Driveway Paving Financing Options

If your driveway has big cracks, potholes, chunks of eroding pavement, a weathered and aged appearance, or missing pieces of brick or cobble, it may be time to get it repaved.

The project can cost around $1,000 to $10,000, according to HomeAdvisor, so some homeowners may need to find outside financing in order to complete the home improvement project.

The best options for driveway financing including personal loans, home equity loans, and home equity lines of credit.

Best Driveway Paving or Repaving Financing Options

Personal Loans

Personal loans are a common method for homeowners to finance a new driveway or to repave an existing driveway. A personal loan is an unsecured loan, which means there is not an asset that serves as collateral for the loan and can be used as a home improvement loan.

This makes the loan riskier for the lender, so interest rates typically are higher than they would be for a secured loan. The application process, however, is much easier, and borrowers can get the proceeds from their loan within a couple of days.

Driveway Financing Loans

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• Fixed rate loans from 7.99% APR
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• Fixed rate loans from 10.68% APR
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Interest rates & fees

The interest rates and loan terms on personal loans can vary dramatically among lenders. So, it’s especially important to do your research and make sure that you are choosing the right personal loan for you. Interest rates typically vary from around 5% to 36% and loan maturity can range from two to seven years.

Lenders also charge origination fees that can range from 0% (no origination fee) to 7% of the loan amount. Borrowers who have credit scores above 720 have the best options when choosing lenders and tend to get the most competitive rates and loan terms.

If you only qualify for a personal loan with high fees or a high interest rate, this can be an expensive option for repaving a driveway. But, if you do qualify for a low-cost personal loan, it may be a good choice.

>> Read More: Best Personal Loans

Using Home Equity for Driveway Financing

A home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC) are other ways that homeowners can finance their driveway improvements. Both of these options allow homeowners to borrow against the equity they have built up in their homes.

Home Equity Options for Driveway Work

• HELOCs with no in-person appraisal needed
• Apply completely online in minutes
• Fast access to your equity

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• Home equity loans with low fixed rates
• Borrow up to 90% of your home’s value
• Loans up to $500,000

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Interest rates & fees

Since the debt obligation is secured by the borrower’s home, lenders typically charge a lower interest rate than they might for an unsecured personal loan. Home equity loan rates are currently as low as 4.09% and HELOC rates are as low as 4.75%.

Borrowers may have to pay loan origination fees and closing costs equal to 2% to 5% of the loan amount, although some lenders do not charge these fees or may waive these fees for current customers.

In addition, it’s important that homeowners are sure they can meet all of the monthly payment obligations. The lender can foreclose on your home if you cannot make the payment on your home equity loan or HELOC.

>> Read More: Best Home Equity Loans & Best HELOC Rates

The Cheapest Option: Using Cash

Saving the money and paying cash for your driveway repair is the cheapest financing option. Paying cash lets you avoid both the interest charges as well as the high origination fees that often come with payment plans.

It could take you a few months or longer to save the money, but it might be better than getting a loan for a relatively small home improvement project.

Driveway Company Financing

Finally, you might be able to finance your driveway repair with a line of credit from the paving company or a home improvement center. Many home improvement centers have promotional financing offers that give you 0% interest for an introductory period.

If you take a financing offer like this, however, it is important to pay off the debt during the promotional period. Otherwise, interest usually accrues from the date of purchase at rates of over 20%.

Weighing Your Options

Repaving your driveway can fix wear and tear and can add curb appeal to your home. The project can be relatively inexpensive if you have a small driveway and use asphalt or blacktop surfacing.

The cost, however, can be much higher if you have a particularly large driveway or use more expensive materials. Saving the money and paying cash for the repair is the cheapest option, but there are a few other financing alternatives if you don’t want to wait to start the repairs or prefer a payment plan.

Cost to Pave or Repave a Driveway

Asphalt or blacktop driveways are the cheapest to install and repair. The cost of installing an asphalt driveway is generally around $3 to $4 per square foot, while repaving it costs around $1 to $3 per square foot, on average. So, installing a 1,000-square-foot asphalt driveway could cost between $3,000 and $4,000 while repaving it would cost around $1,000 to $3,000.

Installing concrete driveways usually costs more than asphalt at around $6 per square foot while repaving should be slightly cheaper. Brick and cobble driveways can be many times more expensive to install, from $10 to $70 per square foot, depending upon the cost of the individual stones or bricks.

The total cost of paving or repaving your driveway includes the materials, tools, and labor costs if you are not going to do the work yourself.

Recap of Driveway Paving or Repaving Financing Options

If you’ve decided to finance paving or repaving your driveway through a personal loan, home equity loan, or home equity line, here is a recap of lenders you may want to consider: