{"id":1444,"name":"FAQs","url":"/faqs","contentTypeAlias":"Page","createDate":"2021-10-19","sortOrder":2,"faqs":[{"title":"General Enquiries","accordionItems":[{"title":"What is the difference between a CarStart loan and a bank car loan?","content":"\u003cp\u003eAt CarStart, we specialise in personalised finance. We take the time to understand your individual circumstances, allowing us to offer flexible solutions - even if you have a complex financial history. Plus, we offer the unique option to source and finance the vehicle for you via our Car \u0026amp; Finance Package, combining your car search and finance into one simple step.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"What is the difference between a car loan with CarStart and car lease?","content":"\u003cp\u003eWith a CarStart loan, you repay the amount borrowed and own the car outright at the end, with no balloon payment. A lease works differently: you make regular payments but don’t automatically own the car, and conditions like mileage limits or end‑of‑term payments may apply.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Do I need a deposit?","content":"\u003cp\u003eNo, in most cases a deposit isn’t required. If you do pay a deposit, you may be eligible for our deposit‑match or trade‑in options (subject to a full credit assessment). For more information, speak with our team on 1300 363 581.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Does CarStart fund comprehensive insurance?","content":"\u003cp\u003eYes, we can fund a 12-month comprehensive insurance policy into your loan, subject to a full credit assessment.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"What is the minimum and maximum loan amount?","content":"\u003cp\u003eCarStart Finance offers auto loans from $7,000 up to $50,000 (inclusive of fees), subject to approval.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"How long does the approval process take?","content":"\u003cp\u003eYou can typically expect a response within approximately 24 hours, provided the application is completed correctly and you can be easily contacted should we have any questions.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"What types of vehicles can I finance?","content":"\u003cp\u003eCarStart offers finance for approved used cars, vehicles and other approved assets that can be registered on an Australian road or waterway, which includes trailers, jet skis, caravans, motorbikes, boats and horse floats. If you are looking for something particular, contact us today on 1300 363 581 and speak with one of our Auto Specialists who would be happy to help.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Is there an age limit for the vehicle I want to finance?","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe build date must not exceed 15 years from the start date of the loan.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Can I upgrade my car with CarStart mid-term?","content":"\u003cp\u003eYes, you can \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"/customer/apply-now\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cu\u003eapply to upgrade\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/a\u003e, subject to approval in most cases. Just give us a call on 1300 363 581 or drop us a message via \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"/contact-us\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Contact us\"\u003e\u003cu\u003eContact us\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/a\u003e and one of our friendly team members will contact you to discuss your options.\u003c/p\u003e"}]},{"title":"Car \u0026 Finance Packages","accordionItems":[{"title":"What Car \u0026 Finance packages does CarStart offer?","content":"\u003cp\u003eOur Car \u0026amp; Finance package bundles car financing and car sourcing into one powerful service. This means we don\u0027t just provide a loan; we guide you through the entire process from start to finish. We\u0027ll help you secure finance so you know your budget, then assist you in finding a quality vehicle to match.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result? A faster, simpler, and less stressful car buying experience where everything is managed for you in one place.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"What vehicles does CarStart offer?","content":"\u003cp\u003eCarStart offers a wide range of safe and reliable vehicles across a range of makes, models, and price ranges to suit different needs. All vehicles are thoroughly inspected and prepared for sale by a local independent motor mechanic and include a state-based statutory warranty for peace of mind.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Where are CarStart dealerships located?","content":"\u003cp\u003eCarStart dealerships are conveniently located off major highways in Arndell Park (NSW), Slacks Creek (QLD), and Keysborough (VIC). If these locations are not convenient for you, we offer vehicle delivery (delivery fee may apply).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Can CarStart service my car?","content":"\u003cp\u003eCarStart does not provide ongoing vehicle servicing after purchase. You should take your vehicle to a licenced mechanic for ongoing servicing.