The most common term currently is for 72 months, with an 84-month loan not too far behind. In fact, nearly 70% of new car loans in the first quarter of 2020 were longer than 60 months — an increase of about 29 percentage points in a decade. The trend is similar for used car loans.
Generally, yes, a 72 month car loan is bad. When you get a 72 month car loan, you're more likely to go upside down on your car loan, which leaves you in a vulnerable financial position. Avoid getting a 72 month car loan if you can. This might mean getting a cheaper car than you hoped for.
According to most personal finance experts, the optimal length for a car loan is 48 months, although some are upping this length to 60 months due to the increased cost of vehicles and lower interest rates.
Depending on multiple factors, such as credit score, some consumers may qualify for financing of 84 months – an eight-year term – or more. The average loan term at the start of 2021 was 69 months for new and nearly 66 months for used vehicles, according to Experian data.
The average life of a car is about 9.4 years, so a loan of more than 5 years can leave you unable to sell for most of the car's life.
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.
Seventy-two months equals six years — and if you're shopping for a car, that's a long time to make payments. But such loans have become commonplace as consumers buy ever-pricier vehicles, and seven-year loans are rising in their wake.
According to experts, a car payment is too high if the car payment is more than 30% of your total income. Remember, the car payment isn't your only car expense! Make sure to consider fuel and maintenance expenses. Make sure your car payment does not exceed 15%-20% of your total income.
"I think the shorter, the better - the shorter the loan, the lower the interest rate," Gills said. "Four years is the maximum that most of us should focus on." If the math won't work out at 48 months, make a larger down payment or think about getting a less expensive model.
What is the average car payment? As of 2021, the average monthly car payment in the U.S. is $575 for new vehicles and $430 for used vehicles.
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.
For $40,000 loans, monthly payments averagely range between $900 and $1,000, depending on the interest rate and loan term. With an interest rate of 6% and a down payment of $2500, your monthly payment for a $450,000 car loan over a term of 72 months will be $7,859 per month.
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. ... If you make every scheduled payment over those seven years, you pay over $5,200 in interest charges.
According to Middletown Honda, depending on your credit score, good car loan interest rates can range anywhere from 3 percent to almost 14 percent. However, most three-year car loans for someone with an average to above-average credit score come with a roughly 3 percent to 4.5 percent interest rate.
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.
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.
There's no right or wrong length to finance a used car. The loan term that's right for you can be as short as 24 months or as long as 84 months – it all comes down to your current financial situation and future plans for the vehicle.
While there may be lower interest rates available, 1.9% can be a good deal under some circumstances. In terms of cost, an interest rate of 1.9% APR may not add much to your overall car purchase. On a $30,000 SUV, we estimate that a 5-year loan at 1.9% APR would equate to $1,471 in money spent on interest alone.
If your goal is to make a vehicle fit within your monthly budget, 84-month financing could be a compelling option. ... Since vehicles lose value over time, some consumers may find that they may owe more than the vehicle is worth. If your circumstances change, negative equity can even impact the cost of your next purchase.
How much should you spend on a car? If you're taking out a personal loan to pay for your car, it's a good idea to limit your car payments to between 10% and 15% of your take-home pay. If you take home $4,000 per month, you'd want your car payment to be no more than $400 to $600.
Experts say your total car expenses, including monthly payments, insurance, gas and maintenance, should be about 20 percent of your take-home monthly pay. ... Then a safe estimate for car expenses is $800 per month.
A $500 car payment is about average right now. The concept of “too much” is going to depend on your income and living expenses, your insurance expense, and other budget factors.