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What documents do you need to apply for a personal loan?
Keep the application process quick by having the information you need ready.
When you’re ready to fill out a personal loan, you’ll need to have quite a bit of information and documentation nearby to enter onto your application. Understand what most lenders want to see and why so you can apply without wasting time.
Key takeaways
- Most lenders require at least two forms of government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license, passport, state ID or military ID, to verify your identity before approving a loan. You’ll need to prove your income with documents like bank statements, pay stubs or tax returns — almost every lender has a minimum income requirement, and these are the standard ways to satisfy it. Have your financial picture ready too. Lenders will typically want to see current loan and credit card statements, a rent or mortgage statement, an estimate of your monthly expenses, and any additional sources of income. Getting everything together before you start will speed up the process significantly — scan your documents in advance, and use the save-and-complete-later function if you’re not quite ready to finish in one sitting.
What counts as a government-issued ID?
Lenders typically require at least two forms of government-issued identification. While many will prefer a driver’s license number and recent bill, these will usually all be acceptable forms of ID:
- Driver’s license
- Passport
- State ID
- Birth certificate
- Certificate of citizenship
- Utility bill(s)
- Military ID
Who is most likely to be researching personal loan documentation requirements?
Finder data suggests that men aged 25-34 are most likely to be researching this topic.
| Response | Male (%) | Female (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 65+ | 2.84% | 2.68% |
| 55-64 | 3.63% | 5.99% |
| 45-54 | 8.04% | 9.62% |
| 35-44 | 11.67% | 11.20% |
| 25-34 | 15.30% | 10.09% |
| 18-24 | 11.51% | 7.41% |
Source: Finder sample of 634 visitors using demographics data from Google Analytics
How do lenders verify my income?
Almost every lender requires you to meet a minimum income requirement. When you fill out the application form, lenders will need the some basic information and details to verify your income.
- Bank statements
- Pay stubs
- Tax returns
However, if proof of income is an issue for you, you may want to look into your options for no income verification personal loans.
What other financial information do lenders require?
Lenders usually require information about your assets, debts and liabilities, so be sure to have a few other documents on hand when you apply.
- Current credit card and loan statements
- Prove additional/alternate sources of income
- An estimation of your current expenses
- A current rent or mortgage statement
How do lenders verify my employment?
Many lenders will ask for your employer name and phone number in the full application. But your pay stubs and direct deposits are usually enough to satisfy a lender’s employment verification. If needed, the lender can get in touch with your employer to verify your employment and income details. However, this is more common with mortgages than personal loans.
Will I need to provide extra information to buy a car?
Yes. Secured loans require extra documentation so the lender can verify the worth of the collateral. These details will need to be confirmed with the lender before you apply and especially before you purchase the asset. Expect to provide any of the following documents when applying for a car loan:
- Car insurance policy
- Dealer tax invoice (if purchasing from a dealership)
- Car registration number
- Vehicle ID (VIN) number
- How much you paid for the car
- The contact information of the seller (dealership or private seller)
These documents may not be needed at first. Many lenders allow you to fill out a preapproval application to see how much you may be able to borrow before you visit a dealer. This can help with the negotiation process.
4 quick tips to speed up the application process
- Know what’s needed before you start. To get everything organized, check the full list of required documents before you start your online application.
- Scan all your documents. It’s a good idea to have an electronic copy of your important documents. It provides easy access whenever you need to complete an online application and could serve as a backup in case you lose the original.
- Start now, finish later. Take advantage of the save and complete later function offered on most online application forms if you don’t have everything ready. You’ll be given login details to come back later.
- Compare options from lenders that offer quick loans, some as soon as same business day.
Bottom line
By knowing what documents you need, filling out your loan application can be quick and stress-free. Once you know what to expect, you can confidently compare a range of personal loans and apply without worrying about the application taking forever to complete.
Frequently asked questions
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How much money do you need to make to get a personal loan?
Your income is a crucial factor in determining how much you can borrow and if you’re even eligible. Find out exactly what you need to know before you apply.
Ok. Would like to see what I would cost me to get 100k loan if you have a spreed sheet or something to breck it do for me I’m definitely interested but just want to make sure I like the terms before committing
Hi Jaison,
Thank you for leaving a question.
While we are unable to give you a breakdown of your loan cost, basically, there are two factors that impact how much a personal loan will cost you: the interest rate and the fees which make up what’s known as the annual percentage rate (APR) or the annual total cost of a personal loan.
You can use our table to compare $100,000 personal loans in terms of their APRs to help you determine which loan option is the least expensive. Then, you can get a quote directly from your preferred lender by clicking the “Go to Site” button to see more details about their loan offer including the interest rate and a breakdown of all the charges and fees.
Make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements and review the loan terms and conditions before applying and making a decision on whether it is right for you.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Val