It’s possible to get a personal loan if you’re 18 years old and have no credit history — everyone’s gotta start somewhere! Yes, your options are more limited compared to older borrowers, but there are lenders with more lenient credit score requirements and loans geared specifically for new borrowers.
Just make sure you are the age of majority in your state — some states require you to be over 18 to take on a loan.
As a teen borrower, you likely have no credit history. However, lenders expect this. Older, experienced borrowers might have a leg up regarding creditworthiness, but there are still plenty of lending options out there for young people.
Here are eight lending options to consider as a teenage borrower:
Traditional lenders like banks or credit unions may turn you away if you have no credit history. But you may be able to get an advance on wages you’ve already earned through a cash advance app — even if you get paid hourly.
Apps like MoneyLion or Brigit offer free cash advances and other financial wellness services to members who pay a monthly subscription fee. Others might suggest a tip of up to $14 per advance, though it’s not required.
Since income is the main determining factor in eligibility, your lack of credit history doesn’t affect your chance of approval. But you may not be able to borrow more than $200 per pay period.
Banks and credit unions can be more willing to offer your first loan if you have a long history with them — especially community banks. You may get around your no-credit situation by applying with them if you have an existing account, positive account balance and regular income.
If your bank doesn’t have a loan you want to apply for, you might have more luck applying for personal loans in lower amounts. You can find personal loans as low as $1,000. But some lenders offer smaller amounts on marketplaces like Credible, which partners with lenders that offer loans as small as $600.
Unsecured personal loans with cosigners exist, but they’re pretty rare. If you can find a lender that offers unsecured personal loans with cosigners, you may consider asking your parents, another relative or even an older close friend to be a cosigner.
When you apply with a cosigner, the lender considers the highest credit score and income on the application. If you can’t repay the loan, then repayment becomes their responsibility. This adds security to the loan, increasing your approval odds.
A cosigner is not the same as a coborrower — also known as a joint borrower or joint applicant. A coborrower can only help you get approved when you lack income, not credit history. They would have equal responsibilities to the loan as the other borrower, whereas a cosigner only steps in to repay the loan if the primary borrower becomes unable. Think of cosigners like a backup payer that helps you get approved for a loan and a coborrower like an equal partner who repays the loan with you.
Often, the first secured loan a new borrower gets is an auto loan, and many lenders are willing to work with no-credit borrowers. Most car loans are reported to the credit bureaus, helping you to build a credit history. And since auto loans are secured by the vehicle, getting approved as a new borrower is generally easier than trying for an unsecured personal loan.
It’s also common for teenage borrowers to have a cosigner on their first car loan, usually to increase approval odds or to get a lower interest rate.
A credit builder loan can help if your goal is to build a positive credit history when you turn 18 — but they won’t help if you’re short on cash.
Often available through banks and credit unions, credit-builder loans act more like locked savings accounts where you deposit funds into an account that the lender reports to credit bureaus as a loan repayment — which can improve your credit score. Credit score requirements for these loans are less stringent since they’re designed for borrowers with little or no credit.
It works like this: Suppose you were approved for a credit builder loan for $500. The lender opens an account for you, and you make payments until you’ve paid $500. Once you complete the loan, the $500 is released to you.
Students are one of the only loans an 18-year-old borrower can likely qualify for without a cosigner. You may even be able to take out student loans as a 17-year-old with a cosigner.
Many people consider student loans just to pay tuition, but they can also be used to cover some living expenses. Student loans can have low rates, long repayment terms and flexible repayment plans compared to personal loans.
However, due to the sizable amount of these loans, they can get out of hand quickly if you’re not on top of repayments. Missed or late payments can really harm your credit, and carrying high student debt can affect your chances of getting a car loan or mortgage down the road. Stay in touch with your student loan servicer if you decide to take on student debt.
Credit cards are one of the easiest lending products to qualify for as a teenager. In some cases, you just need to be 18 (or the age of majority in your state), be able to afford minimum monthly payments and have valid identification.
Most credit cards are unsecured, but there are also secured credit cards that you back using a cash deposit. These are designed to help you build your credit history, rather than advancing you money.
If you can’t repay the balance on the card, the deposit you made to open the account can be used to cover the balance. There’s very little risk for the lender, so they’re easier to qualify for than unsecured ones.
Using a credit card the way you would a debit card can be a simple way to start building a credit history. But they can also get out of hand if you overspend. Credit cards are known for high rates, so be mindful of your spending — interest charges can rack up fast.
Every state has an age of majority, or the age you’re considered a legal adult. In most states, it’s 18, but there are some expectations.
The age of majority is 19 in Alabama and Nebraska, and 21 in Mississippi, according to Cornell Law School. So even if you’re 18 in those three states, you legally can’t get a loan or enter any other legal contract.
