What to make of record low interest rates

Thursday’s rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left the official cash rate at a historical low of 0.25%. It was also the first out-of-cycle rate reduction since 1997. But the RBA wasn’t the only one dropping their rates last week, with two of Driva's key lenders also announcing a reduction for the first time this year. 

Here’s what’s changed, and what it means for you:

What’s changed?

The cash rate has dropped to 0.25%

The cash rate, which is the cost at which banks can charge or borrow funds, is now at a record low of 0.25%.

Broadly speaking, this means lenders can access funds more cheaply. The government encourages lenders to pass on these savings to customers in turn, which means less interest and lower monthly repayments.

‍Driva lender rate drops

Unlike mortgages, there’s often a fairly long delay between cash rates dropping and car loan rates changing. However, last week, Macquarie and Firstmac slashed their rates. This means any new loan written through either of these lenders would have lower monthly repayments than loans originated previously.

How these changes could result in savings

If you’re looking to finance a new vehicle, there’s no cheaper time than now.
Consider a borrower looking to finance a $30,000 car loan over a 5 year period with Macquarie.

For those that already have a car loan and are looking to take advantage of new rates, Driva’s smart loan matching platform can help! Simply enter the details of your existing vehicle and outstanding loan amount to see how much you could be saving on your existing monthly repayments!

Summing up

Whether you’re thinking about financing a car, or already have a loan, now could be a good time to revisit your finance options. To find your best loan offers or to see if you’re eligible for a lower monthly repayment on an existing loan, use our obligation-free loan matching tool or contact us.