Car Loans for Student Visa 500. Study, Work, Drive
Your visa runs in line with your enrolment and your work hours are limited in session. We explain how lenders on our panel read that, then compare eligible options for your income and the car you want.
Australian Credit Licence 509582. Lender fees may apply. Lender criteria apply.
Can I get a car loan on a student visa 500?
Yes, student visa 500 holders can apply for a car loan in Australia, though options are narrower than for permanent residents. Lenders on our panel may look at your work income, how long your enrolment and visa run, and any deposit. Approval and loan amount depend on each lender's assessment.
- Student visa 500 holders can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while their course is in session
- Work hours are unlimited during scheduled course breaks
- The visa runs in line with your enrolment, so check your conditions in VEVO
- Lenders may average your income across recent months because hours vary
- A loan term that runs past your enrolment may be harder to place
- No upfront assessment fee. Lender fees may apply, and we may receive commission if your loan settles
Reviewed by Simple Loans Editorial Team · Last reviewed
The Simple Loans Editorial Team researches and reviews every car finance guide published on simpleloans.au. Simple Loans holds Australian Credit Licence 509582 and is a member of AFCA.
Why choose Simple Loans.
Part Time Income Considered
Some lenders on our panel average your work income across recent months rather than one pay.
Enrolment Aware
Your visa runs in line with your enrolment, so we check how your end date sits against the term.
Short Credit File Understood
New arrivals often have little Australian credit history, which some lenders weigh less than income.
Deposit Options
A deposit may lower the amount borrowed and help with a short visa.
Plain Document List
We tell you what to bring, including your VEVO check and payslips.
No Upfront Assessment Fee
Lender fees may apply, and we may receive commission from a lender if your loan settles.
Student visa 500: what the visa allows
These facts come from the Department of Home Affairs visa page, checked on 30 October 2026. Rules change, so confirm your own conditions in your visa grant notice or VEVO.
| Point | What Home Affairs says |
|---|---|
| Stay | Up to 6 years and in line with your enrolment |
| Work | Up to 48 hours a fortnight when your course is in session |
| Rule changes | From 2 October 2026 there are new rules for Student visas about who can apply while in Australia and whether family members can be included |
| Needs | An eligible course and a valid Confirmation of Enrolment |
Your hours, enrolment and the end date all matter to a lender, so check your conditions in VEVO.
How lenders may look at a student visa 500
A student visa holder has work limits in session and a visa that follows enrolment. Lenders weigh both, plus how much local credit history you have. Policies differ and none of this is a promise of approval.
| Topic | What the visa means | How a lender may look at it |
|---|---|---|
| Study status | The visa runs in line with your enrolment, and conditions are shown in VEVO | May ask for your enrolment details and VEVO check, and compare your course end date with the loan term |
| Term near visa expiry | Your visa end date follows your enrolment | May set a term that finishes before the visa does, which can lift the repayment |
| Employment history | Up to 48 hours a fortnight in session, unlimited in scheduled course breaks | May average several months of payslips because hours rise and fall with the study calendar |
| Credit file in Australia | Recent arrivals often have little or no file | May lean on bank statements and regular income rather than credit history |
| Deposit | Not set by the visa | May lower the amount borrowed and help a lender accept a smaller loan on a short visa |
Making work income easier to assess
Lenders like a clear pattern. Keep your pay going into one account, keep payslips, and avoid cash work that does not appear in your statements. A few months of steady deposits can read better than a high month followed by a low one. If you have a family guarantor in Australia, ask us how that is treated, as lender policies differ.
What to bring for a student visa car loan application
- Your passport and a VEVO check showing visa conditions and expiry
- Your confirmation of enrolment
- Payslips and bank statements showing your work income
- Details of the car you plan to buy
Requirements differ by lender.
Other visa subclasses
Our main student guide is car loans for international students, and the pillar guide car loans for visa holders covers every visa type. Other subclass pages: 482 Visa Holders, 485 Visa Holders, Regional Visas 491 and 494, Partner Visa 820 and 801. If this is your first loan in Australia, read our first car loan guide.
How it works.
Tell us about you
A short enquiry with your visa, income and the car you have in mind. No hard credit enquiry to start.
We compare lenders
We compare eligible options from our panel and explain how each lender may read your visa.
Choose and settle
If you proceed, the lender assesses your application and we help with settlement. Timing depends on the lender and your documents.
Frequently asked questions.
Can international students get a car loan on a student visa 500?
Sometimes, yes. A smaller group of lenders on our panel consider student visa holders, usually where there is regular work income and a term that fits your enrolment. Each lender sets its own policy, and approval depends on its assessment.
How many hours can I work on a student visa 500?
Under the Study Australia guidance, you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Check your own conditions in VEVO, because lenders may ask to see them.
How do lenders count student income that changes with course breaks?
Hours can rise in scheduled breaks and fall in session, so a lender may average your income over several months of payslips or bank statements. It may ignore a one off busy month. Steady, regular work over time is what helps most.
Does my visa end date affect the loan term?
Usually, yes. The student visa runs in line with your enrolment, so a lender may want the loan to finish before your visa does. That can mean a shorter term and a higher repayment, which is worth testing against your budget before you commit.
Do I need a deposit for a car loan on a student visa?
Not always, but it can help. A deposit lowers the amount borrowed, which some lenders may weigh in your favour when your visa is short. Tell us what you can put in and we check which lenders on our panel fit.
I will finish my course soon. Should I wait for my next visa?
It depends on your plans. If you move to another visa, such as the 485, the lender's view can change. Read our 485 page, then ask us what to expect. Whichever visa you hold when you apply is the one the lender assesses.
Ready to get started.
No upfront assessment fee. Lender fees may apply. We compare eligible options from a panel of 50+ lenders.
Simple Loans is a finance comparison tool. Holder of Australian Credit Licence No. 509582. All applications are subject to lender approval. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply. This information is general in nature.