Insider's experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page. Show
LoadingSomething is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. The average auto loan rate for a new car was 4.07% in the first quarter of 2022, while the typical used-car loan carried an interest rate of 8.62%, according to Experian's State of the Automotive Finance Market. That's down slightly from 4.15% for new and 8.82% for used-car loans during the same period a year earlier. Dealers calculate your interest rate with many factors in mind, including your credit score, the type of car you're buying, and where you live. Auto loans can be found through a dealership, or by gathering pre-approvals from institutions you'd like to work with, such as banks, credit unions, or independent lenders. Experian's data shows the two biggest factors on your auto loan's interest rate are your credit score and whether you're buying a new or used car. Average interest rates by credit score type for new and used car purchasesAverage monthly payment by credit scoreThe higher your credit score, the less it will cost to borrowCredit scores are a numerical representation of your credit history. They function as a grade for your borrowing history ranging from 300 to 850, and include your borrowing, applications, repayment, and mix of credit types on your credit report. Companies use credit scores to determine how risky they think lending to you would be. A lower credit score makes borrowing more expensive. In the data above, the cheapest borrowing rates went to people with the best credit scores. Meanwhile, those with the lowest credit scores paid about 10 percentage points more to borrow than those with the highest scores. The interest rate also has a big effect on monthly payment. Using Bankrate's auto loan calculator, Insider calculated how much a borrower paying the average interest rate would pay for the same $30,000, 48-month new car auto loan: With the interest rate as the only factor changed, a person with a credit score in the highest category will pay $656 a month, while a person with a score in the lowest category would pay $831 a month, or $175 more for per month for the same car. Average interest rates for used cars vs. new carsBuying used could mean higher interest ratesBuying a new car may be more expensive, all in all, than buying used. But, new and used auto loan interest rates are significantly different, no matter your credit score. Based on Experian data, Insider calculated the difference between new and used interest rates. On average, used car financing costs about four percentage points more than new financing. Insider's Featured Auto Loans
Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. The gap between how much more a used car costs to finance shrinks as credit scores increase, but even for the best credit scores, a used car will cost over 1% more to finance than a new car. Used cars are more expensive to finance because they're a higher risk. Used cars often have lower values, plus a higher chance that they could be totaled in an accident and the financing company could lose money. That risk gets passed on in the form of higher interest rates, no matter the borrower's credit score. Average interest rates by loan termLoans under 60 months have lower interest rates for new carsLoan terms can impact on your interest rate. In general, the longer your term, the higher your interest rate is. After 60 months, your loan is considered higher risk, and there are even bigger spikes in the amount you'll pay to borrow. The average 72-month auto loan rate is almost 0.3% higher than the typical 36-month loan's interest rate for new cars. That's because there is a correlation between longer loan terms and nonpayment — lenders worry that borrowers with a long loan term ultimately won't pay them back in full. Over the 60-month mark, interest rates jump with each year added to the loan. Data from S&P Global for new car purchases with a $25,000 loan shows how much the average interest rate changes: Data from S&P Global for used car purchases with a $25,000 loan shows how much the average interest rate changes: While there's a direct correlation between a longer repayment term period and a higher interest rate with new cars, it's not the case with used cars. It is unclear exactly why these rates dip with longer repayment terms. It's best to keep your auto loan at 60 months or fewer, not only to save on interest, but also to keep your loan from becoming worth more than your car, also called being underwater. As cars get older, they lose value. It's not only a risk to you, but also to your lender, and that risk is reflected in your interest rate. Average interest rates by lenderThe lender you use makes a differenceWhen you start shopping for auto loans, you'll find that the lender you choose does make a difference. Here are the starting interest rates from several different lenders for both new and used cars. Banks set their minimum auto loan borrowing rates independently, so it's important to shop around and compare offers to see what's best for you. Get pre-approvals from several different lenders, and compare the APRs and monthly payments to find the offer best suited for you.
Liz Knueven Personal Finance Reporter Liz was a reporter at Insider, primarily covering personal-finance topics. Before joining Insider, she wrote about financial and automotive topics as a freelancer for brands like LendingTree and Credit Karma. She earned her bachelor's degree in writing from The Savannah College of Art and Design. She lives and works in Cincinnati, Ohio. Find her on Twitter at @lizknueven. Read more Read less
Ryan Wangman is a reporter at Personal Finance Insider reporting on personal loans, student loans, student loan refinancing, debt consolidation, auto loans, RV loans, and boat loans. He is also a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF). In his past experience writing about personal finance, he has written about credit scores, financial literacy, and homeownership. He graduated from Northwestern University and has previously written for The Boston Globe. Learn more about how Personal Finance Insider chooses, rates, and covers financial products and services here >> Read more Read less What interest rate can I get on a car loan with a 650 credit score?You may be able to get a car loan with a 650 credit score, but you might not like the terms and conditions of the loan if you do. Your score is considered fair, so the average interest rate you can expect to pay is 11.69% for a new car loan.
Can you get a car with a 650 credit score?There is no set credit score you need to get an auto loan. If you have a credit score above 660, you will likely qualify for an auto loan at a rate below 10% APR. If you have bad credit or no credit, you could still qualify for a car loan, but you should expect to pay more.
What interest rate can I get on a car with a 660 credit score?Average car loan interest rates. What is a good interest rate for a 72 month car loan?The average 72-month auto loan rate is almost 0.3% higher than the typical 36-month loan's interest rate for new cars.
...
Loans under 60 months have lower interest rates for new cars.. |