In ON, what should I know about accelerated payments for car loans?
In Ontario, accelerated payments for car loans involve adjusting your payment schedule to make more frequent, slightly larger payments throughout the year, effectively making an extra full monthly payment annually. For instance, opting for accelerated bi-weekly payments means you make 26 payments a year (every two weeks), as opposed to 24 semi-monthly payments (twice a month) or 12 monthly payments. This strategy, common across Canada for various forms of credit, ensures that a greater portion of your payment goes towards the principal balance earlier in the loan term.
This matters significantly for consumers, especially in the 2025 market where interest rates may remain elevated. By reducing the principal balance faster, you will pay substantially less in total interest over the life of the loan and shorten your amortization period. This not only leads to considerable financial savings, potentially thousands of dollars, but also allows you to achieve debt freedom sooner and build equity in your vehicle more rapidly, enhancing your overall financial health and flexibility.