The two-wheeler industry in India is said to be one of the largest of its kind in the world. Whether it is due to the fact that bikes are the cheapest form of personal transport or the large urban middle income demographic in the country, this motor industry is booming. One of the other main plausible reasons for the rise in two-wheelers is that they are easily available to Indians and there are many banks and NBFCs that provide cost-efficient two-wheeler loans.
Additional Interesting Facts to Know About Two-Wheelers in India
- Some of the top two-wheeler companies in India that offer bikes and scooters include Hero MotorCorp, TVS Motor, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), Bajaj Auto, Yamaha, Royal Enfield, and many more. The Indian market also has bikes made by foreign bike manufacturers.
- Some of the best-selling two-wheelers of the year 2017 were Honda Activa 4G, Hero Glamour 2017, Aprilia SR 150, Honda Dio, TVS Apache RTR 160, etc.
- The future of two-wheelers in India will mainly comprise electric two-wheelers. All bikes will fully run on electricity without any petrol or diesel consumption. The country has had a good start with electric two-wheelers with electric bikes being launched by Electrotherm and Hero Electric. A few other companies that are working towards developing and releasing electric scooters include Mahindra Two Wheelers, Yamaha, Bajaj Auto, and TVS Motor. These bikes will most likely utilize lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries to be operated. There is also Ather Energy that will release the first electric scooter to be fully developed in India. The scooter’s name is Ather S340.
- Apart from Indian bike makers, there are also foreign bike manufacturers that are interested in selling their vehicles in the Indian market. This is specifically because they think that India is a highly profitable market for two-wheelers due to the high demand for vehicles. A few of the foreign bike manufacturers that are already selling their vehicles in India include Harley Davidson, Suzuki, Ducati, etc. UM Bikes, US bike manufacturer, has also recently launched its bikes in the country.
Why Should I Choose a Two-Wheeler Loan?
Considering the rising number of private cars in the urban regions in India, one might think that rural area transportation may have similar trends. The truth is that the majority of the rural demographic can afford a two-wheeler, mainly due to the availability of loans to buy the same. But the convenience of bikes are not the only factors that make these loans a popular finance product in India:
- Two-wheelers have a better resale value in the long run against cars and hence, once your loan repayments are made, you can think of a new vehicle already.
- A lot of people in India have the money to buy an entry-level motorcycle or scooter at one-go. But this would cause much distress, in terms of finances for the family. Also, a part of the lump sum that they have can be used to save or even invest in other investment products such as mutual funds, fixed deposits or even buy two-wheeler Insurance. In other words, it helps to ease the burden of buying a vehicle in a single month.
- A lot of people cannot afford to buy a vehicle unless they are allowed to pay installments and the majority of buyers fall in this demographic. Two-wheeler finance allows borrowers to pay EMIs comfortably. Also, they have much lower maintenance costs than four-wheelers. The mileage or fuel consumption is also better making it a more convenient buy.
- The Indian loan market has a lot of options in the form of banks to choose from with competitive interest rates and even throwing in combos for loans and insurance packages taken together. Some even come with the advantage of paying through post-dated cheques.
Types of Two-Wheeler Loans
There are two types of bike loans available in India, based on the security of the loan:
- Secured bike loans: You generally take these loans against a security or collateral that may be an asset, such as home, bond, land, etc. While these loans are easily available and have comparatively lower interest rates than unsecured loans, they also carry the risk of losing your asset, in case you are unable to successfully pay off your loan amount.
- Unsecured bike loans: At first, this may seem quite lucrative, considering they require no collaterals to be declared for loan sanction, but it eventually makes you pay a much higher price for your vehicle than you would have paid if you had taken a secured loan. But for first-time buyers, a secured loan is not always possible. Hence, this type of loan is the only option that is viable.
However, if one has the liberty, they should choose their loan type based on their priorities, both current and long-term.
How to Avail Two-Wheeler Loans?
