Key takeaways: Chola vs Mahindra Finance
- For a car loan, Mahindra Finance starts lower (8%) versus 9% at Chola.
- All of them publish a numeric starting rate for: car loan. That is the part of this page you can rank like for like.
- No numeric starting rate on the loan provider's own site: Chola for personal loan and home loan and Mahindra Finance for personal loan and home loan. We show "Not published" instead of estimating.
- A starting rate is the best case. Ask each loan provider for its Key Fact Statement and compare the APR and total repayable amount before you choose.
Quick verdict: who each loan provider suits
Built only from figures the loan providers publish. It says where each loan provider is ahead on paper, not who will approve you.
Pick Chola if you want
- The widest range of loan types with a published rate (2)
Pick Mahindra Finance if you want
- The lower published starting car loan rate (8%)
Chola vs Mahindra Finance at a glance
| Detail | Chola | Mahindra Finance |
|---|---|---|
| Loan provider type | NBFC | NBFC |
| Legal name | Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited | Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited |
| Loan types with a published rate | Car loan, Two-wheeler loan | Car loan |
| Personal loan: published rate | Not published | Attractive rates based on eligibility (figure not stated) |
| Personal loan: maximum tenure | Not published | 36 months (mature customers); 18 months (current customers) |
| Official website | chola.com | mahindrafinance.com |
Searching for Mahindra Finance vs Chola instead? It is the same comparison, so both open this page.
Chola vs Mahindra Finance vehicle loans
For a car loan, Mahindra Finance starts lower (8%) versus 9% at Chola.
| Detail | Chola | Mahindra Finance |
|---|---|---|
| Car loan: published rate | 9% - 20% p.a. | 8% - 25% p.a. |
| Car loan: maximum tenure | Not published | 5 years |
| Car loan: processing fee | 0.5% - 2.5% + sourcing fee Rs 1,000 - 2,500 | Up to 2% of sanction amount (stated for non-Mahindra cars); not stated for Mahindra cars |
| Two-wheeler loan: published rate | 15% - 28% p.a. | Not published |
| Two-wheeler loan: maximum tenure | Not published | Not published |
| Two-wheeler loan: processing fee | 0.75% - 5% + sourcing fee Rs 500 - 2,500 | Not published |
Full vehicle loan comparison for Chola vs Mahindra Finance (all vehicle types, EMI tables and sources) · Vehicle loans guide
Which is better: Chola or Mahindra Finance?
No loan provider is best for everyone. This is how the published figures split, product by product.
- Car loan, lower starting rate: Mahindra Finance (8%) versus 9% at Chola.
Pick on total cost, not the headline rate: ask each loan provider for the Key Fact Statement and compare the APR and total repayable amount. A low rate with a high processing fee can cost more than a slightly higher rate with no fee. If you already bank with one of them, a salary or relationship account can change the rate you are offered, so ask.
Bank type and how each loan provider sets its rate
Chola and Mahindra Finance are NBFCs.
Public sector banks, private banks and non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) price differently. Banks usually link floating rates to the RBI repo rate or their own benchmark and add a spread based on your credit score; NBFCs more often quote a wider range with a higher ceiling and charge higher processing fees. Some publish a range, some only a starting rate and some only a ceiling, which is why this page compares like with like and marks every gap as not published instead of guessing.
About Chola and Mahindra Finance
Chola
NBFC · Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited
We could not verify personal, home, business, gold, education or property loan terms on this loan provider's website; its vehicle loan terms are compared below.
Mahindra Finance
NBFC · Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited
We found terms for personal loan, loan against property and business loan on Mahindra Finance's website. Where a rate is missing, the tables on this page say Not published.
Explore each loan provider: loans, calculators and more comparisons
Chola
More comparisons
Guides: Personal loans · Home loans · Car loan · Car loan EMI calculator · EMI calculators
What to check before you choose a loan provider
- Ask for the Key Fact Statement (KFS). RBI requires loan providers to give you one before you sign, showing the interest rate, all fees, the APR and the total amount you will repay.
- Compare APR, not the headline rate. Processing fee, documentation charges and insurance change the real cost.
- Check the rate basis. A floating rate moves with the loan provider's benchmark; a fixed rate does not. Ask when the rate resets.
- Ask about prepayment and foreclosure. Floating-rate loans to individuals cannot carry pre-closure charges; fixed-rate loans often do.
- Read the eligibility and documents. Income, credit score, employment type and collateral decide the rate band you land in.
Terms used on this page
Plain meanings of the terms this comparison uses.
Starting rate: The lowest rate a loan provider advertises for a product. Most borrowers are offered a higher rate, because the final rate depends on credit score, income, employer and loan amount.
APR: Annual percentage rate. It adds the processing fee and other charges to the interest rate, so it shows the yearly cost of the loan better than the interest rate alone.
