Difference Between Secured and Unsecured Loan
A loan is said to be secured loan when it is attached to a valuable asset like house, machinery, land, car or any other property which if the loan is not repaid as per its terms, can me possessed by the lender and sold off and it is generally issued by banks and other financial institutions while a loan is said to be unsecured if no such collateral is attached to it and is generally issued to family, friends and relatives fie their fund requirement having no credit risk.
Secured loans and unsecured loans differ especially on one condition – one is protected by an asset and another isn’t protected. But this is not the only difference between them.
A secured loan is a loan that is usually given on a lien. It is protected by an asset/equipment. As an example, we can say that a secured loan is taken to a house or a car and it is protected by the same. As it is protected by the asset, the interest rate is lower than an unsecured loan and at the same time, the lender of the loan feels safe.
On the other hand, an unsecured loan is a loan that doesn’t have any protection. That’s why the risk inherent in the loan gets enhanced. And as a result, the interest rate of the unsecured loan is higher than the secured loan.
Secured Loan vs Unsecured Loan Infographics
Key Differences Between Secured and Unsecured Loan
Here are the key differences between them –
- The biggest difference between is that in the case of secured loan one needs to keep collateral against the loan; and in the case of an unsecured loan, this is not the case.
- In the case of a secured loan, the interest rate is lower since the borrower keeps one of her assets as collateral. In the case of an unsecured loan, the interest rate is higher since there’s no collateral given for the loan.
- In the case of a secured loan, the loan amount is huge. In the case of an unsecured loan, the loan amount is smaller than a secured loan.
- In the case of a secured loan, the lender has lower risk and the borrower has more risk. In the case of an unsecured loan, the equation is completely different – in this case, the lender has more risk through the borrower needs to pay more interest on the loan.
- Examples of secured loans are housing loans, car loans, auto loans, etc. Examples of unsecured loans are personal loans, educational loans, credit card loans, etc.
Comparative Table
| Basis for Comparison | Secured Loan | Unsecured Loan |
| 1. Meaning | It is a loan protected by an asset/equipment. | An unsecured loan isn’t protected by an asset. |
| 2. Usage of lien | Yes. | No. |
| 3. Interest rate | Lower. | Higher. |
| 4. Status of borrower | Has more risk because if the borrower isn’t able to pay off the loan, the asset would be taken off from him. | It has a lower risk, but interest is higher. |
| 5. Status of lender | It has a lower risk because the lender can claim the asset if the borrower isn’t able to pay off the loan. | It has more risk because the loan isn’t protected. |
| 6. Amount of loan | Much higher than an unsecured loan. | Much lower than a secured loan. |
| 7. Example | Housing loan, car loan. | Credit cards, personal loans. |
Conclusion
Secured loans and unsecured loans are taken in different circumstances. If a business takes a secured loan, it needs the money immediately; otherwise, it would not think of taking a secured loan because the business needs to keep an asset against the loan. This is the same as an individual if he wants to take a housing loan or car loan. But in the case of an unsecured loan, a business or an individual can take any time since there’s no collateral involved.
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