Trusted by More than 2,000,000 Canadians since 2016

Guarantor Loans

  • chAccess to over 50 lenders in one place
  • chTransparency in rates & terms
up Last updated

June 10, 2025

up Written by:

Amy Orr

up Reviewed by:

Jenna West

Compare Lenders

AMOUNT
$500 - $150,000
INTEREST RATE
9.99% - 34.99%
TERMS
9 - 240 months
AMOUNT
$500 - $25,000
INTEREST RATE
34.56% - 34.95%
TERMS
6 - 84 Months
AMOUNT
$300 - $35,000
INTEREST RATE
9.99% - 34.95%
TERMS
9 - 84 Months
AMOUNT
Up to $20,000
INTEREST RATE
19.8% - 34.99%
TERMS
36 months
AMOUNT
$1,000 - $5,000
INTEREST RATE
19.9% - 34.5%
TERMS
12 - 36 months
AMOUNT
$500 - $1,000
INTEREST RATE
Varies
TERMS
3 - 6 months
AMOUNT
$1,000 – $15,000
INTEREST RATE
19.9% - 34.9%
TERMS
Line of Credit
AMOUNT
$20-$350
INTEREST RATE
0%
TERMS
N/A
AMOUNT
$150-$1000
INTEREST RATE
30.4% APR
TERMS
30 Days
AMOUNT
$500 - $15,000
INTEREST RATE
34.37%
TERMS
12 - 60 Months
AMOUNT
$100 - $1,500
INTEREST RATE
Varies
TERMS
2 months
AMOUNT
$500 - $2,500
INTEREST RATE
18.99%
TERMS
Variable
AMOUNT
$300 - $20,000
INTEREST RATE
Varies
TERMS
12 - 60 Months
AMOUNT
$1,500 to $10,000
INTEREST RATE
Varies
TERMS
12 - 60 months
AMOUNT
$100 - $15,000
INTEREST RATE
34.37%
TERMS
9 - 60 Months

What is a guarantor loan?


A guarantor loan is available to Canadians that have a friend, family member, or someone else who trusts them to make repayments on this loan. These types of loans are typically up to $10,000 and may have higher than average interest rates, because they are given to borrowers that are considered risky by lenders, due to their credit rating and past financial history.

 

Guarantors take on a responsibility when they vouch for the borrower. If the borrower fails to repay the loan, then the guarantor becomes responsible for the payments.

Who are guarantor loans used by?


Guarantor loans are intended for people that need a loan but are unable to get it elsewhere due to bad credit or no credit. Banks and other lenders rely on an individual's credit history and financial standing to assess risk. If they don't trust that the borrower will repay the loan they are asking for, then the borrower will be declined. This does not necessarily mean that the person is unable to repay the loan. Sometimes, the past credit history does not paint the full picture.

 

With guarantor loans, if you know someone who trusts you and is in good financial standing, this person is able to "guarantee" your loan. By having the extra security of a guarantor, a lender is now able to issue a loan without worrying about the borrower's credit history. Because of the high risk nature of guarantor loans to the lender, the interests rates can be very high, over 40% APR (annual percentage rate). As such, guarantor loans are a "last resort" solution for many borrowers.

How do guarantor loans compare to other personal loans?


Guarantor loans are unique in their nature as they are used by people that have a hard time to get approved for a loan elsewhere, including banks, credit unions and digital lenders. Unlike other loan products, guarantor loans don’t consider the financial standing of the individual borrower, so long as they are not currently bankrupt or in consumer proposal; all they need is someone with strong credit or a homeowner to sign on as a guarantor.

Unsecured Loan
From Banks
Unsecured Loan
From Online Lenders
Unsecured Loan
From Guarantor Lenders
Maximum Borrow Amount Up to $25,000 Up to $35,000 Up to $10,000
Credit Score Required Great Fair - Good Doesn't Matter
Interest Rate 5% - 15% 10% - 40% Over 40%

The figures in the above table are approximations. If taking out a loan from any provider, check all terms carefully.

How do I qualify for a guarantor loan in Canada?


There are very few requirements for a borrower to qualify for a guarantor loan. If you are a Canadian resident over 19, have a source of income, and no active bankruptcy or consumer proposal, you can qualify for a guarantor loan.

Do I have to be employed to be eligible for a guarantor loan?


Being employed helps but is not a requirement. As long as you are not in an undischarged bankruptcy or consumer proposal, you can obtain a guarantor loan. However you must have some source of income, even if its not from employment. For example, a government benefit.

Who can be a guarantor on a loan?


In many cases guarantors are friends or family members, because they trust and know you best. However, anyone can be a guarantor, including neighbours, co-workers, or even your boss.  The most important important thing is that they must be willing to take on the responsibility of paying back your own, if you are unable to do so.

 

Guarantors need to:

  • Be least 19 years old
  • Have a Canadian address
  • Have a good credit history
  • Be able to afford to repay your loan, if you cannot pay

How much does a guarantor loan cost?


