Lines of Credit in Canada

How a Line of Credit Differs From an Instalment Loan

A line of credit is revolving, not instalment-based. You are approved for a limit, you draw what you need, and you can repay and reuse the facility. Interest is charged only on the outstanding balance, usually at a variable rate.

Because there is no fixed end date, the discipline has to come from you. Paying only the interest leaves the balance untouched. A line of credit is often cheaper than a credit card for a short gap, but it is a poor substitute for a fixed instalment plan when your goal is to be debt-free by a specific date.

Secured vs Unsecured Lines of Credit

The difference between secured and unsecured comes down to what backs the debt. A secured loan is tied to an asset the lender can seize if you stop paying, which is why it usually carries a lower rate. An unsecured loan is priced on your creditworthiness instead.

Lower cost is not automatically the better deal. If there is a realistic chance you could miss payments, a secured loan puts your home or vehicle at risk, and losing either is far more expensive than paying a higher rate on a smaller unsecured loan.

Comparing offers properly means holding the amount and the term constant. Otherwise a longer term can look cheaper simply because the cost is spread over more years.

• Whether the rate is discounted for automatic payments.
• The cost of any optional insurance added to the loan.
• What happens to the rate if you refinance later.
• The APR, not just the advertised rate.
• The total cost of borrowing in dollars.
• Administration, broker, insurance, and prepayment fees.

If a lender will not put the terms in writing, treat that as a reason to look elsewhere.

How Interest Is Charged

A line of credit is revolving, not instalment-based. You are approved for a limit, you draw what you need, and you can repay and reuse the facility. Interest is charged only on the outstanding balance, usually at a variable rate.

Because there is no fixed end date, the discipline has to come from you. Paying only the interest leaves the balance untouched. A line of credit is often cheaper than a credit card for a short gap, but it is a poor substitute for a fixed instalment plan when your goal is to be debt-free by a specific date.

Managing Revolving Debt

Understanding how Lines of Credit are priced and approved makes it easier to compare offers on equal terms.

Write down the APR, the total cost of borrowing, and every fee, then compare the same amount and term across at least three lenders. Confirm the lender is licensed in your province, read the disclosure document before you sign, and keep a copy for your records.

Two offers are only comparable if you set the amount and the term first. Once those are fixed, the differences that matter usually show up in the fees.

• The total cost of borrowing in dollars.
• Administration, broker, insurance, and prepayment fees.
• Whether the loan is secured against an asset you could lose.
• Whether the payments are fixed or variable.
• What a missed payment costs and how it is reported.
• Whether the lender reports to the credit bureaus.

Confirm in writing that the lender is licensed to lend in your province, and keep a copy of the disclosure document.

What Is a Line of Credit?

A line of credit is a flexible revolving facility you can draw on, repay, and reuse up to a limit. Interest is charged only on the amount you use.

Amounts commonly run from $5,000 to $250,000, with a typical term of revolving. Those figures are a guide only: the lender sets its own limits, and the amount you are approved for depends on your income, credit history, and its lending policy.

Whatever the headline number, compare the total cost of borrowing rather than the monthly payment, and read the disclosure document before you sign.

Lines of Credit by Province and Territory

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