- Watch out for fees
- Stricter eligibility criteria than payday loans
Am I eligible for a short-term installment loan?
Eligibility requirements vary depending on the lender, but typically you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Be at least 19 years old
- Have a source of income and regular employment
- Have a Canadian bank account
- Meet a minimum credit score requirement
How to apply
Apply online by providing your personal and contact details, bank account information and employment details. Some lenders will also require you to undergo a credit check.
Option 3: Payday loans
Payday loans in BC are loans of up to $1,500. These loans are typically designed to be repaid by your next payday but have a maximum loan term of 62 days. Eligibility requirements are lenient. Rather than checking your credit score, lenders will assess whether you receive sufficient income to afford loan repayments.
But payday loans are very expensive. In BC, the maximum amount a payday lender can charge you is $15 for every $100 borrowed.
Pros and cons of payday loans
- Easy to apply online, via an app or in-store
- You can get funded 24/7
- Bad credit is OK
- Get your money in less than an hour
- Extremely expensive
- Short term makes it hard to budget for repayments
- High NSF fees and late fees
Am I eligible for a short-term payday loan?
To qualify for a payday loan in BC, you’ll usually need to:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Be at least 19 years old
- Have a steady source of income (some lenders only accept employment income, but others accept government benefits and other types of income)
How to apply
Apply for a payday loan online, via mobile app or in-store. You’ll need to provide personal and contact details, bank account details, and employment and income information.
Can I get a short-term loan in BC with bad credit?
Yes, you can get a short-term loan if you have bad credit. Payday lenders and cash advance providers typically don’t conduct credit checks. There are also many installment loan providers that work with bad credit borrowers.
Rather than focusing on your credit score, these lenders consider your income and existing debts when determining if you can afford a loan. However, the downside of applying for a bad credit loan is that you can expect high interest rates. Learn more about bad credit loans in BC.
How to get approved for short-term loans in BC
These tips will help you improve your chances of getting approved for a loan:
- Improve your credit score. Disputing inaccurate listings on your credit report, paying down existing debts and taking other steps to improve your credit score will boost your chance of approval.
- Online bank verification. Many online lenders offer instant bank verification. This allows the lender to verify your income by accessing your bank statement electronically, which speeds up the application process.
- Review your application. A simple error in your application could lead to a rejection, so double-check that all your details are correct before submitting.
How much do short-term loans in BC cost?
Your interest rate depends on factors like the lender you choose as well as your credit score, income and employment history. The loan term also affects how much it costs to repay, so let’s look at a representative example.
Representative example: Installment loan vs payday loan
Sarah needs a $1,000 loan to pay for urgent car repairs. While a payday loan seems like a quick and easy option, she decides to compare it with installment loans from two different lenders to find the best deal.
As you can see in the table below, the payday loan is clearly the most expensive option—and it needs to be paid back in just 14 days. This results in an APR of 391%,
Installment loan 1 | Installment loan 2 | Payday loan | |
---|---|---|---|
Loan amount | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Loan term | 6 months | 6 months | 14 days |
Interest rate | 17.99% | 29.99% | $15 for every $100 borrowed |
Repayments | $175.52 | $181.54 | One-off payment of $1,150 |
Total cost | $1,053.12 | $1,089.27 | $1,150 |
Bottom line
There are plenty of options to choose from if you need a short-term loan in BC. But some options, especially payday loans, are very expensive to repay. Compare a range of short-term loans in BC before deciding which one is right for you.
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