Simplify review

Author: Kevin McHugh, Head of Publishing at Banked.

About Simplify

Simplify is a car finance broker that was established in 2015. Headquartered in Auckland, Simplify’s stated aim is to make getting car finance easier for its customers.

Although primarily a car loan broker, Simplify also helps those looking for motorcycle, boat or asset finance.

Simplify is focused on providing a 100% online service, but it does also offer a phone number for those who prefer to deal with a person when sorting out their finance needs.

Vehicle loans available from Simplify

Although it specialises in car finance, Simplify can also provide loans for other purposes.

Car loans

There are no restrictions on what type of car (or van, truck, or caravan) you can buy with a Simplify car loan, but the car you choose must be used as collateral on the loan.

Motorcycle loans

If you’re looking at a 2-wheeled vehicle, Simplify also provides motorcycle loans. The broker states that it has helped more than 4,000 New Zealanders get on the road by helping them with motorcycle finance.

As well as road motorcycles, Simplify can help fund the purchase of off-road dirt bikes and quad bikes.

Asset finance

The broker doesn’t advertise it prominently, but Simplify does offer business loans in the form of asset finance.

As with other forms of lending offered with Simplify, it works with its network of lenders to find the right finance option for your asset loan. The business asset you are purchasing must serve as security for the loan.

> See our guide on business vehicle loans and compare options.

Fees

As Simplify is a broker, the exact fees involved in your loan will depend on a number of factors including:

• which lender Simplify uses to fulfil the loan
• the loan term
• how much you borrow.

Learn more about Simplify’s fees here (PDF).

Simplify may charge a broker fee for its service which can range from $0 to $995, again depending on a number of factors.

This is one of the downsides of using a broker like Simplify. They may be able to help you get a loan that saves you money overall, but even if this is the case you may still have to pay a significant fee.

It’s important to factor in this fee when considering using a broker. A broker can help you find the best loan deal for you, but there is a fee involved that you wouldn’t pay if you found a lender directly.

See our car finance guide for more on the pros and cons of using a brokers, lenders, and car dealerships for car finance.

Key features

We take a look at some of the features of financing your next vehicle purchase through Simplify.

A network of lenders

Instead of funding loans directly, Simplify is a broker and works on your behalf to find the right financing option. As its name suggests, this has the benefit of simplifying both the search for vehicle finance.

Simplify also says it’s able to negotiate discounts for clients, based on the volume of business it’s able to direct some of its lender partners.

However, remember that this probably involves a broker fee which could be as much as $995. See our section on ‘Fees’ above for more.

Pre-approval

Simplify can provide pre-approval on financing options. This allows you to arrange your loan, including how much you can borrow and your repayment schedule before you even start looking for a vehicle.

Pre-approval is convenient and it also puts you in a stronger position when working with car dealers. Dealers prefer customers who have approved funding and are ready to be drawn down and are more likely to provide a discounted price on the vehicle to get you over the line.

If you’re not sure if you would qualify for a loan, Simplify also has an online eligibility tool that can give you an idea if your application would be accepted or not. Using the tool does not affect your credit score and we found it easy to use had helpful.

Talk to a specialist

If you would rather talk to a person rather than apply for a loan online, Simplify provides the option to call or arrange a call back to discuss things with a representative.

This might be especially helpful if your financial circumstances are complex or the purpose you want the loan for is a little unusual.

Eligibility requirements

These are the eligibility criteria you must meet in order to successfully apply for a loan through Simplify:

• Age: You must be at least 18 years old.
• Credit history: You must have a good credit record. Check Simplify’s eligibility tool on its website if you’re not sure if you will qualify.
• Identification: You will need to provide a photograph or a scan of your driver’s licence.
• Proof of income: You must be able to provide either a recent payslip or your bank statements for the last 3 months.
• Address verification: You may need to verify your address with a recent utility bill.

Pros and cons of a Simplify loan

Verdict

We found that is a lot to like about Simplify. As a broker, they work with a range of lenders to help them find loans for their customers. If you’re looking to take the hassle out of getting car finance, this will certainly appeal.

However the downside to this is a lack of clarity around what available rates and fees are. Lenders can clearly advertise the costs involved in taking out a loan with them, providing at least some level of confidence around how much you might be charged and when if you took out a loan. As a broker, Simplify can’t provide the same clarity so you will have to talk to them directly to find out what they can offer.

In our opinion, it’s worth reaching out to the team at Simplify to see what they can offer you if you’re looking for a car loan. But also important to to compare what they can offer with other brokers and lenders so you can be confident of getting the best deal for you.