Car loan despite probation period with guarantor: Secure your financing in 4 steps
31 May 2025
11
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
Are you in the probationary period and urgently need a car? This is a hurdle that more than 60 percent of applicants face during this phase. A financially strong guarantor is often the key to success.
The topic in brief and concise terms
A guarantor with excellent creditworthiness can increase the chance of getting a car loan during the probation period by over 80 percent.
Banks almost always require a guarantor's liability, whereby the guarantor is immediately liable in the event of a payment default.
The guarantor must meet strict criteria: an indefinite job, a high net income, and a clean SCHUFA report.
Ein neuer Job ist ein Grund zur Freude, doch die Probezeit stellt für viele eine finanzielle Unsicherheit dar. Banken bewerten das Kündigungsrisiko in den ersten sechs Monaten als hoch, weshalb rund jeder zweite Kreditantrag in dieser Zeit abgelehnt wird. Wenn Sie einen Autokredit trotz Probezeit benötigen, kann ein Bürge die entscheidende Sicherheit für die Bank bieten. Dieser Ratgeber zeigt Ihnen, wie Sie mit einem Bürgen an Ihrer Seite die Finanzierung erfolgreich auf den Weg bringen, welche rechtlichen Aspekte Sie beachten müssen und wie der Prozess von der Antragstellung bis zur Auszahlung abläuft.
The Core Problem: Why Banks Hesitate During the Probationary Period
Banks classify loan applications during the probationary period as high-risk. The main reason is the shortened notice period of just two weeks, which is anchored in the Civil Code (§ 622 paragraph 3 BGB). Statistically, about 15 percent of all employment relationships end during or at the end of this phase. For lenders, this means a significantly higher default risk of up to 30 percent compared to an applicant with a permanent contract. This is why many institutions reject an car loan for beginners without additional security. This increased caution often leads to direct rejections or significantly worse interest conditions, which can make the loan several hundred euros more expensive. In this way, the bank secures itself against the potential loss of your income. Without a plan B, the hurdle for car financing is very high from the start.
The Solution: How a Guarantor Secures Your Loan Approval
A guarantor acts as a crucial security for the bank, increasing your chance of approval by more than 80 percent. They contractually commit to cover your liabilities if you can no longer make the payments. Banks almost exclusively require an unconditional guaranty. This means the guarantor waives the 'benefit of discussion' (§ 771 BGB) and can be called upon immediately if you fall behind on even one payment. Unlike a deficiency guaranty, the bank does not have to go through a lengthy legal process against you first. This direct liability makes the guarantor a first-class security for the bank, almost fully compensating for the probation period risk. This is often what makes a loan despite a fixed-term employment contract possible in the first place.
The requirements profile: Who is suitable as a guarantor
Not everyone can act as a guarantor; banks scrutinise the creditworthiness of the guarantor at least as thoroughly as your own. The person must have a stable and sufficiently high income, well above the garnishment exemption limit, currently around 1,400 euros. A permanent employment contract is a basic requirement. A SCHUFA score of over 97 percent is considered ideal. A guarantor must meet the following criteria:
Legal age and residency in Germany.
Permanent employment contract that has existed for at least six months.
A net income that covers personal living expenses and the potential loan instalment.
A clean SCHUFA record with no negative entries.
No other significant loans or guarantees.
A clean household account is crucial to demonstrate financial capability.
The Process: Getting a Car Loan with a Guarantor in 4 Steps
A structured application process significantly increases the chances of success. With the right preparation, you can avoid follow-up questions and speed up the bank's decision by up to three working days. Carefully go through the following four steps:
Prepare documents: Both you and your guarantor will need the last three payslips, the employment contract, a copy of your ID card, and current bank statements.
Submit joint application: Complete the loan application together. The guarantor must enter their information in the designated section and sign the guarantee agreement.
Await credit check: The bank will now assess the creditworthiness of both parties through a SCHUFA inquiry and the analysis of the submitted documents. This process usually takes one to two days.
Contract conclusion and payout: After a positive assessment, you will receive the loan contract. Once signed and with either postal or digital identification, the loan amount will be paid out within 48 hours.
This process is also applicable for a car financing for students.
