Borrowers with scores of 501 to 600 account for more than 12.29% of cars financed, while people with scores of 500 or below account for less than 2%, according to Experian. A lower credit score won't necessarily keep you from securing a car loan, but it might spike your interest rate, leading to higher payments.
The credit score required and other eligibility factors for buying a car vary by lender and loan terms. Still, you typically need a good credit score of 661 or higher to qualify for an auto loan. About 69% of retail vehicle financing is for borrowers with credit scores of 661 or higher, according to Experian.
A 600 credit score will qualify you for a subprime loan, meaning that lenders are likely to charge you more interest due to your highest risk status. According to Experian, you can expect the following breakdown of auto loan rates: 781-850: Superprime loan at 3.65% (new) or 4.29% (used)
A lender may require you to put at least 10% down to qualify with poor credit, but it's a good idea to aim for more. A larger down payment reduces the size of the loan you'll need to cover the cost of the car. That, in turn, brings down the lender's risk, which may make it easier for you to get approved.
There is no minimum credit score required to buy a car, but most lenders have minimum requirements for financing. Most borrowers need a FICO score of at least 600 to get a competitive rate on an auto loan.
In general, you should strive to make a down payment of at least 20% of a new car's purchase price. For used cars, try for at least 10% down. If you can't afford the recommended amount, put down as much as you can without draining your savings or emergency funds.
With FICO, fair or good credit scores fall within the ranges of 580 to 739, and with VantageScore, fair or good ranges between 601 to 780. Many personal loan lenders offer amounts starting around $3,000 to $5,000, but with Upgrade, you can apply for as little as $1,000 (and as much as $50,000).
According to Car and Driver, “Most used auto loans go to borrowers with minimum credit scores of at least 675. For new auto loans, most borrowers have scores of around 730. The minimum credit score needed for a new car may be around 600, but those with excellent credit often get lower rates and lower monthly payments.”
Automakers such as Ford, Kia, and Hyundai are known for working with borrowers who have lower credit scores. In addition, CarsDirect has a network of dealers that specialize in bad credit car loans whether you're considering a new or used car.
Auto lenders use a special reporting system called FICO® Auto Score when determining the creditworthiness of a potential customer. The three credit reporting bureaus that contribute information to your FICO® Auto Score are TransUnion®, Equifax® and Experian™.
Since 600 is considered to be a fair credit score, borrowers with this score generally won't qualify for credit cards with large welcome bonuses, generous rewards and perks or low APRs. However, there are still some options available — using a secured card or becoming an authorized user on someone else's card.
If you don't make a down payment, you'll need to take out a larger loan to cover the purchase price for the vehicle you wish to buy. As a result, you'll likely end up paying more in interest over the lifetime of the loan since you're borrowing a larger amount from the start.
In 2024, a good credit score to buy a car typically falls within the range of 700 to 749.
However, most lenders look for a threshold of at least 600. However, this may vary depending on the lender, car, and loan type. A score of 700-850 is what most lenders consider ideal. Borrowers in this range can expect to get offered lower interest rates and more flexible loan terms.
VantageScore and FICO scores range from 300 to 850, making 300 the lowest credit score possible. While credit scores as low as 300 are possible, most consumers have scores above 700. A low credit score will prevent you from borrowing money or even renting an apartment.
Overall, Credit Karma may produce a different result than one or more of the three major credit bureaus directly. The slight differences in calculations between FICO and VantageScore can lead to significant variances in credit scores, making Credit Karma less accurate than most may appreciate.
What is the highest credit score possible? To start off: No, it's not possible to have a 900 credit score in the United States. In some countries that use other models, like Canada, people could have a score of 900. The current scoring models in the U.S. have a maximum of 850.
If you're new to credit, it might take six months to a year to hit a respectable score of around 700 with FICO® or VantageScore® models.
It's possible to get a personal loan with a credit score of 600 or even lower. Consider pre-qualifying with a few lenders to avoid a hard credit inquiry and to compare multiple offers. Then evaluate the interest rate, fees, and terms of each offer to select the best deal for you.
Payment Amount
For example, for a car price of $20,000, a down payment of $4,000, a loan amount of $16,000, a loan term of 48 months, an annual interest rate of 5%, and a start-of-period payment method, your payment amount would be $366.94. You would be paying this amount each month for your auto loan.
NerdWallet recommends spending no more than 10% of your take-home pay on your monthly auto loan payment. So if your after-tax pay each month is $3,000, you could afford a $300 car payment. Check if you can really afford the payment by depositing that amount into a savings account for a few months.
Down payments are often required on auto loans, especially with less-than-perfect credit. If you apply for a car loan from a subprime lender signed up with a special finance dealership, you can expect to need an average down payment on a car of at least $1,000 or 10% of the vehicle's selling price.