You can apply for a two-wheeler loan through 2 main methods and they include online methods and offline methods. Let us take a look at the process of applying for a two-wheeler loan through these methods:
Online application for two-wheeler loans
- This is an extremely easy way of applying for two-wheeler loans. It is quick and stress-free.
- You can visit official websites of lenders that offer these loans or third-party financial websites. Once you visit these websites, you will get details about interest rates, fees, charges, and EMI options associated with each loan. You can compare each feature of various loans and then choose your loan. You can also decide your loan tenure and loan amount by making comparisons online.
- You may also utilize an online loan EMI calculator, which is available on both financial websites and official bank websites. Here, you can key in different loan amounts, loan tenures, and interest rates. Once you get results for the details that you enter, you can fix your loan tenure and loan amount.
- When you apply online, you can also submit required documents online by uploading them on the website. This will differ from lender to lender. You can check with your lender before you make the application.
- Applying online is easy as you can apply from your home or office without having to visit a bank branch and waiting in a long line.
- Online application for two-wheeler finance reduces overall loan expenses.
- Most lenders provide door-step delivery of loans when you apply online.
Offline application for two-wheeler loans
- When you want to apply offline for a two-wheeler loan, you will need to visit a branch of the bank or NBFC that you are interested in.
- At the branch, you will need to ask for a customer representative to guide you in applying for a two-wheeler finance.
- You can tell the representative about your preferences and financial condition.
- You will be required to finish all the formalities before the loan amount is disbursed to your account.
- When you apply offline, you will not be able to make use of online loan EMI calculators.
- You also will not be able to compare the several two-wheeler loan options that are available in the financial market. Moreover, you may have to stand in a queue while waiting for your turn to get support from a representative.
Features of Two-Wheeler Loans
There are numerous reasons and benefits of a two-wheeler loan, but there are some that stand out. It has mostly to do directly with the financing aspect of it but still is highly valuable to most customers if they are aware of it. Read on to know the major features that you should look out for in your choice of two-wheeler loan:
- Margin of finance: On an average, most 2 wheeler loans will pay for up to 90% margin of finance. This means that you can make a loan down payment of only 10%, which is merely considering the prices of an average two-wheeler.
- Loan partnerships with dealers: Auto-financiers often have special deals with motorcycle and scooter dealerships to provide convenient loans, which often prove to be cheaper than the ones, if opted separately. Also, as a buyer, you can negotiate freebies and added benefits if the bike or scooter dealership offers you the same.
- Relieving financial burden: The most beneficial feature is the fact that it helps spread the costs into a yearly loan that will last, based on your requirements, never to be responsible to give you a tough time when it comes to financing it. Some companies also take post-dated cheques for loan repayments, which is also convenient for many.
- Annual income leverage: Banks often offer these loans to people who are earning as low as INR 50,000 in a year. This means that you do not even have to be in the taxable bracket to get these loans and at the same time you can still afford it. Since the loan repayment tenure can go up to 4 years, your monthly installments will not affect your income as such as long as you have that in your mind, in your monthly budget.
- No prepayment or early foreclosure charges: Most banks do not charge any prepayment charges if you are able to pay up your loaned amount before your tenure ends. This is often suitable for some because it helps to clear off your debts faster if you can. At the same time, banks know that two-wheeler loans do not have very high loan amounts and hence charge nominally and sometimes do not charge anything at all.
- Other costs covered: These loans often cover the costs of accessories, insurance, and even registration. This means that you are getting finance for not only the vehicle but the essential expenses on the same. It is a good idea to add security accessories and make the most of this opportunity since the premiums also are made lower if you have extra security and safety features in the vehicle.
- Flexibility in loan tenure: Loans provide borrowers with ample time to pay back for the 2 wheeler loan with tenures that range between 12 to 48 months. A longer tenure helps to manage an individual’s monthly finance better and at the same time avoid defaulting payments.
- Credit score: As a first-time vehicle buyer or while opting for a loan for the first time, motorcycle loans are a great idea to open your file for your credit score since not only will this be a fast loan to repay but will not affect your credit score with lower chances of defaulting the loan repayments.
