No spin, promise
Rent to own vs the bank vs a subscription vs an old cheapie. Honestly.
You work for your money, so you do your homework before you spend it. Good. 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 how your work gets its wheels.
Our 2017 Kia Cerato Sport, 3.5 years
The four ways to get a work car, side by side
| Why Not work car plan | Bank car loan | Car subscription | Old car bought outright | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit check required | Not for the initial enquiry; later requirements are explained | ✗ Yes, and it marks your file | Usually yes | ✓ No |
| Time to get on the road | About a week | 1 to 3 weeks, if approved | A few days | Whenever you find one |
| Weekly cost (our Kia Cerato Sport)Based on our 2017 Kia Cerato Sport over its 3.5 year term. Bigger cars change the numbers, and your exact quote always shows your real figure before you sign. | From $195 guide pricing; approved inclusions vary | About $85, 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 | Depends on approved written agreement | ✗ All on you | ✓ Mostly included | ✗ All on you, and repairs too |
| End-of-term outcome | Depends on approved product; confirmed in writing | ✓ Yes, once the loan is paid | ✗ Never | ✓ Yes, from day one |
| Flexibility to exitEarly-exit options and costs depend on the approved product and are set out in the written agreement. | See approved agreement | 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 | Working people the banks decline | People the banks approve | People who never want to own their car | Handy people with savings and a good mechanic |
Figures are honest estimates for our 2017 Kia Cerato Sport over its 3.5 year term, based on our guide pricing, typical bank 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 back you, take their deal
We mean it. Look at the table above: the bank is about $7,000 cheaper than us over 3.5 years for the same car. If your file is clean and the bank says yes, go with them. 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.
A Why Not plan may be worth considering if your car earns your income, the work is real and a steady weekly payment fits. The approved product may cost more than bank finance; its exact inclusions, total cost and any ownership pathway will be confirmed in writing so you can compare it properly.
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".
Shopping around? Good.
Comparing rent to own companies? Check these four things.
We won't name names, and we don't need to. Put any rent to own agreement next to ours and check four lines.
First, does servicing run the whole term, or quietly stop after the first year while your payments keep going for three more?
Second, what does the agreement say happens at the end? If an ownership pathway is offered, check every condition and any final payment rather than relying on advertising.
Third, is the total cost printed next to the weekly price, or do you have to multiply it out yourself in the car park?
Fourth, what happens when you miss a week: a phone call from a person, or a car that won't start the next morning?
Our answer: the approved product, inclusions, end-of-term outcome and support process are written down before you sign. Compare that agreement carefully with every alternative.
Done your homework?Check in 60 seconds, no credit impact, no obligation.
Check my starting fitStraight answers
Questions people ask about the comparison
Why is rent to own about $7,000 more than the bank?
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 for the whole term and roadside, which bank customers pay separately on top. 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 depends on the product. A subscription ordinarily ends with the car being returned. A Why Not plan may include an ownership pathway if you are eligible, but you should rely only on the end-of-term terms in your approved written agreement. Subscriptions can still win on exit flexibility if you only need wheels for a short period.
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". When the car is how you earn, a breakdown isn't just a repair bill, it's a week of cancelled clients and lost income while it sits in a workshop. Our drivers pay more overall, but the amount is fixed, the car is late model and insured, and there are no surprise bills or lost weeks.
Your work needs wheels. Why not sort it this week?
Send a 60-second enquiry. No documents are needed for this first step, the enquiry itself does not run a credit check, and you will see an indicative routing result on screen.
Check my starting fitThe initial enquiry does not run a credit check. Prefer email? Write to us at admin@whynotownit.com.au.
