Buying a car on credit in Tunisia: cost, deposit and security
In Tunisia, buying a car on credit mostly goes through a bank or a leasing company, with a personal deposit, a domiciled salary and a pledge on the vehicle, while the CNSS and the CNRPS also offer car loans to their members.
A Tunisian car market driven by credit
According to industry players, around 70% of new cars sold in Tunisia are financed by a loan or a lease. New registrations reached 8,889 units over January and February 2026, up 7.5% compared with the same period a year earlier.
New car prices and the weight of Chinese brands
Chinese models often sell for between 45,000 and 55,000 dinars, against 90,000 to 120,000 dinars for many European or Japanese brands. That price gap makes a big difference to the amount borrowed and the deposit the lender demands.
BCT Circular 2026-4 and the cost for car dealers
In early 2026 the BCT classed passenger cars as non-priority products: importers must put up 100% of the value from their own funds before any bank financing. This extra cash burden may end up in the prices shown in the showroom.
The people's car programme in Tunisia
People's cars, with low fiscal horsepower and regulated prices, are allocated in quotas through approved dealers. Waiting lists are long in Tunis as well as in Sfax, and the bank only releases the loan once it receives the final invoice.
Standard bank credit for a vehicle
STB, BNA, Attijari Bank, BIAT and UIB finance part of the price over a few years, with salary domiciliation. Outstanding car loans to individuals remained modest, at about 446 million dinars in June 2026, because leasing dominates this market.
Car loans from the CNSS and the CNRPS
In 2024 the CNSS opened a car loan of up to 50,000 dinars, at 10% over five years, to private-sector members with two years of contributions. The CNRPS announced a similar ceiling, but it has received few car loan applications.
Leasing as an alternative to a standard loan
Self-employed people and companies often prefer hire purchase, where the car belongs to the lessor until the final payment. Our page on car leasing in Tunisia compares lessors such as Tunisie Leasing, Hannibal Lease and Attijari Leasing.
How the policy rate cut affects monthly payments
The policy rate cut to 7% in January 2026 lowered the cost of car loans indexed to the TMM. Fixed-rate loans signed before then keep their original rate, unless the bank agrees to renegotiate the contract with the borrower.
Pledge, registration card and comprehensive insurance
The bank usually registers a pledge on the vehicle, shown on the registration card, and requires insurance covering damage for the whole loan term. The release of the pledge is only issued after full repayment, which governs any resale.
Used cars: more limited financing
For a used car bought from a private seller, few banks offer a dedicated car loan. Many buyers therefore take a personal loan in Tunisia, at consumer credit rates, or apply for a loan from their social security fund.
Car murabaha at Zitouna and Al Baraka
Islamic banks buy the car from the dealer and resell it to the customer with a margin agreed in advance, paid in fixed monthly instalments. This arrangement does not depend on the TMM, which protects the buyer if rates rise again.
What changes across the Algerian border
Car financing follows different rules in neighbouring countries, especially on local production and credit caps. For comparison, read our guide to a car loan in Algeria and the specific conditions that apply there.
How to get a car loan in Tunisia
- Choose the model and ask the dealer for a pro forma invoice in dinars stating the delivery time.
- Compare a bank loan, leasing and a CNSS or CNRPS loan according to your employment status.
- Prepare the personal deposit required by the bank, usually paid straight to the dealer before delivery.
- Submit the application with payslips, the pro forma invoice and the salary domiciliation undertaking at the branch.
- Take out comprehensive insurance and accept registration of the lender's pledge on the vehicle registration card.
- Collect the release of the pledge from the bank once the final instalment has been paid.
Budget for a financed car purchase in Tunisia
| Item | Order of magnitude | What makes it vary |
|---|---|---|
| New Chinese car | 45,000 to 55,000 TND (indicative, 2026) | Model, trim and dealer stock |
| European or Japanese car | 90,000 to 120,000 TND (indicative, 2026) | Fiscal horsepower and equipment |
| CNSS car loan | Up to 50,000 TND at 10% over 5 years (indicative, 2024) | Length of contributions and employer's standing |
| Bank interest rate | Variable | TMM, bank margin and deposit |
| Comprehensive insurance | Variable | Car value, driver's age and city |
Supporting documents for a Tunisian car loan
- National ID card and driving licence of the buyer
- Pro forma invoice from an approved dealer
- Recent payslips and an employment certificate
- Salary domiciliation undertaking stamped by the employer
- Bank statements for the last three months
- CNSS or CNRPS membership certificate for a social security fund loan
Mistakes to avoid with a car loan in Tunisia
- Paying a deposit to a car seller on social media who promises quick delivery outside the people's car quota system.
- Signing for a car imported by an unapproved reseller without checking type approval or whether the pledge can be registered.
- Leaving comprehensive insurance out of the monthly budget, even though the bank requires it until the loan is fully repaid.
- Applying for a CNSS loan while the employer is behind on contributions, which the fund cites as an explicit reason for refusal.
Car financing in Tunisia in practice
Does the CNSS finance the purchase of a car?
Yes. Since 2024 the CNSS has granted its salaried members in the non-agricultural sector, with at least two years of contributions, a car loan of up to 50,000 dinars at 10% over five years. Self-employed workers were excluded when it was launched.
Why might car prices rise in Tunisia in 2026?
BCT Circular 2026-4 requires importers to tie up 100% of the value of cars from their own funds before any bank credit. Smaller dealers bear this cash cost, which can be passed on in the final price paid by the borrower.
Can you sell a car that is still being financed?
Not without the lender's consent, because the pledge registered in the bank's favour appears on the registration card. You must repay the loan, obtain the release and then transfer ownership, or have the loan taken over with the bank's explicit agreement.
Are people's cars financed like other vehicles?
Yes, through a standard bank loan or a social security fund loan. The difference lies in the regulated price and the quota allocation, so the financing is only released once the vehicle is actually available at the dealer.