DRO
Loans after a DRO
Thinking about a personal loan after your DRO? Here's a guide to what lenders look for, the kinds of lender to consider, and the high-cost loans to avoid.
- DRO discharged
- No payday or guarantor loans
Free to use, no obligation. The plan itself won't affect your credit score. It is not advice, and acceptance is never guaranteed.
Written and reviewed by the AfterMy team · Last reviewed October 2026
Quick answerYou can apply. Some lenders consider people who have had their DRO end. Each sets its own criteria, and acceptance is never guaranteed. Lenders look at what you can afford now and how you've managed credit since your DRO ended. We don't introduce people to payday, high-cost short-term or guarantor loans.
On this page
What loan lenders look for after a DRO
Lenders want to see that the picture has changed: on-time payments since your DRO ended, and what you can afford now. Paying every bill on time builds that record.
Which lenders to consider after a DRO
Some lenders judge affordability, not just a credit score, and some use Open Banking to look at your real income and outgoings. Community lenders and credit unions are another option. Each sets its own criteria. We don't introduce people to payday, high-cost short-term or guarantor loans.
Finished your DRO? Your Comeback Plan maps your dates and shows options from our panel you may be able to apply for.
Start your Comeback PlanBefore you apply
- Keep up your record: a record of on-time payments helps any application.
- Borrow only what you need, for a clear reason: affordability is the main test lenders apply, so keep the repayment comfortable.
- Don't scatter applications: several full applications in a short time look like trouble and dent your file.
While your DRO is still running
During your twelve-month DRO there is no legal ban on credit, but by law you must tell any lender about your DRO before borrowing £500 or more. In practice new borrowing rarely fits a DRO budget.
This guide is about borrowing after your DRO has ended. While it's running, let it do its job and plan your next steps for after.
Mistakes to avoid
- Applying without checking your eligibility first.
- Turning to payday or guarantor loans because they say yes fastest. They're the trap, not the answer.
- Applying to lots of lenders at once and collecting hard searches.
- Borrowing more than the repayment comfortably fits. Affordability is the main test lenders apply.
Guides
Keep reading
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a loan after a DRO?
You can apply. Some lenders consider people who have had their DRO end. Each sets its own criteria, and acceptance is never guaranteed. Lenders look at what you can afford now and how you've managed credit since your DRO ended.
Can I borrow during my DRO?
By law you must tell any lender about your DRO before borrowing £500 or more; in practice new borrowing rarely fits a DRO budget.
How long should I wait after my DRO?
There's no fixed date. Each lender decides for itself, and a record of on-time payments since your DRO ended helps any application.
Why won't AfterMy introduce me to a payday or guarantor loan?
Because they're high-cost and easy to fall into after a debt solution. We don't introduce people to payday, high-cost short-term or guarantor loans.
What kind of lenders should I look for?
Some lenders judge affordability using Open Banking, and community lenders and credit unions are another option. Each sets its own criteria.
Ready when you are
Your Comeback Plan maps your dates and shows options from our panel you may be able to apply for.
Start your Comeback PlanFree to use, no obligation. The plan itself won't affect your credit score.