No spin, promise
Rent to own vs a loan vs a subscription vs an old cheapie. Honestly.
Most comparison pages are rigged so the company writing them wins every row. Not this one. We'll show you where we lose, because you deserve the real numbers before you choose anything.
Typical small car, 3 years
The four ways to get a car, side by side
| Why Not rent to own | Bank car loan | Car subscription | Old car bought outright | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit check required | ✓ No, ever | ✗ Yes, and it marks your file | Usually yes | ✓ No |
| Time to get a car | About a week | 1 to 3 weeks, if approved | A few days | Whenever you find one |
| Weekly cost (typical small car)Based on a small hatch over a 3 year term. Bigger cars and shorter terms change the numbers — your exact quote always shows your real figure before you sign. | $195, everything included | About $140, then insurance, rego and servicing on top | About $250 to $300, most costs included | $0 per week, but repairs arrive when they feel like it |
| Insurance, rego, servicing included | ✓ All included | ✗ All on you | ✓ Mostly included | ✗ All on you, and repairs too |
| Own the car at the end | ✓ Yes, written into the agreement | ✓ Yes, once the loan is paid | ✗ Never | ✓ Yes, from day one |
| Total 3 year cost (typical small car)These are honest estimates, not quotes. Loan figures assume fair credit and typical rates; ours is guide pricing. Everyone's real numbers differ, and we'll always show yours before you sign. | About $31,000. Yes, more than the loan | About $26,000 including interest and running costs | About $40,000+, and you own nothing | Maybe $8,000 to buy, plus repairs, rego and insurance. Unpredictable |
| Flexibility to exitReturn the car and your exit cost is capped at 4 remaining weeks of payments, never the whole rest of the term. It's written into the agreement, not a favour we might grant. | Return the car, pay at most 4 more weeks | You still owe the loan, or sell the car to clear it | ✓ Very flexible, often 2 to 4 weeks notice | Sell it, for whatever it's worth that day |
| Best for | People the banks decline | People the banks approve | People who never want to own a car | Handy people with savings and a good mechanic |
Figures are honest estimates for a typical small car over 3 years, based on our guide pricing, typical loan rates for borrowers with fair credit, and advertised subscription pricing. Your numbers will vary, and we'll always show you ours exactly before you sign.
Advice we'd give our own family
If a bank will approve you, take the loan
We mean it. Look at the table above: a bank loan is about $5,000 cheaper than us over 3 years for the same small car. If you have decent credit and steady payslips, go get that loan. You don't need us, and we'd rather tell you that now than have you find out later.
Rent to own is NOT the right choice if a bank or credit union will approve you, if you have savings to buy a reliable car outright, or if you're comfortable arranging your own insurance, rego and servicing to save money. In all of those cases, the cheaper path is open to you. Take it.
Rent to own IS the right choice if the banks have said no, if your credit file has some history you're still living down, if your income is casual, self employed or partly Centrelink, or if you need a reliable, insured car this week and can afford a steady weekly payment. That's who we built this for. You pay more than a bank customer would, we've never pretended otherwise, and in exchange you get a car, full insurance, no credit check and a clear path to owning it.
That's the whole pitch. No pressure either way. If you're not sure which camp you're in, email admin@whynotownit.com.au and we'll tell you straight, even if the answer is "go to your bank".
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Questions people ask about the comparison
Why is rent to own about $5,000 more than a loan?
Two reasons. First, we take on the risk that banks refuse to take, and that risk costs money. Second, our weekly price bundles in comprehensive insurance, rego, CTP, servicing and roadside, which loan customers pay separately. Some of the gap is real extra cost and some of it is just costs you'd pay anyway, moved into one payment. We show the total up front so you can judge it for yourself.
A subscription looks similar. What's actually different?
The ending. With a subscription you can pay $250 or more a week for years and hand the car back owning nothing. With us, every payment moves you toward owning the car, and ownership transfer is written into the agreement. Subscriptions win on exit flexibility, so if you only need a car for a few months, a subscription is genuinely the better tool. For the long haul, ownership matters.
Wouldn't a cheap old car be the smartest money?
Sometimes, honestly, yes. If you have $8,000 saved, know cars or know someone who does, and can absorb a surprise $1,500 repair bill, an older car bought outright can be the cheapest option there is. The catch is the words "saved", "know cars" and "absorb". An old car with no warranty can also become a money pit that dies the week rego is due. Our drivers pay more overall, but the amount is fixed, the car is late model and insured, and there are no surprise bills.
Why not you? Why not now?
Find out in 60 seconds if you qualify. No credit check, no documents, no obligation, and an answer on your screen straight away.
See if I qualifyChecking never affects your credit score. Prefer email? Write to us at admin@whynotownit.com.au.