How much does it cost to finance a $20 000 car?

Asked by: Dr. Elinore Hartmann  |  Last update: December 7, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (11 votes)

Payments would be around $377 per month. According to the results, it will take you 60 months, an interest rate of 5% of $2,645, to fully pay your $20,000 car loan. However, the monthly cost of a $20,000 car loan will depend on your repayment period and the annual percentage rate (APR).

How much would it cost to finance a $20,000 car?

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.

Can I finance a 20k car with no credit?

Read our editorial guidelines here. Even if you have no credit history, buying a car with an auto loan is still possible. But without strong credit, you're likely to pay a higher interest rate, unless you make a larger down payment, use a cosigner or find another way to keep your loan affordable.

What credit score is needed for a $20,000 car loan?

In general, you'll need a FICO credit score of at least 600 to qualify for a traditional auto loan, although there are lenders that offer bad credit auto loans.

What credit score do I need for a 20k loan?

A credit score of at least 670 will put you in the best position to get approved for a larger personal loan amount at the lowest rates available. Make sure you shop around to ensure you get the best deal.

$20,000 in Student Loans and Just Bought a $29,000 Car!

34 related questions found

How to pay off a 5 year car loan in 3 years?

How to pay off your car loan faster
  1. Make bi-weekly payments. ...
  2. Round up your monthly payment. ...
  3. Make one extra payment per year. ...
  4. Use extra money to make a payment. ...
  5. Refinance for a better rate. ...
  6. Check into discounts or optional add-ons.

How much should I put down on a 20k car with bad credit?

If your credit score isn't good, however, you're typically required to make a down payment of at least $1,000 or 10% of the vehicle's selling price. This varies by lender, and some may accept the lesser amount. On a $20,000 car, that would be up to $2,000 down.

Is it hard to get approved for a 20k loan?

You'll likely need a credit score in the Good range (670 to 739) or higher to qualify for a $20,000 personal loan with a competitive interest rate. If your credit rating is Poor or even on the lower end of Fair, you may have difficulty getting approved for a personal loan of that size.

How to pay off a $20,000 car loan fast?

If you want to pay off your loan early, here are six ways to make it happen:
  1. Refinance your car loan. ...
  2. Make biweekly payments. ...
  3. Round up your payments. ...
  4. Put extra money toward a lump-sum payment. ...
  5. Continue making your monthly payments. ...
  6. Opt out of any unneeded add-ons.

What is the minimum income to finance a car?

The minimum income necessary to qualify for an auto loan may vary, but most lenders prefer an applicant to have at least $1,500 to $2,000 in monthly income before taxes.

How to get a car with no money down?

Another option may be to get a family member or friend with a strong credit score to cosign the loan. If you have poor credit, having a cosigner can help you get a car with no down payment and with potentially lower interest rates.

Can I get a 20k loan with no credit history?

$20,000 loans may be available to people with no credit or bad credit, these options likely will come with higher interest rates, fees, or even the need to provide collateral to get approved. If you don't have a strong credit history, lenders might consider you a risk and structure your loan terms with that in mind.

How much should I put down on a $20 000 car?

How much should you put down on a car? A down payment between 10 to 20 percent of the vehicle price is the general recommendation.

Is $300 a month a good car payment?

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.

Who is offering the best auto loan rate?

  • LightStream - Used car purchase loan. 5.0. NerdWallet rating. Est. APR. 7.74-15.69% ...
  • Consumers Credit Union - Used car purchase loan. 5.0. NerdWallet rating. Est. APR. 6.43-18.54% ...
  • Alliant Credit Union – Used car purchase loan. 4.0. NerdWallet rating. Est. APR. ...
  • Carvana - Used car purchase loan. 4.0. NerdWallet rating. Est. APR.

How much is a $20000 loan for 5 years?

A $20,000 loan at 5% for 60 months (5 years) will cost you a total of $22,645.48, whereas the same loan at 3% will cost you $21,562.43. That's a savings of $1,083.05. That same wise shopper will look not only at the interest rate but also the length of the loan.

What is a hardship loan?

Hardship personal loans are a type of personal loan intended to help borrowers overcome financial difficulties such as job loss, medical emergencies, or home repairs. Hardship personal loan programs are often offered by small banks and credit unions.

How to get 20k instantly?

In such scenarios, where you don't have the time and leeway to apply for a full-fledged loan, a small and quick financial fix can be a lifesaver. Well, it's possible now, and the only document you require is your Aadhar Card. Yes, you can avail of an instant paperless Rs.20,000 loan on Aadhar Card.

What credit score is needed for a 20k car?

There isn't one specific score that's required to buy a car because lenders have different standards. However, the vast majority of borrowers have scores of 661 or higher.

What would my payment be on a $20000 car loan?

Payments would be around $377 per month. According to the results, it will take you 60 months, an interest rate of 5% of $2,645, to fully pay your $20,000 car loan. However, the monthly cost of a $20,000 car loan will depend on your repayment period and the annual percentage rate (APR).

What are two reasons someone might purposely choose a higher monthly payment?

An increase in your monthly payment will reduce the amount of interest charges you will pay over the repayment period and may even shorten the number of months it will take to pay off the loan.

What happens if I pay an extra $100 a month on my car loan?

Extra payments made on your car loan usually go toward the principal balance, but you'll want to make sure. Some lenders might instead apply the extra money to future payments, including the interest, which is not what you want.

How to pay off a $20,000 loan fast?

Here are four ways to help pay off loans faster:
  1. Make biweekly payments, rather than monthly. Making a smaller loan payment every two weeks is one of the best ways to pay off a loan faster. ...
  2. Make an extra payment toward your personal loan. ...
  3. Round up your loan payment. ...
  4. Look into refinancing your loan.

How can I get help paying my car payment?

Many lenders offer auto loan hardship programs to help borrowers manage their monthly payments while dealing with a financial emergency. Options include smaller monthly payments, a reduced interest rate, payment deferment and payment extension plans. Each lender has its own requirements.