If you’re a teen and you open your first account, plan on having a credit score around the high 500s to low 600s, which is considered poor-to-fair credit. That’s because the length of your credit history plays a major factor in your credit rating.
Credit scores range from 300 to 850, and the higher, the better. The major credit scoring models (VantageScore and FICO) generate your credit score from the information on your credit reports. Before you build a credit history, lenders consider you a no-credit borrower.
And you don’t automatically get a credit score when you turn 18, according to Experian. To have a credit score, you need to build a credit history by paying on reported accounts like a car loan or credit card — or utility bills and rent, in some cases.
So when you first start, don’t expect to have a great credit score right away. It can take a few years to really see improvement — but make sure you stay on top of all your bills and loans because payment history is the most important factor in determining your credit score.
Lenders have different application processes. But generally, you’ll need the following documents to apply for a personal loan:
Your credit score is one of the most important factors in determining what rates you can get on a personal loan. If you don’t have a credit history at all, lenders can be wary because you haven’t proven your ability to repay the money on time — your creditworthiness is a wild card.
However, there are quite a few things you can do to increase your chances of getting a competitive interest rate:
You may find it tough to qualify for an unsecured personal loan as an 18-year-old with no credit history. However, it’s not impossible. Luck favors the prepared.
Be sure to compare lenders, review your credit reports, and shop within your limits. For more lending options, check out the best personal loans.
It is possible for non US citizens or resident aliens to get a personal loan, including a mortgage, in the US. Here’s how.
Need quick cash? See how BMG Money helps employees handle emergencies without a credit check.
Legit lenders don’t offer guaranteed approval loans, but some options come pretty close if you can meet the lenient requirements to qualify.
Compare cash advance apps or personal loans as alternatives to allotment loans like Kashable.
Explore loans like Viva Finance with eligibility flexibility and higher loan amounts.
Top 6 alternatives and competitors to Tally.
Tally is a debt management app offering a revolving line of credit to consolidate credit card debt.
LendingClub is a peer-to-peer lending offering personal loans of up to $40,000 with fixed monthly payments. Find other lenders like LendingClub.
Prosper is a peer-to-peer lender offering loans of up to $35,000 at competitive rates with simple terms. Learn about similar online lenders.
OneMain Financial is an established lender that offers fixed-rate loans to fund just about any legitimate purpose. Learn about similar lenders.
I am currently 16 years old. I have a part time job making about 1 grand a month. I do have a insurance payment and I gas money as a bill. I have about 2200 dollars in savings. And I’m on course to be around 10k by 18. My friend is getting a job at the same employer. He by 18 will have around 7k. We want to purchase a home for around 130k. Do you think someone will fund the payments. If we can get the 1st time home buyer put down at 3.5 percent. We should have enough money to have in savings and be able to afford the morgage very easily. What do you think?
Hi Seth,
Thank you for providing a detailed explanation of your situation at present.
As finder is a financial comparison website providing general information, we are not permitted to provide our users with personalised financial advice.
Please note that the approval of your application would depend on the lender’s assessment of your financial situation and ability to make loan repayments.
It would be best to reach out to them directly to see what they can offer you for your case.
Best,
Maria
Excuse me i really just turned 18 will be going on a towboat soon and need a loan for a car and have no credit score what should i do and what will be best to do about getting one and dont have no cosigner
Hey Justin,
Thank you for reaching out to us.
If you have a phone bill or utility bill then it’s possible your credit history has started.
You may opt to check your credit score for free.
If none, it would be best to start building your credit history or to get a guarantor for your loan application.
As Finder is an online comparison service and is not a product issuer, it would be best to get in touch with a lender featured on our pages to discuss your eligibility or options.
Before applying, please ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria and requirements and to read the details, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/ Terms and Conditions of the option before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you.
I hope this helps.
Best,
Maria
Hi my name is Jacob I need a loan I’m 18 years old and need it for a car
Hi Jacob,
Thank you for reaching out to us.
You are actually on the correct page as the above has a comparison of the available lender that accepts 18-year-old borrowers. Kindly review first the details of the loan before you click on the ‘Go to site’ button or you may click on the hyperlinked ‘More’ to know more about the lender and what can they offer you.
Also, you may check available car loans that you may consider.
I hope this information helps.
Let us know if there is anything else that we may assist you with.
Cheers,
Ash
I do not have any credit, this is me trying to start and get my life together. No credit history at all.
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for your comment.
Thankfully, there are lenders who offer no credit check payday loans.
Kindly review the eligibility criteria and the relevant terms and conditions of the loan before submitting your application.
Cheers,
Anndy