What Are Holiday Loans With No Credit Check?

Gifts, decorations, travel, and other holiday-related expenses can add up quickly. Holiday shoppers plan to spend an average of $1,652 during the holiday season, according to a 2023 survey by the Deloitte Consumer Industry Center. Whether your plans fall around that average or not, it’s possible that’s not money you have in your budget.

That’s where a holiday loan comes into play. Traditional holiday loans can help cover the costs of your shopping and expenses, so you can enjoy the holidays with less financial stress.

If you don’t have good credit, however, you might be tempted to take out a holiday loan with no credit check. Be warned that these types of loans often have very high costs, with APRs over 400% in some cases, and could lead to an endless cycle of debt.

Learn More: 

• Best Holiday Loans
• Best Christmas Loans
• Best Personal Loans

How do holiday loans with no credit check work?

Holiday loans that don’t require a credit check include payday loans, cash advance apps, payday alternative loans, car title loans, and some installment loans lenders. Since these loan types are targeted to people with bad credit, they tend to have very high fees that translate into very high APRs. In some states like Idaho and Nevada, payday loan APRs can reach over 600%, according to Pew Research.

Most no-credit-check loans require repayment within a week to a month. With payday loans and cash advance apps, you typically need to repay the debt by your next payday. If you can’t, you can rack up even more fees — which is where the debt cycle comes in. With a car title loan, you may have up to a month to repay, but risk losing your vehicle if you don’t. Of the mix, no-credit-check installment loan lenders tend to have better terms and longer repayment periods, though APRs can still be over 100%, in some cases.

A good alternative is a payday alternative loan (PAL) for holiday expenses. These loans are designed for people with poor credit, but cap interest rates cap at 28%, and they offer repayment terms up to one year, and loan amounts up to $2,000. They’re available from credit unions only. With some credit unions, you may need to be a member for a month to be eligible for a PAL, but with others, you could apply for one immediately once you join.

You should also try prequalifying with personal loan lenders to see if they may approve you, and what rates you might be eligible for. Prequalification won’t hurt your credit, but it’s not an offer of credit. If you apply for a personal loan, the lender will conduct a hard credit pull, which could temporarily ding your score.

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Holiday loans with no credit check lenders

Here are a few lenders to consider if you need a holiday loan with no credit check and a PAL is not an option:

60 Month Loans

60 Month Loans offers loan terms ranging from 24 to 60 months, and APRs up to 36%. You can typically find loan amounts from $2,000 to $10,000. It is only licensed to lend in 19 states, so check the map on its website to confirm eligibility. Once you submit your application, the lender will perform a soft credit pull, which won’t affect your credit score. You can expect to receive your funds one business day after your loan is signed.

OppLoans

OppLoans offers loan amounts ranging from $500 to $4,000 and a typical APR of 160% in most states, with repayment terms ranging from 9 to 18 months. It offers installment loans through lending partners in nearly 40 states. The lender performs a soft credit check when you apply and requires that you receive your income through direct deposits to qualify.

Possible Finance

Unlike the previous two lenders, Possible Finance has the lowest loan amounts to offer, only up to $500. The APR for these loans is typically 150%, according to the lender, but it has few requirements and reviews data such as your bank account history instead of a soft credit check. You’ll need to repay the loan in four installments over eight weeks.

Possible Finance will report your payments to two of the credit bureaus, TransUnion and Experian, which can help improve your credit if you make timely payments. Plus, it offers a 29-day grace period if you’re late.

MoneyLion

Though you should exercise caution with cash advance apps, MoneyLion is one to consider if you need a small no-credit-check loan that you can comfortably repay by your next paycheck. MoneyLion offers 0% interest loans up to $500 with no fees for standard delivery, and tipping is optional. These are both important — if you choose expedited delivery, you’ll pay up to $8.99 per $100, which translates to an APR over 200% for a loan due in two weeks. If you add a tip, the APR could be even higher.

Pros and cons of holiday loans with no credit check

The benefits and drawbacks of holiday loans with no credit check include:

Pros

• Bad-credit friendly: Even if you have bad credit or no credit, you can still qualify for a no-credit-check holiday loan.
• Flexible: You can use a holiday loan with no credit check to cover virtually any holiday expense.