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"What happens if you don\u0027t have the car I want in stock?","content":"\u003cp\u003eIf we don’t have the right car in stock, we’ll quickly find one that suits your needs as long as it meets our approved asset criteria.\u003c/p\u003e"}]},{"title":"Eligibility \u0026 Requirements","accordionItems":[{"title":"Who is eligible to apply for a CarStart loan?","content":"\u003cp\u003eA resident in Australia, over the age of 18 who meet our eligibility requirements. Additional eligibility requirements apply; these are outlined in our Target Market Determination for \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https://media.carstart.com.au/media/2ounnbz5/20260203_12-tmd-carstart-car-and-finance-package-v2-5.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"20260203 12 TMD Carstart Car And Finance Package (V2.5)\"\u003e\u003cu\u003eCar and Finance Packages\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/a\u003e or \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https://media.carstart.com.au/media/t0uhhdai/20260203_12-tmd-carstart-finance-only-v2-4.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"20260203 12 TMD Carstart Finance Only (V2.4)\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https://media.carstart.com.au/media/t0uhhdai/20260203_12-tmd-carstart-finance-only-v2-4.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"20260203 12 TMD Carstart Finance Only (V2.4)\"\u003e\u003cu\u003eFinance Only\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Do you perform a credit check for my application?","content":"\u003cp\u003eYes – as a responsible lender, CarStart conducts a credit check when you submit your application. However, a less-than-perfect credit history doesn’t automatically exclude you. We believe credit scores don’t tell the whole story – that’s why we don’t solely rely on them for our credit assessment.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"What documents do I need to apply?","content":"\u003cp\u003eApplying for a CarStart loan is easy and fast – we’ll need some personal information along with your internet banking details via our secure online application portal. The secure online portal allows us to gain access to your bank statements to verify your income and expenses. You’ll also need two forms of identification from the following: your driver’s licence, passport or Medicare Card.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Why supply my statements electronically?","content":"\u003cp\u003eProviding your bank statements helps us verify and assess your application. We use secure technology to ensure that your bank information is collected safely and securely.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"How is my banking information kept safe and secure?","content":"\u003cp\u003eWe use secure, trusted technology to collect your bank statements quickly and safely. We may retrieve your banking information in one of two ways:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVia our third-party provider, Experian Open Data Solutions, who collects up to 90 days of transaction history securely from your bank. Your internet banking login details are not visible to us. They cannot be saved, shared or used to access or transact on your account.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVia Open Banking through an accredited Consumer Data Right provider. This allows your banking data – including up to 90 days of transactions – to be securely shared with us strictly in line with your consent and our \u003ca href=\"/cdr-policy\" title=\"CDR Policy\" data-uw-rm-brl=\"PR\" data-uw-original-href=\"/cdr-policy\"\u003eCDR policy\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth options are designed to make verification faster and easier while keeping your information safe. All data is handled securely and in accordance with our \u003ca href=\"/terms-conditions\" title=\"Terms \u0026amp; Conditions\"\u003eTerms and Conditions \u003c/a\u003eand applicable privacy laws.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Worried about supplying your personal information?","content":"\u003cp\u003eWe use secure technology to obtain your bank statements quickly and safely.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe may collect your banking data using Experian Open Data Solutions, which securely retrieves up to 90 days of transaction history with your consent. All information is handled in accordance with our \u003cu\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"/compliance/privacy\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cu\u003ePrivacy Policy\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYour internet banking login details are required for this process but are never shared with us and cannot be used to access your accounts. This method is designed to make verification easier and faster, and your information is handled securely in accordance with our \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"/terms-conditions\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cu\u003eTerms and Conditions\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Can I apply if I’m self-employed?","content":"\u003cp\u003eWe consider applications from a variety of customers, and you may be required to provide additional documentation.