Installment describes repayment over a schedule. It is not a promise of a low rate, a fixed payment or approval. Personal loans, car loans and mortgages can all use installments while having very different costs, security and rules.How the borrowing arrangement worksRead how often a payment is due and what happens to the balance after each payment. For a fixed-rate, fully amortizing loan, the scheduled payments repay the balance by the end of the term. Ask whether the agreement instead includes a balloon payment or an interest-only period.Costs and repaymentCompare the entire schedule. A longer term can reduce an individual payment while extending the time you pay interest. Check fees separately and ask which charges are included in the disclosed APR.Preparing to compare offersRequest a schedule showing the first payment, regular payments and final payment.