Cons

• Limited options: It can be difficult to find legitimate lenders that offer no-credit-check holiday loans.
• High fees/APRs: Holiday loans with no credit checks can come with sky-high APRs that can cost you thousands of extra dollars over the life of your loan.
• Cycle of debt: If you can’t repay a no-credit-check holiday loan on time, the fees to roll it over can be excessive and lead to a cycle of debt.

Holiday loans for bad credit

Offered mostly by online lenders, holiday loans for bad credit are personal loans you can use for a variety of holiday-related expenses, like gifts, decorations, and travel. With a bad-credit holiday loan, the lender will pull your credit, and check your income and existing debt. If you qualify, you’ll receive a lump sum of money, as soon as the same day you apply in some cases. You’ll repay it, typically via fixed monthly payments, over a one- to seven-year period.

With bad credit, you’ll pay a higher APRs than someone with good to excellent credit. But unlike no-credit-check options, traditional personal loans typically cap interest rates at 36%.

How to compare holiday loans

Prequalify online to see the APR you might get with a personal loan versus using a much shorter-term payday loan or cash advance. Also consider the following when comparing holiday loans:

• APR: In general, traditional holiday loan rates range from 5% to 36%. The lower the APR, the less you’ll spend overall. Keep in mind that it will be difficult to land a low rate if there is no credit check involved. Rates can go as high as 400% for holiday loans with no credit check.
• Fees: Some lenders charge fees on holiday loans, like origination fees and late fees. These can increase your overall cost of borrowing.
• Loan amounts: Every lender has its own borrowing limits for holiday loans. Typically, loan amounts range from $600 to $100,000 or more with personal loan lenders, while payday loans and cash advances may be limited to $500 to $1,000.
• Repayment terms: You’ll usually have between 1 to 7 years to pay back a personal loan used to fund holiday expenses. Holiday loans with no credit check typically have much shorter terms, such as 2 to 8 weeks, and much higher interest rates.
• Cosigner option: A cosigner can be a friend or family member with good credit and a stable income that helps you qualify for a traditional credit-check loan. They may help you get approved for a holiday loan with bad credit, but will also be responsible if you default. Not every lender accepts cosigners.
• Time to fund: Some lenders offer same-day or next-day funding, which can be a huge plus if you need the money quickly for the holidays.

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Holiday loan costs

If you decide to take out a $5,000 no-credit-check holiday loan with a 160% interest rate and 1-year term, you’ll pay $858 per month and $5,292 in total interest. This holiday loan with no credit check would cost you $10,291 total.

However, let’s say instead you take out a traditional $5,000 personal loan with a 35% interest rate and 2-year term. You’ll pay $293 per month and $2,022 in interest. Your total loan cost would be $7,022 over the life of the loan.

As you can see, it’s well worth your time and effort to look for a traditional loan that does require a credit check. However, there are alternatives you can consider.

Holiday loan alternatives

If you’re not interested in a holiday loan, either with a credit check or without, consider these alternatives to help you cover holiday-related costs.

• Save ahead of time: Be proactive and think about your holiday expenses in the spring or summer. This way you’ll be able to save up for them well in advance.
• Credit cards: If you know you can pay it back in full and on time to avoid interest charges, a credit card can be a good option. Look for a card with an attractive sign-on bonus and rewards. Credit cards have an average interest rate of 21.59%, according to the Federal Reserve, but can go as high as 36%.
• “Buy now, pay later” apps: These apps can allow you to make purchases now and pay back the balance over time in 3-, 6-, or 12-month installments, depending on the app. It’s also possible to get a term up to 48 months for a large purchase. You often won’t have to pay interest if you choose to pay off the full amount in 4 biweekly payments.

Related: Personal Loan vs. 0% APR Credit Card

FAQ

What’s the difference between no-credit-check loans and traditional loans?

No-credit-check loans don’t involve a credit check. While traditional loans do come with a check credit, they tend to offer lower rates and more favorable terms.

How quickly can I get approved for a holiday loan with no credit check?

Most no-credit-check holiday loans offer fast funding. Depending on the lender and when you apply, you can get approved the same day you apply, the next day, or within a few days.

Where can I get a holiday loan with no credit check?

Holiday loans with no credit check are usually offered by online lenders. It’s a good idea to shop around and compare all your options.