Risk Management: How both parties can protect themselves
A guarantee poses a significant financial risk for the guarantor. If the borrower defaults, the guarantor must immediately cover instalments, often exceeding 300 euros per month. To minimise this risk, borrowers and guarantors should make a private written agreement. This can define under which circumstances the guarantor will step in and how the borrower will reimburse the payments made. Another, albeit expensive, option is residual debt insurance, which covers instalments in the event of unemployment or incapacity to work. However, the cost of this can amount to up to 15 percent of the loan sum. Open communication about the financial situation is the best protection for both parties to avoid straining the relationship, even with a loan despite poor creditworthiness. This helps maintain the trust, which initially enabled the guarantee, in the long term.
Considering alternatives: When a second borrower makes sense
An alternative to providing a guarantee is to take out the loan with a second borrower. Unlike a guarantor, who only has obligations, the second borrower is an equal partner in the contract with the bank. They not only have the same obligations for repayment but also the same rights to the credit item. In the case of a car loan, this means they become a co-owner of the vehicle. This option is often a better choice for spouses or partners, as both benefit from the car. For the bank, a second borrower provides the same level of security as a guarantor, as two full incomes are liable for the repayment. Therefore, carefully consider whether this arrangement might be more suitable for your personal situation than a loan for employees in their probationary period with a guarantor.
Conclusion: Achieving Success with the Right Strategy
Obtaining a car loan despite being in a probationary period with a guarantor is entirely realistic. It requires careful preparation and a financially strong partner who is willing to take on this responsibility. With transparent communication and choosing the right form of guarantee, you can convince the bank of your reliability. This way, nothing stands in the way of your dream of a new car, even in a new job. Now request an individual risk analysis: Have your insurance situation checked for free and receive specific optimisation suggestions.
More useful links
Gesetze im Internet provides insight into § 622 of the Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) concerning notice periods for employment relationships.
Gesetze im Internet explains § 765 of the Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB), which outlines the definition and foundations of guarantees.
Gesetze im Internet informs about § 491 of the Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) and the general provisions for consumer loan agreements.
Gesetze im Internet displays § 18a of the Kreditwesengesetz (KWG) regarding creditworthiness assessment in real estate loans.
Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) offers comprehensive statistics and information on wealth and debt in Germany.
Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) includes a press release from July 2024 with current data on wealth and debt.
Deutsche Bundesbank provides statistics on interest rates and yields for consumer loans to private households (installment loans).
Verbraucherzentrale offers an article on spousal guarantees and the conditions under which guarantors are not always required to pay.
FAQ
Was passiert, wenn der Bürge stirbt?
Im Todesfall des Bürgen geht die Bürgschaftsverpflichtung auf seine Erben über. Diese haften dann im Rahmen des Nachlasses weiter für den Kredit, sofern sie das Erbe nicht ausschlagen.
Kann ich eine Bürgschaft vorzeitig kündigen?
Nein, eine einseitige Kündigung der Bürgschaft durch den Bürgen ist in der Regel ausgeschlossen. Die Haftung besteht, bis der Kredit vollständig zurückgezahlt ist. Nur in extremen Härtefällen (Sittenwidrigkeit) ist eine Anfechtung möglich.
Wirkt sich eine Bürgschaft auf meine eigene Kreditwürdigkeit aus?
Ja, die Übernahme einer Bürgschaft wird bei der SCHUFA vermerkt und kann Ihre eigene Bonität beeinflussen. Bei der Beantragung eines eigenen Kredits wird die Bürgschaft als finanzielle Vorbelastung gewertet.
Welche Art von Bürgschaft ist für den Bürgen am sichersten?
Die Ausfallbürgschaft ist für den Bürgen am sichersten, da er erst haften muss, nachdem die Bank alle rechtlichen Mittel gegen den Schuldner ausgeschöpft hat. Banken bevorzugen jedoch fast immer die selbstschuldnerische Bürgschaft.
Haftet der Bürge auch für Zinsen und Gebühren?
Ja, die Bürgschaft erstreckt sich in der Regel auf die gesamte Forderung. Das schließt nicht nur die Restschuld des Kredits ein, sondern auch anfallende Zinsen, Verzugszinsen und eventuelle Mahn- oder Inkassokosten.
Kann mein Partner für mich bürgen?
Ja, der Ehe- oder Lebenspartner kann bürgen, sofern er die Bonitätsanforderungen der Bank erfüllt. In vielen Fällen ist es für Paare jedoch sinnvoller, den Kredit gemeinsam als zwei Kreditnehmer aufzunehmen.
