Main Types of Consumer Loan in Belgium

Consumer credit covers different formulas that all serve to finance personal projects without real estate collateral. Each type has its own structure in terms of duration, flexibility and cost, but they are all subject to the legal framework of consumer credit and therefore to regulated APR ranges.

Depending on your project and your repayment capacity, one type of credit may be more advantageous than another. Understanding the main options helps you compare offers beyond simple monthly payments and assess the true cost of your loan.

A broker can guide you through these options and help you choose the structure that best fits your financial profile, while ensuring compliance with the maximum authorized APR and your right to transparent information.

APR and Consumer Loan in 2026

The APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is a legal indicator updated every 6 months by the National Bank of Belgium. It includes not only the nominal interest rate but also most of the compulsory costs linked to the credit. This makes it the most reliable criterion for comparing two consumer loan offers.

Once your consumer credit contract is signed, your APR – and therefore the interest rate applied to the borrowed amounts – remains completely fixed throughout the duration of the contract. Even if the legal APR ranges evolve over time, the rate of your contract does not change, which offers you stability and predictability.

In 2026, the APR defined by the National Bank of Belgium for consumer loans continues to be framed within a legal range, for example between 11.5% and 15%. The minimum and maximum APRs are defined by law and do not vary from one broker to another. However, your broker can grant you the minimum legal rate as a commercial gesture, depending on your profile and the relationship maintained with their clients.

What Impacts Your APR?

Several parameters determine the APR applied to your consumer loan. The law sets the minimum and maximum thresholds, but your personal situation and the characteristics of your loan will influence the final rate granted by the lender within this legal corridor.

In practice, it is mainly the duration of your credit and the amount borrowed that make the APR vary. Generally, the larger the amount you borrow, the closer your APR will be to the legal minimum. Conversely, small amounts can be associated with a higher APR because the fixed costs weigh more heavily in proportion.

The duration also plays a decisive role: the shorter the credit duration, the closer your APR tends to be to the legal minimum. Longer durations can lead to a higher APR and therefore a higher total cost, even if the monthly payments seem more comfortable. A broker can help you find the best balance between duration, monthly payment and total cost.

Can You Obtain a Lower APR?

Some credit formulas allow access to lower APRs, but in that case, you leave the framework of a classic consumer loan and switch to a dedicated loan. This is a credit specifically linked to a purchase or a clearly identified project.

For example, car financing or a home improvement loan often benefit from more attractive APRs than a standard personal loan. In exchange, the borrower must provide proof of purchase such as an invoice, an order form or a work estimate. The funds are then used exclusively for the financed project.

Choosing between a flexible consumer loan without justification and a dedicated loan with proof depends on your needs and documents available. A personalized analysis will help you decide whether the potential APR gain justifies the additional constraints linked to the dedicated credit.

Your Rights: Cooling-Off Period and Early Repayment

Belgian law offers strong protection to consumers who take out a loan. Once the contract is concluded, the consumer credit law grants you a 14-calendar-day reflection period. During this time, you can withdraw from the credit by sending a registered letter to the lender or via any other means of communication accepted by the lender and specified in the contract.

This cooling-off period is designed to let you reconsider your decision calmly, compare other offers or simply change your mind if the loan no longer fits your needs. The lender must clearly inform you of this right at the time of signing.

Finally, if you decide to repay your consumer loan early, in part or in full, the borrower is reimbursed for part of the interest that is not due since the credit duration has been shortened. Depending on the contract, compensation may be requested by the lender, but early repayment usually remains financially attractive when you have the necessary liquidity.