With a credit score of 605 you'd be considered a nonprime applicant. While that isn't the worst situation to be in, nonprime applicants have an average APR of 6% for new cars or 10% for used cars. If you can afford to wait for your car loan, you should consider taking some time to build up your credit before you apply.
Unless you have the cash, that means you need an auto loan. It's essential to be knowledgeable about how your auto loan process will be different than someone with a higher score. You might not have the same options, but you can still get an auto loan with a 600 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.
605 credit score credit card options
An individual with a 605 credit score will typically receive a credit card interest rate of between 20.5 and 16.5 percent. In comparison, someone with excellent credit can receive an average credit card interest rate of 13.5 percent.
With a credit score of 600-609, you should qualify for a subprime APR rate, which will be higher than someone with a 700 or 800 credit score. The average rate for a used car loan in the 600 to 609 credit score range is 10.48% (47% higher than the average rate for a new car).
The recommended credit score needed to buy a car is 660 and above. This will typically guarantee interest rates under 6%.
The FICO credit score.
The FICO credit scoring model is the most commonly used credit scoring model by auto lenders and car dealerships, and is also the oldest and first-ever credit scoring model. It's estimated that 90% of auto lenders use the current FICO Score 8 model when making lending decisions.
A 605 FICO® Score is considered “Fair”. Mortgage, auto, and personal loans are somewhat difficult to get with a 605 Credit Score. Lenders normally don't do business with borrowers that have fair credit because it's too risky.
According to credit reporting agency Experian, more than 21% of auto loans in the fourth quarter of 2018 were extended to borrowers with subprime (501-600) or deep subprime (500 or below) credit scores. So, the answer is yes, you can buy a car with that credit score.
The credit score you see if you're signed up for TransUnion Credit Monitoring or if you purchased a credit score with your credit report is based on the VantageScore® 3.0 model. Scores in this model range from 300 to 850. A good score with TransUnion and VantageScore® 3.0 is between 720 and 780.
FHA loans are intended for people with lower credit; they allow a minimum credit score between 500 and 580. If your FICO score is below 580, you'll need a 10% down payment. If it's above 580, you only need to put 3.5% down.
You should be able to get a car loan with a 593 credit score without a problem. Truthfully, people can get a car loan with almost any credit score—the difference will be what kind of interest rate you can secure. A score of 593 may get you an interest rate of between 11.92 percent and 4.68 percent on a new car loan.
In general, lenders look for borrowers in the prime range or better, so you will need a score of 661 or higher to qualify for most conventional car loans.
A credit score of 600 won't necessarily keep you from getting an auto loan, but it's likely to make that loan more expensive. Taking steps to improve your score before you apply for a car loan can put you in the driver's seat and make it easier to negotiate the best possible loan terms.
It's not impossible to get a car loan with a credit score of 606, but you may have to agree to more expensive terms. Your credit score is a reflection of your ability to pay off debt on time and in full. A credit score of 606 is considered nonprime and can concern lenders.
A good credit score to buy a car is often above 660, as you're then considered a "prime" borrower. There's no industry-wide, official minimum credit score in order to qualify for an auto loan. Generally, the higher your credit score, the better terms you're likely to get on the loan.
Although a 650 credit score is desirable for any loan, first time car loans may require a score of 680 or higher to waive any co-signer requirements.
For best results, you should aim for at least a FICO score of 660 before applying for a new car loan.
A FICO® Score of 605 places you within a population of consumers whose credit may be seen as Fair. Your 605 FICO® Score is lower than the average U.S. credit score. Statistically speaking, 28% of consumers with credit scores in the Fair range are likely to become seriously delinquent in the future.
A credit score of 566-603 is considered fair. A credit score of 604-627 is good. A score of 628-710 is considered excellent (reference: https://www.finder.com/uk/transunion). Equifax scores range from 0-700.
Pay on time.
One of the best things you can do to improve your credit score is to pay your debts on time and in full whenever possible. Payment history makes up a significant chunk of your credit score, so it's important to avoid late payments.
What credit score is needed to buy a car? You will likely need a credit score of 500 or above to qualify for an auto loan. A credit score range of 780 or better typically gets you the best rates. There are two main factors lenders look at when approving an applicant for an auto loan.
When you visit a dealer and decide to purchase a car, fill out the loan paperwork and give the dealer permission to run a credit check, that generates a hard inquiry on your credit report. Hard inquiries will reduce your credit score anywhere from 5-10 points for about a year.
Make Sure You Have Good Credit
Having a good credit score is essential if you want to get approved for an auto loan with decent terms. In general, a good FICO® Score☉ ranges from 670 to 739, and a higher score is even better. Auto lenders typically use the FICO 8 or FICO Auto Score models to determine your score.