$25,000 isn't inherently too much for a car; it depends heavily on your income, savings, debt, and financial goals, but it's considered a reasonable price point for many if bought wisely (used, cash, or with a strong down payment) and fits within the recommended 10-20% of your take-home pay, while some experts suggest keeping total car expenses under 20% of pre-tax income to avoid overspending on a depreciating asset.
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Example: A six year fixed-rate loan for a $25,000 new car, with 20% down, requires a $20,000 loan. Based on a simple interest rate of 3.4% and a loan fee of $200, this loan would have 72 monthly payments of $310.54 each and an annual percentage rate (APR) of 3.74%.
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.
As a general rule, you should pay 20 percent of the price of the vehicle as a down payment. That's because vehicles lose value, or depreciate, rapidly. If you make a small down payment or no down payment, you can end up owing more on your auto loan than your car or SUV is worth.
A $25,000 loan's monthly payment varies significantly with the interest rate (APR) and loan term (years), but generally ranges from around $450 to over $600 for shorter terms (4-5 years) and potentially lower for longer terms, with examples showing payments from ~$212 (60 months @ 9.95%) to ~$622 (48 months @ 9%) for $25k, illustrating how higher rates or shorter terms mean higher payments.
The best times to buy a car are the end of the year (especially December) for big discounts on outgoing models and hitting quotas, fall (Sept-Nov) to clear old inventory as new models arrive, end of the month/quarter for sales staff to meet goals, and specific holidays like Black Friday; Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often better days due to fewer crowds, while late January offers good deals with less holiday shopping competition.
Preapproved offers for credit cards and personal loans typically don't impact your credit score, while mortgage and auto loan preapproval typically involve a hard inquiry, which affects your credit.
A good monthly car payment is generally 10% to 15% of your take-home pay, but the ideal amount depends on your full budget, including insurance, gas, and maintenance, with total transportation costs ideally staying under 20% of your income. A simple guideline is to keep the loan payment itself below 15% of your gross income, or 10-15% of your net (take-home) income, but always factor in other car-related expenses for a realistic budget.
It may be easier to secure a loan for a new car than it is for a used car, and new car loans often come with lower interest rates. Used cars can be a good fit if you're on a budget and they generally cost less to insure; however, interest rates for used car loans are often higher than for new car loans.
Paying cash may hinder your chances of getting the best deal
"When dealers are negotiating the purchase price, they anticipate making money on the back end, via financing," Bill explains. "So if you tell them up front you're paying cash, the dealer knows he has no opportunity to make money off you from financing.
Some believe that, all combined, automotive expenses, including gas, insurance, car payments and maintenance, should not exceed 20% of your pretax monthly income. Other experts say that a vehicle that costs less than half of your annual take-home pay may be affordable.
For years, dealerships have been using a tactic called a “four square”—a sheet of paper divided into four boxes where the salesperson will write down your trade value, the purchase price of the vehicle you're buying, your down payment, and your monthly payment.
A down payment between 10 and 20 percent of the vehicle price is the general recommendation, although you can put down more. One reason to make a down payment is to reduce the amount you must borrow. By reducing the amount financed, you save some even before you start negotiating the car price.
When someone earns £25,000 in 2024/25, they take home £20,273. This means £1,689 in their pocket each month. This assumes a student loan on Plan 2 and the standard 5% pension contribution. Over the year, they'll pay £2,234 in income tax and £1,243 in national insurance.
For cars with the least problems, focus on brands like Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Mazda, and Subaru, consistently topping reliability charts for new and used vehicles, with specific models like the Toyota Corolla, Lexus RX, and Honda Accord often cited for long-term dependability, though proper maintenance is crucial for any car.