Eligibility Criteria for Two-Wheeler Loan Applications
Banks do not give loans for your vehicle on your face value. In fact, nowadays, banks are extremely careful about making sure that their customers are able to pay up their loans. This is especially due to the rising debt rate among youngsters in the country. Hence, they have a general set of eligibility criteria for two-wheeler loans, among which the following are the most important to cover.
The following table shows the general eligibility criteria for certain factors. These details can differ from bank to bank. You can check with your lender before you apply for a loan.
| Particulars | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 or 21 years to 65 years |
| Employment status | Salaried or self-employed |
| Preferred credit score | 750 and above |
| Employment tenure | At least 6 months in the same job |
| Minimum income | Pretty low |
| Residential stability | Applicant should be residing in the same space to show residential stability |
| Permanent telephone number | Required |
Documentation Required for Bike Loan Applications
It is essential to remember that with every eligibility criterion that needs to be covered, comes the requirement to prove it to the bank through documentation. Based on these aspects, the following are the most basic documents that may be required to be submitted along with your loan application to ensure positive results on your loan approval:
| Particulars | Documentation Required |
|---|---|
| Photo identity proof | Passport-size photographs, at least 2 to 6 are recommended to be kept handy for your loan application. |
| Identity proof | Any one of the following:
|
| Address proof | Permanent address proof: PAN card, Driving License Temporary address proof: Bills against your name |
| Employment proof | For salaried employees:
For self-employed individuals:
|
Please note that you will need both the originals and the photocopies while applying for a two-wheeler loan. Hence, we advise you to keep both at an arm’s distance.
Two-Wheeler Loan Interest Rates
Two-wheeler interest rates are variable, based on the bank as well as a range of other factors such as your chosen tenure, your credit report and even the vehicle you have chosen to buy. The rates generally vary between a minimum of 11% to 18.25% p.a. Apart from your interest rate, you will need to check your processing fee and other charges in order to determine the total expenses of your loan. You can negotiate the interest rate with your lender if you have a credit score or if you have some other way to prove your good repayment ability.
Two-Wheeler Loan Fees and Charges
Whenever you plan to apply for a two-wheeler loan, you need to consider the fees and charges associated with it. You cannot ignore these charges. Looking only at the actual price of the loan will not give you the right idea about the expenses of your loan. Along with the interest rate, you need to compare the fees and charges for each loan too. This will help you choose the right bike loan as per your preferences and requirements. Let us take a look at some of the common fees and charges that you will need to pay for your bike loan:
- Processing fees: Processing fees are charged for processing the request for the loan and it is mandatory for most banks. They are also, generally calculated in percentages of the total loan amount. It is also essential to note that this fee is non-refundable under any given situation. The amount charged for it varies from bank to bank but ignoring this number often leads to people paying excess for their loan.
- Prepayment fees: This is charged under the circumstance where people are able to pay the repayments earlier than due and sometimes even pay the remaining loan amount earlier. For bike loans, this charge is generally very low and sometimes even non-existent.
- Late-payment fees: As the name suggests, this fee can be easily avoided, with a little bit of planning. The borrower is generally charged this when crossing the due date for loan repayment, generally is a genuine result of financial crunch or lack of funds. However, banks charge a fee regardless the circumstances.
- Charges for conversion: If you wish to change your two-wheeler loan from a floating rate calculation to a fixed rate or vice versa, this fee is charged. This is basically a charge for switching, based on your requirements. In other words, it is a flexibility fee.
- Copy of an account statement: Sometimes people may require a statement for their current statement for the loan. While most banks do not charge for getting you a copy of the same, there might be a few banks which may levy a nominal charge for a hard copy of the same.
- Administrative fee: This is often a very deceiving name for this fee because it is often confused with processing charges. This charge takes care of the administrative cost to the bank for processing your loan, which is not a part of the processing fees.