Guarantor loans are expensive compared to typical personal loans because they are higher in risk, and can be obtained even if you have very poor credit history.

How long does it take to receive a guarantor loan?


Guarantor loans can be processed very quickly, sometimes as little as 24 hours. Both the borrower and the guarantor need to submit information through an online application. The faster the information is provided, with no missing pieces, the smoother and faster the entire process will be. Some of the common aspects that can slow down the loan application is if the lender is unable to reach the guarantor or if any of the documents are incomplete.

What can I do if I cannot find a guarantor?


You cannot get a guarantor loan without a guarantor. Usually a guarantor loan is used by individuals that are having a hard time getting trusted by a bank or an online lender, and so they are declined for any loan requests. Friends and family members, your co-workers know you better, and can be in a position to vouch for you, so that you can get the money you need. However If you are having a difficult time finding anyone that would trust you to repay a loan, then it is possible that borrowing money is not the right solution for your situation.

What are the responsibilities of a guarantor?


The guarantor’s primary responsibility is to make payments on the loan, in case the borrower is unable to do so. The guarantor is liable for the loan, regardless of the reason that the borrower fails to make payments. For example, if the borrower enters into a bankruptcy or consumer proposal, simply stops making payments, leaves the country, or even passes away, the guarantor will still be responsible for the full loan amount to be repaid, plus interest.

Can a guarantor withdraw their guarantee?


To stop being a guarantor, the entire loan plus any accrued interest must be paid back to the lender.

What happens if neither the borrower nor the guarantor can pay back the loan?


In the event that neither the borrower nor the guarantor are able to make loan repayments, the loan may be passed along to a professional debt collections agency. The process of collecting payments for guarantor loans is similar to other personal loan types in Canada.

Final Thoughts


Guarantor loans are not for everyone, but when you need extra funds and banks and other lenders aren't an option due to credit history, they offer an alternative solution. Be careful when taking on a guarantor loan - they have high interest, and will hold your guarantor responsible for payments if you are unable to repay the loan yourself.

 

The reason they are so popular is that a credit history (or lack of it) does not always paint the full picture about a person.

 

Like with any debt, it is very important to understand the math of what the interest rate means for your total cost of the loan and repayment schedule. For more information about personal loans, please click here.

av
writtenWritten by:

Amy Orr

Amy Orr is a professional writer and editor with over 10 years of experience in the Canadian, U.S. and U.K. financial markets. She has written for numerous publications on topics as diverse as economic literacy, corporate finance, and technical analysis of numerical data. Prior to transitioning to full-time writing, she worked in the hedge fund sector. Her academic background is astrophysics, and she has a Masters in Finance from the University of Edinburgh Business School.

av
writtenReviewed by:

Jenna West

Jenna West is Smarter Loans' in-house financial writer and content director. She has been covering the Canadian FinTech and finance industry since 2017, including financial trends analysis, industry surveys, regulatory updates and changes in Canadian consumer behaviour when it comes to finance.

Awesome G.
04:46 26 Feb 25
I’m very honoured to shear my experience with this illustrious platform. To be able to systematically choose from a list optional to one’s profile without doing much leg work is truly rewarding. This platform allowed to expand my options and chose which lenders fit my profile, thank you and continue doing what you do best,, connecting people to available wealth opportunities.
Pat M.
03:10 26 Feb 25
Good place to get a loan
Chris “Stufphr” H.
02:07 26 Feb 25
When you feel in need of a loan do it smart and make it a Smarter Loans.
Dan Bott (.
01:41 26 Feb 25
Very Helpful, was assisted in a timely fashion and was ultimately able to receive assistance; I highly recommend!!!
joel K.
22:59 25 Feb 25
I have recommended this place to many friends I feel that this company goes out of their way to help people that they can and they are very easy to work with
Nate C.
13:22 27 Oct 24
This company is reliable, quick, and just has the best customer service and rates it is a easy process with quick results. Would definitely recommend to anyone that needs the help.
Vincent J.
07:08 23 Oct 24
Good place for borrowing a bit of money 😁
Kels H.
06:41 23 Oct 24
Personally love this opportunity and app. Super convenient and easy to use and super awesome variety of great loans. Thanks so much guys for making such an awesome site and app and being there for me over the years. :)
Tara H.
16:23 16 Oct 24
From beginning to end, my experience was great! Very professional and personable agents. They only asked questions that were needed for the loan and payments were extremely reasonable. Would recommend to anyone who needs emergency funds.
A S.
19:43 11 Oct 24
“ Thank you SO very much! My situation was tricky and you guys made the whole process so effortless. The way you guys handle the whole process so discreetly. That truly speaks to how well your office is run and the caliber of specialists who handled the processing of my entire loan!”

Why Choose Smarter Loans?

smart

Access to Over 50 Lenders in One Place

smart

Transparency in Rates & Terms

smart

100% Free to Use

smart

Apply Once & Get Multiple Offers

smart

Save Time & Money

smart

Expert Tips and Advice

As seen on
  • logo
  • logo
  • logo
  • logo
  • logo
  • logo