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Can I apply if I’m on government benefits?","content":"\u003cp\u003eWe consider applications from a variety of customers. Your application will be subject to our assessment criteria, and a decision will be made based on your circumstances. Further details are outlined in our Target Market Determination for \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https://media.carstart.com.au/media/2ounnbz5/20260203_12-tmd-carstart-car-and-finance-package-v2-5.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"20260203 12 TMD Carstart Car And Finance Package (V2.5)\"\u003e\u003cu\u003eCar and Finance Packages\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/a\u003e or \u003cu\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https://media.carstart.com.au/media/t0uhhdai/20260203_12-tmd-carstart-finance-only-v2-4.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"20260203 12 TMD Carstart Finance Only (V2.4)\"\u003e\u003cu\u003eFinance Only\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Can I apply if I’ve experienced bankruptcy?","content":"\u003cp\u003eWe consider applications from a variety of customers. If you are more than two years into your bankruptcy or have been discharge you may be eligible subject to all other assessment criteria. Further details are outlined in our Target Market Determination for \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https://media.carstart.com.au/media/2ounnbz5/20260203_12-tmd-carstart-car-and-finance-package-v2-5.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"20260203 12 TMD Carstart Car And Finance Package (V2.5)\"\u003e\u003cu\u003eCar and Finance Packages\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/a\u003e or \u003cu\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https://media.carstart.com.au/media/t0uhhdai/20260203_12-tmd-carstart-finance-only-v2-4.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"20260203 12 TMD Carstart Finance Only (V2.4)\"\u003e\u003cu\u003eFinance Only\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Why was my CarStart application declined? ","content":"\u003cp\u003eCarStart reviews every application based on the full information provided. While we’re unable to share the exact reasons for a decline in all cases, changes in your circumstances may improve your eligibility. If things change, you’re welcome to reapply after 90 days.\u003c/p\u003e"}]},{"title":"Interest \u0026 Fees","accordionItems":[{"title":"How is my interest rate determined?","content":"\u003cp\u003eYour interest rate is primarily driven by our assessment of your credit risk. We evaluate a range of factors, such as your financial profile, credit history, and overall borrowing capacity to understand the likelihood of loan repayment. This assessment helps us determine an interest rate that reflects the level of risk involved in lending to you.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Is the interest rate fixed or variable?","content":"\u003cp\u003eCarStart interest rates are fixed for the term of your loan.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Are there any application or processing fees?","content":"\u003cp\u003eOur loans include one-off fees that help cover the cost of setting up and assessing your loan, these may include an establishment fee, origination fee, and risk fee. These are factored into your total loan amount.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Are there ongoing account-keeping fees?","content":"\u003cp\u003eA $19.95 monthly service fee is applied and included in your repayment plan.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"What is a risk fee and why is it charged?","content":"\u003cp\u003eA risk fee is a one-time charge that we apply when you take out an auto loan. It’s designed to offset CarStarts increased risk in certain situations.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"What is an origination fee?","content":"\u003cp\u003eAn origination fee is a fee payable to a broker for arranging your loan. It covers the work your broker completes to help you secure finance, including assessing your needs, comparing lenders, preparing your application, and supporting you through the approval process.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Are there any balloon payments throughout or at the end of the car loan term?","content":"\u003cp\u003eNo, at the successful completion of the loan term and contract, you own the car outright.\u003c/p\u003e"}]},{"title":"Account \u0026 Repayments","accordionItems":[{"title":"How do I make repayments?","content":"\u003cp\u003eCarStart set-up automatic repayments either weekly, fortnightly or monthly by direct debit from your bank account that coincide with your pay cycle.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"When are my repayments due?","content":"\u003cp\u003eYour repayments are due on the date shown on your statement. Your statement will be sent according to your Statement Cycle shown in your Loan Schedule. Your repayment date is usually the day you receive your pay.