How long is the average car loan?

Asked by: Mr. Johnny Schneider  |  Last update: May 1, 2023
Score: 4.8/5 (71 votes)

What is the Average Car Loan Length? The most common loan length is currently 72 months for both new and used vehicles. The average length of a car loan changes from time to time, and 72 months is a bit higher than in previous decades.

Is 5 years car loan too long?

They are trying to get a good interest rate and a reasonable monthly payment. But a five-year loan often has a monthly payment that is too high for them, and they end up financing for a longer term even if it costs them more down the line, Zabritski said.

How long does the average person have a car loan?

How Long Is a Normal Car Loan? Three and five year loan terms were the average for most car buyers in the past, but longer term auto loans are a rising trend. In 2019, the average term length was 69 months for new cars and 65 months for used vehicles.

Should I do 48 or 60 month car loan?

(1) You will generally pay less interest on a 36 or 48 month loan than you would on a 60 (assuming that we are not talking about 0% interest deals here). So, while your payments will be higher the shorter the term, your total interest paid will be lower.

Is it smart to do a 72 month car loan?

Because of the high interest rates and risk of going upside down, most experts agree that a 72-month loan isn't an ideal choice. Experts recommend that borrowers take out a shorter loan. And for an optimal interest rate, a loan term fewer than 60 months is a better way to go. You can learn more about car loans here.

How Much Car Can I Afford (20/4/10 Rule)

22 related questions found

Is it smart to finance a car for 84 months?

For most borrowers, an 84-month auto loan may not be the best idea due to high interest rates, increased risk and vehicle depreciation. However, an 84-month auto loan can be a good idea for borrowers who need lower monthly payments.

Is a 6 year car loan a good idea?

There's really only one benefit of a long-term auto loan that spans six to seven years or even longer. The longer the car loan, the smaller the monthly payment. By taking out financing with an extended loan term, you can potentially buy a more expensive car and still stay within your monthly budget.

Is a 2 year car loan a good idea?

Auto loans over 60 months are not the best way to finance a car because, for one thing, they carry higher car loan interest rates. Yet 39% of new-car buyers in the first quarter of 2021 took out loans of 61 to 72 months, according to Experian.

Is 72-month financing a good idea?

A 72-month car loan can make sense in some cases, but it typically only applies if you have good credit. When you have bad credit, a 72-month auto loan can sound appealing due to the lower monthly payment, but, in reality, you're probably going to pay more than you bargained for.

How long does it take to pay off $30000?

The average credit card interest rate in 2021 was 16.13%. With 16% interest, it would take 447 months (more than 37 years) to pay off $30,000 in credit card debt. The final bill would be $69,459.47. Keep in mind that's 16% interest.

What is the monthly payment on a $30 000 car loan?

With a loan amount of $30,000, an interest rate of 8%, and a loan repayment period of 60-months, your monthly payment is around $700. Before you purchase your new vehicle, remember to budget for car maintenance, gas, and car insurance.

Can you finance a car for 96 months?

One of the longest car loan terms available is generally a 96-month car loan — except not every lender will offer them, and specialty lenders may have other, longer terms available. If you're in the market for a low monthly payment, an eight-year-long car loan can provide this; although you may want to compare lenders.

What is the monthly payment for a 40000 car?

For $40,000 loans, monthly payments averagely range between $900 and $1,000, depending on the interest rate and loan term.

Is a 7 year car loan good?

An 84-month auto loan can mean lower monthly payments than you'd get with a shorter-term loan. But having as long as seven years to pay off your car isn't necessarily a good idea. You can find a number of lenders that offer auto loans over an 84-month period — and some for even longer.

Is 7 years too long to finance a car?

Stretching your loan term to seven or even 10 years is probably too long for an auto loan because of the interest charges that stack up with a higher interest rate. To illustrate, say you take on a $10,000 car loan for seven years with a 13% interest rate (a common rate for bad credit borrowers).

Do car loans go away after 7 years?

If you are late to pay an account and then bring it current, the late payment will be removed after seven years, but that doesn't mean the entire account will be removed with it. In that instance, only the delinquencies up to the point the account became current, which have reached the seven-year mark, will be removed.

What does 0 financing for 72 months mean?

A 0% car loan is car financing where you pay no interest. You borrow money from a bank but pay nothing extra for the privilege of doing so. Essentially, paying zero interest gives you the chance to pay the same amount of money as a cash buyer, even though you're spreading your payments over a longer term.

What does 0 APR for 72 months mean?

When you see a deal for 0% APR, it means you won't pay any interest on the loan, which means that you're essentially borrowing money for free — the full amount of every payment you make is applied to your loan. You typically need excellent credit to qualify for these deals.

Is it okay to finance a car for 60 months?

Answer provided by. Until the past two or three years, 60-month car loans were the most popular among consumers. However, many buyers are pushing out the loan to 72 or 84 months due to super low interest rates. With that said, a 60-month car loan isn't bad if it fits your budget and financial goals.

Is it smart to pay off car loan early?

Paying off a car loan early can save you money — provided there aren't added fees and you don't have other debt. Even a few extra payments can go a long way to reducing your costs. Keep your financial situation, monthly goals and the cost of the debt in mind and do your research to determine the best strategy for you.

Does having 2 car loans hurt your credit?

It depends on your finances. Like any loan, applying for a second car loan will result in a hard credit check, which can temporarily lower your credit score. A second car loan will also increase your debt-to-income ratio, which may make it more difficult to improve your credit after you buy your car.

Should I get a 5 year car loan?

A 5 year car loan should be the maximum time frame you consider. If you can only afford payments by extending the loan to 6 years or more, you should be looking for a less expensive vehicle or be willing to wait 3 to 9 months while saving money for a larger down payment.

Is an 84-month loan too long?

Disadvantages of an 84-Month Car Loan

Longer loans are at risk for a substantial period of negative equity, when you owe more on the car than its current value if you were to sell it. This matters less if you intend to drive the car for the seven years that you owe your loan, but a lot can happen in seven years.

Can you finance a car for 80 months?

Almost all car lenders are able to offer 84-month auto loans. However, it might be hard to qualify for one. Lenders take many factors into consideration, including the exact car you're purchasing, its loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, your credit score and more.

Does Mazda finance for 84 months?

Subject to the foregoing limits and requirements below, the College Graduate Finance Program is available upon credit approval through participating Mazda dealers and Mazda Financial Services (MFS) for finance contracts with terms up to 84 months or lease contracts with terms up to 60 months for new and current year ...