Installment loans for people with bad credit are also known as unsecured loans. These are loans for smaller amounts of up to around $10,000 and don't require any security. They are available to those who have struggled with their finances in the past at slightly higher interest rates, enabling you to get the cash you need quickly and easily.

There are a number of factors you have to take into consideration when applying for installment loans for people with bad credit and the first is the interest rate. Each lender will offer you a different deal, some may offer longer terms, others may only offer a short term solution. They will all add interest to the owed amount. With bad credit comes an increase in risk to the lender, therefore you may find you will pay a slightly higher interest rate than if you had the perfect credit score.

Once you determine what interest you are being offered, you need to take a close look at the repayment amount. Installment loans for people with bad credit are offered over an agreed period of time, this can be anything from twelve to sixty months. The length of the terms combined with the amount borrowed will result in a monthly repayment amount which must be met.

It is imperative that you look closely at the agreed monthly repayment amount before signing the contract. Work out your budget and ensure that you can afford the repayments without going into default. Going into default will result in more interest and penalty fees being added to the amount you still owe, increasing the overall loan amount considerably.

Another question to ask when applying for installment loans for people with bad credit is that should your application be approved and you decide to go ahead with the loan, how long will it take before the money is available to you. This is an important question to ask, especially if you need the money for emergency vehicle or home repairs. You may have decided on a loan to fix your vehicle so you can get to and from work, this is an emergency, so the sooner the money is in your bank account, the sooner you can have the repairs done.

The lender's reputation is another very important factor to take into consideration. There are hundreds of lenders that are willing to take a chance on a person with a poor credit history. Unfortunately not all of them are reputable and many have bad online reviews. It's worthwhile to see who can offer you the installment loan and then do some research to learn as much as you can about the company before making your final decision. Things to look for is reputability, customer service and trustworthiness.

Take some time to sit down and work out how you are going to repay the loan and whether there is a chance you may be able to pay it back a little quicker. If you think you may want to add a few extra payments in each year, then find out from the lender if they allow faster payments and if so, do they charge if you pay the loan off faster than the agreed period. Remember by you paying off the loan faster, they are losing interest. Some lenders charge a fee if you want to pay up your loan in a faster period of time.

Check to see if the lender offering you the installment loan for people with bad credit enables you to take a payment holiday. A payment holiday can be a valuable tool which can help you take a break from repayments should you find yourself in further financial trouble, such as losing your job or being injured and unable to work for a certain period of time.