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Can I change my repayment frequency?","content":"\u003cp\u003ePayments can be changed to be weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Please contact us on 1300 363 581 or email us at \u003ca href=\"mailto:info@carstart.com.au\"\u003einfo@carstart.com.au\u003c/a\u003e to request a change to your payment frequency.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Can I pay off my loan early?","content":"\u003cp\u003eYes, you can. We believe in total flexibility, so we don\u0027t charge any penalties for paying your loan off early. Whenever you’re ready to make that final payment, just give us a call or send us a message, and we’ll provide you with a current payout figure.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Can I make extra repayments?","content":"\u003cp\u003eYes. For any loan contracts opened from 2026 onward, you can make extra repayments at any time with no penalties or fees. Please note that any additional repayments cannot be withdrawn once applied to your loan and your ongoing payments must continue to be paid as per the payment schedule.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"How do I change my bank account details for payments?","content":"\u003cp\u003ePlease contact us on 1300 363 581 to update any banking or personal details.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"What happens if I miss a repayment?","content":"\u003cp\u003eIf you are unable to make your scheduled repayment it is important that you contact us before your repayment is due to make appropriate arrangements. However, should we not hear from you, and a payment is missed your account will incur a Direct Debit Reversal Fee of $0.55.  If your account is more than 14 days overdue, an Arrears Fee of $1 per day will be applied capped at $100 per rolling 12-month period.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"What happens if I need hardship assistance?","content":"\u003cp\u003eIf you are struggling to meet your repayments and require assistance, we have several options available depending on your circumstances. We have a dedicated, specialised team ready to assist. Please contact us as soon as possible to discuss your situation on 1300 493 827. You can also fill out the \u003cu\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Financial Difficulty\"\u003e\u003cu\u003econtact form here\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"}]},{"title":"Troubleshooting \u0026 Support","accordionItems":[{"title":"I can’t log into my Members’ Area?","content":"\u003cp\u003eClick here to \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"/customer/forgotten-password\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cu\u003ereset your password\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"title":"Who do I contact if I have questions about my application or loan?","content":"\u003cp\u003eIf you have any questions or want to discuss your application or loan, you can call us during business hours on 1300 363 581 or email us at \u003ca href=\"mailto:info@carstart.com.au\"\u003einfo@carstart.com.au\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"}]}],"searchEngineRelativePriority":0.5,"hideFromXmlSitemap":false,"pageContentGrid":"\r\n    \u003cdiv class=\"umb-custom-grid-bs4 umb-grid\"\u003e\r\n        \u003cdiv class=\"container-fluid\"\u003e\r\n                    \u003cdiv class=\"grid-section\"\u003e\r\n    \u003cdiv class=\"row-narrow-width\" style=\"padding:4rem 0 2rem 0;\"\u003e\r\n        \u003cdiv class=\"row clearfix\"\u003e\r\n                \u003cdiv class=\"col-md-12 column\"\u003e\r\n                    \u003cdiv \u003e\r\n                                \r\n    \r\n\u003ch1\u003eFAQs\u003c/h1\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n                    \u003c/div\u003e\r\n                \u003c/div\u003e\r\n        \u003c/div\u003e\r\n    \u003c/div\u003e\r\n                    \u003c/div\u003e\r\n        \u003c/div\u003e\r\n    \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n","seoMetaTitle":"Frequently Asked Questions","seoMetaDescription":"Have a question about CarStart? Learn more about us here.","umbracoNavihide":false,"callToActionPicker":{"id":1460,"name":"Call 1300 363 581 to talk us about your next car","url":"/website-settings/call-to-action/call-1300-363-581-to-talk-us-about-your-next-car","contentTypeAlias":"Page","title":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"text-xxl\"\u003eCall\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"text-xxl\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"text-orange\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"tel:1300363581\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e1300 363 581\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e to talk to us about your next car\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","banner":"https://media.carstart.com.au/media/xyoevurd/suv-blue-1-2x-trans.png","btnText":"OR START YOUR APPLICATION NOW","externalLink":"/customer/apply-now","internalLink":{"id":1486,"name":"Home","url":"/home","contentTypeAlias":"callToAction"},"note":"Remember, we focus on your ability to pay today rather than looking only at your past."}}