Key Fact Statement: A short summary the loan provider gives you before you sign. It lists the interest rate, every fee, the APR and the total amount you will repay. RBI requires it for retail loans.
Floating rate and repo rate: A floating rate moves with a benchmark, and for banks that is usually the RBI repo rate, the rate at which RBI lends to banks. A fixed rate stays the same for the period you agree.
Processing fee: A one-time charge for handling the application. It is usually a percentage of the loan amount plus GST, and it is often deducted before the money reaches you.
Credit score: A number from 300 to 900 that shows how you have repaid past loans and cards. A higher score usually gets you a lower rate.
Sources, method and last check
Every figure above comes from the loan provider's own website. We checked them on 12 October 2026 (vehicle loan figures on 4 October 2026) and list the pages used.
- Chola: cholamandalam.com/get-new-car-loans · files.cholamandalam.com/files/Interest+Rate+Policy+-+Mar2026.pdf · cholamandalam.com/get-two-wheeler-loans
- Mahindra Finance: mahindrafinance.com/loans/personal-loan/interest-rates-and-charges · mahindrafinance.com/sme-loans/loan-against-property/interest-rates-and-charges · mahindrafinance.com/sme-loans/business-loan · mahindrafinance.com/loans/car-loan · media.mahindrafinance.com/2025/02/Interest-Rate-Policy_Updated_21-July26_clean.pdf · mahindrafinance.com/loans/retail-loan-fees-and-charges
| Loan provider | Official pages opened | Loan types with a published rate | Loan types where rate is not published | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chola | 3 | 2 | 6 | 12 October 2026 |
| Mahindra Finance | 6 | 1 | 7 | 12 October 2026 |
A "not published" count means we opened the loan provider's page for that product and the rate was not shown there, or the loan provider has no such page on its site. If you spot an error, tell us and we will correct it.
Method: we list only figures we could read on the loan provider's official pages. A blank means the loan provider does not publish that figure on the page we checked, and we never estimate one. Rankings use the published starting rate and published maximum tenure only. Read our editorial policy, how we make money and tell us about an error.
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Chola compared with other loan providers (13)
Compare any two or three loan providers · Personal loans · Home loans · Vehicle loans
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Chola or Mahindra Finance?
For a car loan, Mahindra Finance starts lower (8%) versus 9% at Chola. A starting rate is the best case, not a typical offer, so confirm the annual percentage rate (APR) and total repayable amount in each loan provider's Key Fact Statement. Figures are as published on the loan providers' own websites and checked 12 October 2026. The better choice depends on your profile, the loan type, the amount and the fees in your offer letter.
Mahindra Finance or Chola: which should I pick for a loan?
Order does not change the comparison, so Chola vs Mahindra Finance and Mahindra Finance vs Chola are the same page. Start with the loan type you need: the sections above show each loan provider's published rate, fees, tenure and prepayment terms for it, and the lower starting rate is not always the lower total cost.
Which loans do Chola and Mahindra Finance publish rates for?
Chola: no numeric starting rate found outside vehicle loans. Mahindra Finance: no numeric starting rate found outside vehicle loans. Based on each loan provider's own website, checked 12 October 2026.
Which is better for a car loan: Chola or Mahindra Finance?
For a car loan, Mahindra Finance starts lower (8%) versus 9% at Chola. See the full vehicle loan comparison for tenure, fees and EMI tables.
Are Chola and Mahindra Finance regulated by the RBI?
Chola and Mahindra Finance are non-banking finance companies registered with and regulated by the RBI. Check a loan provider's registration on the RBI website before you apply, and apply only through its official channels.
How do I compare Chola and Mahindra Finance on real cost, not just the rate?
Ask each loan provider for its Key Fact Statement, then compare three numbers: the APR, the total amount you repay and the fees charged upfront, such as processing fee, documentation charge and insurance. The loan with the lower APR and the lower total repayment is the cheaper one, even when its headline rate looks higher.
Does my credit score change the rate at Chola and Mahindra Finance?
Yes. Loan providers keep their lowest published rate for borrowers with a strong credit score, usually 750 and above, and steady income. A lower score or a short work history usually means a higher rate, a higher processing fee or a smaller loan amount.
Are the rates on this page the rate I will get?
No. They are the rates the loan providers publish, usually a range or a starting rate. Your approved rate depends on your credit score, income, loan amount, tenure and, for secured loans, the asset. Always read the Key Fact Statement before you sign.
Does KhatuLoans lend money or charge for this comparison?
KhatuLoans is not a loan provider. The loan provider decides approval, rate and terms. Our comparisons are free to read, and we are not paid by the loan providers named here to rank them. See how we make money on our advertiser disclosure page.
KhatuLoans is not a loan provider and is not paid by the loan providers named here to rank them. Rates, fees and eligibility change; always confirm with the loan provider. Read our editorial policy and how we make money.