Guarantor loans

What guarantor loans are, how they differ from borrowing in your own name, and how to check no guarantor options with a soft search.

Written by the Dot Dot Loans editorial team and reviewed by Paul Gillooly

Director, Dot Dot Loans

4 min readLast reviewed June 2026

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Soft search · won't affect your credit score

Representative APR 79.5% (Variable). Rates from 12.9% APR to 1721% APR.

A guarantor loan asks a second person to agree to cover the repayments if you cannot. It is a big commitment for whoever agrees to be your guarantor.

Many lenders on our panel do not require a guarantor at all. One soft search shows what you could borrow in your own name, with no mark on your credit file.

How guarantor loans work

With a guarantor loan, your guarantor is legally responsible for the debt if you fall behind. That can affect their credit and their relationship with you, so it is worth considering carefully.

A second person backs your repayments
The guarantor is liable if you cannot pay
Not needed for many lenders on our panel

Borrowing without a guarantor

If you would rather not ask someone to co-sign, you can check no guarantor options based on your own affordability. Checking uses a soft search and does not affect your score.

What it means for your guarantor

A guarantor is legally responsible for the repayments if you cannot make them, so it is a genuine commitment for whoever agrees. Missed payments can affect their credit as well as yours, and it can put a strain on the relationship, so it should only be agreed after careful thought on both sides.

Guarantor loan or borrowing on your own

Many lenders on our panel lend without a guarantor at all, based on your own circumstances. If you would rather not ask someone to back your loan, you can check no guarantor options first with a soft search.

How to apply

Get your quote

Enter the amount and term you have in mind. The form takes about two minutes and runs a soft search only.

See your matches

We check your details against a panel of FCA authorised lenders and brokers and show your matches.

Apply to the lender

Pick the offer that suits you and finish the lender's own application, where a full check is carried out.

Get your funds

If the lender approves you, funds are often sent the same day, sometimes within the hour.

Borrowing responsibly

It is worth making sure the monthly repayment fits comfortably around your other commitments before you apply. Focus on the total amount repayable across the full term, not just the headline monthly figure, and only borrow what you really need.

Every lender on our panel is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, and high cost short term credit is capped, so you can never repay more in interest and fees than the amount you borrowed. If money is tight, free and impartial help is available from MoneyHelper.

Representative Example: £1,000 borrowed for 18 months. 17 monthly repayments at £87.22, final repayment of £87.70. Total amount repayable £1,570.44. Interest total £570.44. Annual interest rate 59.97% (fixed). Representative APR 79.5% (Variable). Any representative monthly repayment shown is for illustration only, based on our representative APR. Your actual repayments will be confirmed by the matching lender if your application is approved.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a guarantor to borrow?

Not necessarily. Many lenders on our panel lend based on your own circumstances, with no guarantor required.

Is being a guarantor risky?

It can be. A guarantor is legally responsible for the repayments if the borrower cannot pay, so it should only be agreed after careful thought.

Is approval guaranteed?

No. We are a credit broker, not a lender, and no responsible firm can guarantee a loan. Be wary of anyone promising guaranteed approval whatever your circumstances.