Best personal loans for moving and relocation 2026: An affordable way to finance your next big adventure

If you’re searching for a moving loan, you’ve discovered the harsh reality that relocation can be very expensive. A personal loan can be a great way to finance this adventure. But how do you know which is best for you?

Here’s what you need to know about the best personal loans for moving and relocation.

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Best personal loans for moving and relocation of January 2026

Best for	Institution	Max loan amount	Max loan term	APR	See details
Large-scale	LightStream	$100,000	240 months	6.49%-24.89%	View offer at MoneyLion
Small-scale relocation	PenFed Credit Union	$50,000	60 months	6.74%-17.99%	View offer at MoneyLion
Short-notice relocation	Wells Fargo	$40,000	84 months	6.74%-25.99%	View offer at MoneyLion
Low fees	Discover	$40,000	84 months	7.99%-24.99%	View offer at MoneyLion
Low credit	Upgrade	$50,000	84 months	7.74%-35.99%	View offer at Bankrate

Large-scale	View offer at MoneyLion
Institution	LightStream
Max loan amount	$100,000
Max loan term	240 months
APR	6.49%-24.89%
Small-scale relocation	View offer at MoneyLion
Institution	PenFed Credit Union
Max loan amount	$50,000
Max loan term	60 months
APR	6.74%-17.99%
Short-notice relocation	View offer at MoneyLion
Institution	Wells Fargo
Max loan amount	$40,000
Max loan term	84 months
APR	6.74%-25.99%
Low fees	View offer at MoneyLion
Institution	Discover
Max loan amount	$40,000
Max loan term	84 months
APR	7.99%-24.99%
Low credit	View offer at Bankrate
Institution	Upgrade
Max loan amount	$50,000
Max loan term	84 months
APR	7.74%-35.99%

Lender details checked Jan. 20, 2025. 

Best for large-scale relocation

LightStream caters specifically to those with good-to-excellent credit. If you’ve got a credit score of 670 or above, we think there’s a solid chance you might qualify for a moving loan with LightStream.

The lender is great for expensive moves, offering up to $100,000 in funding and lengthy repayment terms. It advertises repayment terms of up to 240 months—though these extreme lengths may be restricted to home improvement loans. You’re probably more likely to be offered 84 months.

LightStream offers loans with rates starting as low as 6.49% APR for the most creditworthy borrowers. That’s one of the lowest rates in the industry.

Best for small-scale relocation

Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is a great option for those who need a small loan amount. You can take out a loan for as little as $600. This is uncommon, as most lenders require that you take out thousands of dollars at a minimum. 

PenFed also stands out with a low maximum APR of 17.99% That’s considerably lower than most competitors, many of which charge 24% or more. Some charge well over 30%. 

Best for short-notice relocation

Wells Fargo does several things well. For example, the bank is positively fee-averse, and it offers loans of up to $100,000 for Wells Fargo customers who have been with the bank for at least 12 months.

Wells Fargo is also ideal for those who need to abruptly relocate, as it’s one of the fastest-funding lenders around. It claims that 97% of its borrowers get their loan deposited the same day they sign for it. That’s ideal for, say, someone who needs quick money to relocate for a new job.

Best for low fees

If nothing else, Discover is known for its conspicuous lack of fees. You won’t be charged origination fees, prepayment penalties, paperwork fees, or other ancillary costs. Of course, you’ll still be charged interest for the privilege of borrowing money—but you won’t be nickel-and-dimed along the way.

Discover offers loans of up to $40,000 with terms lasting up to 84 months.

Best for low credit

For most lender criteria, Upgrade doesn’t rank highly in our carefully crafted methodology. But sometimes the greatest ability of a loan is availability. For those with less-than-perfect credit, Upgrade may be their best option.

Upgrade reportedly may accept credit scores as low as 580 (considered “fair” by FICO). With credit under 670, you can’t afford to be terribly choosy when it comes to lenders. Upgrade charges up to 35.99% APR and enforces origination fees of up to 9.99%.

Still, the lender offers fast funding and loans of up to $50,000. If you’re having a hard time being approved for an unsecured personal loan, it could be worth giving Upgrade a try.

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What is a moving loan?

If you’ve seen lenders advertising a loan specifically for moving, know that it’s nothing more than a standard personal loan. Personal loans can be used for virtually anything, as long as it’s legal—including relocation.

When you take out a personal loan for the purpose of moving, you can use it for professional moving services, moving vehicles, accommodation and meals during a long commute, various moving supplies, etc. You can even use it for things like cleaning and repairs to your current home, storage units, and new furniture. Again, a personal loan is good for nearly any expense.

Whether you should use a loan for all these things is another issue (we’ll discuss this shortly).

Pros and cons of personal loans for moving and relocation

How to qualify for a personal loan for moving and relocation

The steps to qualify for a moving loan are identical to qualifying for a standard personal loan. To give yourself the best odds at approval, and to get favorable loan terms and rates, focus on:

• Improving your credit score: Make all current account payments on time and keep your credit utilization low (ideally below 30%, according to experts). These two elements alone are responsible for 65% of your overall credit score.
• Lowering your DTI: Your debt-to-income ratio is calculated as the percentage of your monthly income that’s dedicated to current monthly debt payments. It helps a bank to gauge whether or not you can afford to take on an additional monthly debt payment. Lower your DTI by paying off credit cards or other loans and you’ll have a better chance of approval. Lenders tend to prefer a DTI of 36% or less for personal loans.
• Applying while you still have a job: If possible, it’s wise to open your loan before you’re between jobs. A factor lenders often consider is your job history. They want to know that your income is stable. Applying with a brand new job (particularly one in a different field) or while you’re in the interim period before you start your new role may work against your approval odds.

