Secured loans are those loans that are protected by an asset or collateral of some sort. The item purchased, such as a car, can be used as collateral. Secured loans usually offer lower rates, higher borrowing limits and longer repayment terms than unsecured loans.
On the other hand, with an unsecured loan you are not required to use your personal assets as a security against the loan. Lenders take more of a risk by making such a loan, with no property or assets to recover in case of default, which is why the interest rates are considerably higher. Unsecured loans might be used for student loans, for small personal loans or for borrowing money to carry out minor household repairs and for small personal loans.