A $30,000 auto loan balance with an average interest rate of 5.0% paid over a 5 year term will have a monthly payment of $566. In total, the loan will cost $33,968 with $3,968 in interest.
Typical Down Payment: Many people put down between 10% to 20% of the vehicle's price. For a $30000 car, this would be between $3000 and $6000.
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.
If you have been qualified for a $30,000 car loan, the monthly payment depends on the amount of the down payment, interest rate, and loan length. For example, with a down payment of $2,500, an interest rate of 5%, and a loan length of three years, you will have to pay $824.20/month.
Finding a car loan with bad credit is possible, but this type of loan will usually have high interest rates. Taking some time to build your credit may help increase your chances of approval and reduce loan costs.
As a general rule of thumb, it's recommended that you put down at least 20% on a new vehicle, and at least 10% on a used car.
As a very simple example, borrowing $32,000 for five years at 6% will require a payment of $618.65 per month, with a total interest payment of $5,118.98 over the life of the 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.
For instance, using our loan calculator, if you buy a $20,000 vehicle at 5% APR for 60 months the monthly payment would be $377.42 and you would pay $2,645.48 in interest.
For example, the interest on a $30,000, 36-month loan at 6% is $2,856. The same loan ($30,000 at 6%) paid back over 72 months would cost $5,797 in interest. Even small changes in your rate can impact how much total interest amount you pay overall.
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.
It's total loan amount (including interest) divided by the loan term (number of months you have to repay the loan. For example, the total interest for a $30,000, 60-month loan at 7% would be $6,497.40. So the monthly payment would be $608.29 ($30,000 + $6,497.40 ÷ 60 = $552.50).
It's good practice to make a down payment of at least 20% on a new car (10% for used). A larger down payment can also help you nab a better interest rate. But how much a down payment should be for a car isn't black and white. If you can't afford 10% or 20%, the best down payment is the one you can afford.
What Are the Disadvantages of a Large Down Payment? Providing more money down doesn't guarantee a lower interest rate, and it can cut into your savings. Depending on the vehicle you choose to buy, 50% can be a lot of money to put down on an auto loan.
Generally, a good credit score to buy a car falls within the range of 660 to 720 or higher. However, it's important to note that each lender has different criteria, and some may consider lower credit scores as well.
A typical 30,000-mile service will usually include the following, but yours may differ: replace cabin filter (if equipped) change engine air filter. change engine oil and filter.
NerdWallet typically recommends keeping auto loans to no more than 60 months for new cars and 36 months for used cars — although that can be a challenge for some people in today's market with high car prices. Ultimately, choosing the best auto loan term depends on balancing cost, affordability and your specific needs.
There's no perfect formula for how much you can afford, but our short answer is that your new-car payment should be no more than 15% of your monthly take-home pay. If you're leasing or buying used, it should be no more than 10%.
To qualify for a $30,000 personal loan, you'll likely need a credit score of at least 670. Lenders will also consider other factors in addition to your credit, such as your income, debt-to-income ratio and employment status.
Consider a Cosigner
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.