Also keep in mind that lenders value a stable income. For example, if you’ve been out of work for a while and are relocating for a job, your period of unemployment can make it difficult to be approved.

Is a personal loan for moving and relocation a good idea?

Just because you can open a moving loan doesn’t mean you should. Here are some questions to ask yourself before submitting your application:

• Are you taking out a loan just to reduce stress? Your sanity has value. But it’s unwise to take out a loan to cover costs that aren’t actually necessary. If you can swing a move without opening a personal loan, it’s certainly financially prudent to avoid taking on more debt.
• Do you anticipate a more important loan application in the near future? If you’re planning to apply for a mortgage or rental, an increased debt-to-income ratio can make it harder for you to be approved. Consider taking out a loan after you’ve been approved for these things.
• Can your moving expenses be placed on a low-APR credit card? Several credit cards offer 0% introductory APR windows that allow you to carry a balance for over a year or even nearly two without paying interest (you must still make at least minimum monthly payments). If you think you can pay off your moving expenses within that period of time, this route can be cheaper than opening an installment loan.

How to find the best moving loan for you

There is no objective “best” personal loan for moving and relocation. The right one for you depends on your situation. Consider the following when choosing your moving loan.

Determine your loan size

Lenders each enforce unique maximum loan amounts (most offer $30,000 or more). Unless you’re moving a massive estate with a Steinway piano gracing every room, most lenders should offer personal loans sizable enough to cover your needs. Still, make sure that the lender you choose can cover your costs.

Assess how much you can pay each month

The biggest factor in determining the size of your monthly installment is the loan repayment term. Some lenders require that you pay off your loan within 60 months. Others provide 84 months. Some give you even more time.

For example, an $8,000 moving loan at 10% APR would cost approximately:

• $202.90 per month with a loan term of 48 months
• $169.98 per month with a loan term of 60 months
• $132.81 per month with a loan term of 84 months

Of course, the longer it takes for you to repay the loan, the more interest you’ll pay.

Rate shop for the cheapest option

Many lenders allow you to prequalify for a loan—at which point you’ll see a proposed APR and any additional personal loan costs. All else being equal, find the loan that offers the lowest interest rate and least amount of fees. Watch for predatory qualities, such as prepayment fees and APR above 30%.

It’s worth noting that, while not all lenders charge origination fees and the like, it may still be worth paying these things if the loan comes with a notably lower APR. Do the math to see if you may ultimately save more.

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Alternatives to personal loans for moving and relocation

Personal loans aren’t the only option when it comes to financing your relocation. Consider the following alternatives, instead.

Personal line of credit

A personal line of credit is a sort of hybrid between a personal loan and a credit card. You’ll benefit from APR similar to a personal loan—but instead of the cash being delivered as an upfront lump sum, you’ll receive a credit line that you can spend, repay, and re-spend as you like. You’ll only be charged for the portion of your balance that you use.

Home equity loan

Those relocating may be planning to sell their home. Depending on the equity built in the property, a home equity loan could be the perfect way to finance a move. You’ll receive an upfront lump sum—just like a personal loan.  Many financial institutions require that you maintain 15% to 20% equity in your home.

Here’s the big disclaimer: A home equity loan uses your property as collateral. If you fail to repay your loan, the bank can take your home.

Employer assistance

Whether your current employer requires you to move or you’re relocating to take advantage of a new opportunity, check to ensure that no employer location assistance or reimbursement packages are available to you. A company may be willing to cover some (or all) of your expenses.

Our methodology

Fortune analyzed 13 of the top lenders to determine which offers the best personal loans for moving and relocation. We’ve named the best options by ranking financial institutions according to the following factors and pairing them with common scenarios for relocation:

• Minimum loan amount (17%): Many financial institutions set a minimum amount you can borrow. We favored personal loans with lower minimum loan requirements.
• Maximum loan amount (18%): Your bank or credit union sets limits for how much you can borrow. We favored banks with higher maximum loan amounts.
• Minimum APR (13%): This is the lowest advertised rate by the lender. The APR you qualify for will depend on your unique financial profile.
• Maximum APR (17%): This is the highest advertised rate by the lender. The APR you qualify for will depend on your unique financial profile.
• Maximum loan term (20%): This is the longest repayment timeline the lender offers. We prioritized lenders that offer longer repayment terms.
• Origination or administrative fees (10%): Any financial institutions that charged for things like loan origination or account setup fees were docked points.
• Customer support (5%): Top picks offer customers various ways to get in contact: chat support, phone, and/or email.

This methodology is identical to the one Fortune uses for our best personal loans ranking. But again, this list differs as it’s concentrated on loans for those financing a move.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a moving loan and a personal loan?

There is no difference between a moving loan and a personal loan. Moving loans are simply personal loans marketed toward those trying to relocate.

Can I get a personal loan for moving with bad credit?

You may be able to get a personal loan for moving if your credit is 580 or above. A credit score lower than that is an extremely tough sell to lenders. That said, you may be able to qualify for a secured loan by offering collateral to the bank. This makes you a less risky borrower, as the bank can sell your collateral (car, jewelry, etc.) to recoup its losses if you default on your loan.

How fast can I get a moving loan?

You can potentially get the funds from a moving loan as quickly as the same day you sign for it.

Can I use a personal loan to pay for security deposits and first month’s rent?

You can use a personal loan for just about anything—including security deposits and the first month’s rent in a new home.

How much can I borrow for a moving loan?

Personal loans generally are offered up to $100,000.