What happens if you close a personal loan early?

Asked by: Alfred Davis  |  Last update: October 19, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (56 votes)

Paying off the loan early can put you in a situation where you must pay a prepayment penalty, potentially undoing any money you'd save on interest, and it can also impact your credit history.

Is it a good idea to close a personal loan early?

Loan preclosure is a good decision in many circumstances, as it offers multiple benefits, including the following: Save Big on the Interest Cost: If you pre-close a Personal Loan, you save a considerable amount on the total interest outgo.

Are there penalties for paying off a personal loan early?

Flat fee: A lender could have a flat fee as a prepayment penalty. For instance, it might charge you an extra $500 if you pay off your loan before the end of your term, regardless of your loan balance. Percentage-based fee: Your personal loan prepayment penalty could be a percentage of your loan balance.

What is the penalty for closing a personal loan?

Pre-closure charges

Pre-payment charges: Typically, a lender may charge a percentage of the outstanding loan amount as a pre-closure fee. Axis Bank, however, levies a reasonable charge of 2% plus applicable GST on the principal outstanding for pre-payment for the loans above 36 months.

Do you get money back if you pay off a loan early?

The sooner you pay off your loan, the less you'll have to pay in total interest. If you have an interest-bearing loan, this means less daily simple interest will accrue. If you have a precomputed loan, you may be eligible for a refund or rebate based on how much earned interest had already been paid.

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Is there a downside to paying off a loan early?

If you pay off the personal loan earlier than your loan term, your credit report will reflect a shorter account lifetime. Your credit history length accounts for 15% of your FICO score and is calculated as the average age of all of your accounts.

How do I get out of a personal loan?

Can't pay back your personal loan? 5 options to consider
  1. Contact your lender right away.
  2. Try to refinance your loan.
  3. Consolidate your debt.
  4. Enroll in a debt management plan.
  5. Negotiate a settlement.

Does closing a personal loan hurt your credit?

Paying off an installment loan entirely can affect your credit score because of factors like your total debt, credit mix and payment history. The benefits to paying off a personal loan include reducing your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio and saving on interest over the course of the loan.

Is it a crime to not pay back a personal loan?

Collection of a Personal Loan

Some borrowers will not be able to pay back the loan, regardless of how politely your request. And you cannot throw a person in jail for not paying their debts. You can act against the debtor; however, this is not something you should take on by yourself.

Can I cancel a personal loan after signing?

It is possible to cancel a personal loan after signing the loan agreement. But ultimately, it depends on the lender's terms and when you choose to cancel.

What happens to my credit if I pay off a personal loan early?

Key Takeaways. Paying off a loan may lower your credit score, but if you practice good credit habits the effect will be minimal. Paying off a loan early can reduce your debt-to-income ratio, which can benefit your credit. Your credit score is based on a number of factors, like payment history and credit utilization.

What happens if I can't pay my personal loan anymore?

When you stop paying a personal loan, the consequences depend on the type of loan and how overdue your payments become. Failing to pay could result in your account going into default, the balance being sent to collections, your lender taking legal action against you and your credit score dropping significantly.

What is the percentage of a personal loan settlement?

Generally, banks may settle for 40-60% of the outstanding amount depending on your circumstances. Make Your Offer: Propose a settlement amount that you can afford, while also considering what the bank might accept.

Does closing a loan early affect credit score?

Prepayments or foreclosure do not impact the CIBIL Score for a personal loan. So, your credit score will not be affected in any way by this. Once you have paid off your loan in full, it will be marked as "closed" on your credit report.

What is the penalty for paying off a loan early?

Prepayment penalties can be charged in a variety of ways. They may be calculated as a percentage of the remaining loan amount — typically 1 to 2 percent. The penalty could be equal to a certain number of months' interest. Or some lenders may charge a flat fee.

What happens if I end my self loan early?

If you decide to close your account before it's paid off, you can access the money in the CD, minus fees and interest, and the amount you still owe. Self offers two-year terms for four different monthly payment options. The lowest payment is $25 a month; you can also choose payments of $35, $48 or $150 per month.

Can you go to jail if you default on a personal loan?

Defaulting on a loan is not a crime. Lenders don't have legal jurisdiction to arrest you for an overdue balance. However, defaulting on a loan will have serious financial implications. It can result in the lender seizing your property as collateral, if applicable.

Can you sue someone for not paying back a personal loan?

Yes, you can sue someone who owes you money.

Are personal loans legally binding?

A personal loan agreement is a binding contract

The loan agreement might also include loan repayment details—such as whether payments may be automatically debited from your bank account—as well as personal privacy information.

How to close a personal loan early?

What to do:
  1. Visit bank with the complete set of documents (as mentioned above).
  2. You may be required to fill a form or write a letter requesting pre-closure of the Personal Loan account.
  3. Pay the pre-closure amount.
  4. Sign the required documents, if any.
  5. Take acknowledgement of the balance amount you have paid.

Why did my credit score go down when I paid off a personal loan?

You paid off your only installment loan or revolving debt

Creditors like to see that you can manage a mix of installment debts like loans and revolving debts like credit cards. For example, if you paid off your only personal loan and don't have other installment loans (like a car loan), that could cause a small dip.

How long do closed personal loans stay on credit report?

Closed accounts may remain on your credit reports for seven to 10 years, and can help or hurt your credit over that time depending on how you managed the account when it was open.

How to pay off a 5 year loan in 2 years?

5 Ways To Pay Off A Loan Early
  1. Make bi-weekly payments. Instead of making monthly payments toward your loan, submit half-payments every two weeks. ...
  2. Round up your monthly payments. ...
  3. Make one extra payment each year. ...
  4. Refinance. ...
  5. Boost your income and put all extra money toward the loan.

Is it ever a good idea to take out a personal loan?

A personal loan is a good choice if you have room in your budget for a fixed payment for two to seven years and a steady, reliable income. It's a great tool for consolidating credit card debt, as long as you don't charge the cards up later.

What is the easiest loan to get approved for?

Some of the easiest loans to get approved for if you have bad credit include payday loans, no-credit-check loans, and pawnshop loans. Before you apply for an emergency loan to obtain funds quickly, make sure you read the fine print so you know exactly what your costs will be.