OneMain Financial Personal Loans: Secured or Unsecured, Up to $7,500
Need up to $7,500 and not sure whether to put up your car? OneMain lends $1,500 to $35,000 at fixed rates of 11.99% to 35.99% APR, online or at 1,300+ branches.
Some loans are secured by your car. That can mean a better rate or a larger amount, and it also means the lender can take the car if you stop paying.
- Fits: fair or limited credit, and people who want to talk to someone in a branch.
- Costs: an origination fee of $25 to $500 or 1% to 10%, plus APR up to 35.99%.
- Watch out: optional insurance products, and a car requirement for larger amounts.
Try the numbers with your own amount
Move the amount and the time to repay. The three boxes show what reaches your account, what you pay back, and the extra cost.
At a glance
| Item | What OneMain says |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $1,500 to $35,000. Minimums by state: AL $2,100, CA $3,000, GA $3,100, ND $2,000, OH $2,000, VA $2,600. |
| APR | 11.99% to 35.99%, fixed. The example rate of 24.99% is for “an average customer with good credit”. OneMain does not publish rates by credit score. |
| Time to repay | 24 to 60 months. |
| Origination fee | A flat $25 to $500, or 1% to 10% of the loan, depending on your state. It appears on page 1 of your contract. |
| Late fee | A flat $5 to $30, or 1.5% to 15% of the payment, after the grace period your state sets. |
| Returned payment fee | $10 to $50 where the law allows. |
| Early payoff | No penalty. |
| Funding | Up to 1 hour after you sign, if you use a debit card. By bank transfer (ACH), about 1 to 2 banking days. |
| Credit check | OneMain says looking does not affect your score. Review sites say the final approval includes a hard inquiry. |
| Where | Online, by phone or at 1,300+ branches. Not offered in AK, AR, CT, DC, MA, RI and VT. |
Source: OneMain Financial website, checked November 10, 2026.
Secured or unsecured: what you give up
OneMain offers both. The difference is your car. Here are both sides before you choose.
| Secured (car as collateral) | Unsecured | |
|---|---|---|
| What you pledge | A car up to 10 years old, in your name, insured and with enough value. | Nothing. |
| Rate | OneMain says rates are generally higher without a car as collateral. | Generally higher. |
| Amount | Larger amounts require a car. OneMain does not say at what amount. | May be lower. |
| Risk if you stop paying | The lender can take your car. | No car at risk. Collections and credit damage can still follow. |
| Military | Active duty members and dependents covered by the Military Lending Act cannot pledge a vehicle. | Available. |
Source: OneMain Financial website, checked November 10, 2026.
Ask for both offers and compare the rate, the payment and the total. Ask what happens if you miss a payment on the secured one.
What a $7,500 loan costs
OneMain shows this example on its site: $6,000, 24.99% APR, 60 months, $176.07 a month. OneMain says that is for an average customer with good credit. With fair or poor credit, your rate can be higher, so here is $7,500 with a 5% fee and 29.99% APR. You receive $7,125.
| Time to repay | Payment | You pay back | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 months | $398.34 every month | $9,560 | $2,435 |
| 36 months | $302.43 every month | $10,887 | $3,762 |
| 48 months | $256.50 every month | $12,312 | $5,187 |
| 60 months | $230.47 every month | $13,828 | $6,703 |
Our estimate, using the APR and fee shown. Your offer can be different.
A longer term lowers the payment and raises the total. The calculator above lets you test your own amount.
Is it for you?
It can fit if:
- Your credit is fair or limited and you want a lender that approves across a wide range of profiles.
- You want to talk to someone in a branch.
- You can add a car as collateral and want a better rate, and you understand the risk.
Skip it, or compare first, if:
- You cannot risk your car.
- You qualify for a credit union loan with a lower rate.
- You are not sure you want optional insurance or other add-ons. Read the contract line by line.
How it works
- Check offers. OneMain says this will not affect your credit score.
- Verify. You send ID, proof of address and proof of income. OneMain may ask for more.
- Final approval. Review sites say a hard inquiry happens here. Your score can drop a few points.
- Sign and get funds. Signing takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Funds can arrive in about an hour with a debit card, or in 1 to 2 banking days by transfer.
Fees and optional products
- Origination fee: comes out of the loan. On $7,500 it can be anywhere from $25 to $750, depending on your state.
- Late and returned-payment fees: see the table above.
- Interest method: OneMain uses either precomputed or daily simple interest. The site does not say which applies in each state, so ask.
Optional insurance and other products. OneMain sells optional credit insurance and other products. In 2023 the CFPB ordered OneMain to pay at least $10 million in redress and a $10 million penalty over how it described the refund period for these products. OneMain neither admitted nor denied the findings. In March 2026, 13 state attorneys general sued OneMain with similar allegations about products added without clear consent. These are allegations and no court has ruled. What to do: read your contract, and say no to anything you do not want.
Pros, cons and reviews
Pros
- No minimum credit score published by OneMain.
- Branches, phone and online.
- Funds in about an hour with a debit card.
- No prepayment penalty.
Cons
- APR up to 35.99% and an origination fee.
- Larger amounts may require a car.
- Optional products have drawn regulator attention.
- Not offered in 7 states and DC.
What reviewers say. Bankrate rates OneMain 3.4 out of 5 (updated November 10, 2026). NerdWallet gives 3.8 and LendingTree 3.7. Trustpilot shows 4.6 from about 81,700 reviews, and OneMain pays for a Trustpilot profile and invites customers to review. ConsumerAffairs shows 1.30 from about 3,400 reviews. Recurring complaints include fees that were a surprise, a smaller amount received than requested, and a car-related requirement that appeared after pre-approval.
Compare your options
| Option | APR to know | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| OneMain | 11.99% to 35.99% | Fee $25 to $500 or 1% to 10%. Car can be collateral. |
| Oportun | About 35% in its examples | $300 to $10,000. No credit history required. Fee up to 10%. |
| Upgrade | 7.74% to 35.99% | $1,000 to $50,000, up to 84 months. Fee 1.85% to 9.99%. |
| Credit union PAL loan | 28% maximum | PAL I: $200 to $1,000. PAL II: up to $2,000 for up to 12 months. Not every credit union offers it. Confirm with your credit union. |
Eligibility and documents
OneMain looks at your credit history, income and expenses, the purpose of the loan, bankruptcy history and your state. You need proof of identity (such as a driver license), proof of residence (such as a utility bill or lease) and proof of income (such as pay stubs or tax returns). Loan money cannot be used for college costs, business purposes, cryptocurrency or other speculative investments, or gambling.
Questions people ask
Does checking offers hurt my credit?
OneMain says looking will not affect your score. Review sites say the final approval includes a hard inquiry, which can lower your score a few points.
Do I need to put up my car?
Not always. Larger amounts require a car. OneMain does not say at what amount. Ask for both a secured and an unsecured offer.
Can I pay off the loan early?
Yes, with no penalty. With a precomputed-interest loan you may get an interest refund. Ask which type you have.
How fast do I get the money?
Funds can arrive about 1 hour after you sign if you use a debit card. By bank transfer it is about 1 to 2 banking days. Verification can add time.
How do I know it is not a scam?
Use onemainfinancial.com or a branch. OneMain does not ask you to pay before you get the loan. Check licenses at nmlsconsumeraccess.org.
Updated November 10, 2026. We checked the lender website on that date. Rates and terms change, so confirm with the lender before you apply.
