Is 8% a bad interest rate for a car?

Asked by: Prof. Bill Hermann  |  Last update: November 4, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (20 votes)

Good Credit (700-749): 4-5% for new cars, 5-6% for used cars. Fair Credit (650-699): 6-7% for new cars, 7-8% for used cars. Poor Credit (600-649): 8-10% for new cars, 10-13% for used cars.

Is 8% interest good on a car loan?

If it's a certified Unit i believe they should have some sort of incentivized rate. 8% on a Car isn't GREAT but it's pretty good. All things considered i tend to see 3%-4% higher interest rates than that on used cars.

Is 8% interest rate too high?

These typically range between 2% and 7%, meaning that interest rates of 8% and above are considered high.

Is 8 a bad APR?

According to Rachel Sanborn Lawrence, advisory services director and certified financial planner at Ellevest, you should feel OK about taking on purposeful debt that's below 10% APR, and even better if it's below 5% APR.

What does 8% APR mean?

Annual percentage rate (APR) refers to the yearly interest generated by a sum that's charged to borrowers or paid to investors. APR is expressed as a percentage that represents the actual yearly cost of funds over the term of a loan or income earned on an investment.

Car Loan Interest Rates Explained (For Beginners)

23 related questions found

Is 7% a high interest rate for a car?

A high interest rate on a car loan is one that's above the national average. In the second quarter of 2024, the average rate was 6.84% for new cars and 12.01% for used cars, according to Experian's State of the Automotive Finance Market report.

How do I lower my APR on my car?

How to Lower the APR on a Car Loan
  1. Be aware of your credit score. Be aware of what your credit score is and if there are any points that need to be corrected before you apply for a car loan.
  2. Clean up your score. ...
  3. Consider Refinance Loans. ...
  4. Enlist a cosigner. ...
  5. Consider in-house financing.

Is a 650 credit score good to buy a car?

For those with scores in the fair range (650-699), financing is still possible, though you may encounter slightly higher interest rates. It's worth noting that the average credit score required for the best auto loan rates has been gradually increasing, so aiming for a score of 700 or higher is advisable.

What does an 8 interest rate mean?

For instance, an 8% interest rate for borrowing $100 a year will obligate a person to pay $108 at year-end. As can be seen in this brief example, the interest rate directly affects the total interest paid on any loan.

How to pay off a high interest car loan?

Once you've decided you are going to pay down or pay off your loan early, there are five ways to reach your goal:
  1. Make a full lump sum payment. ...
  2. Make a partial lump sum payment. ...
  3. Make extra payments each month. ...
  4. Make larger payments each month. ...
  5. Request extra or larger payments to go toward your principal.

Do I have to pay interest if I pay off a loan early?

Repaying a loan early usually means you won't pay any more interest, but there could be an early prepayment fee. The cost of those fees may be more than the interest you'll pay over the rest of the loan.

What is the monthly payment on a $30,000 car 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).

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.

What APR is too high for a car?

Car Loan APRs by Credit Score

Excellent (750 - 850): 2.96 percent for new, 3.68 percent for used. Good (700 - 749): 4.03 percent for new, 5.53 percent for used. Fair (650 - 699): 6.75 percent for new, 10.33 percent for used. Poor (450 - 649): 12.84 percent for new, 20.43 percent for used.

Can dealerships negotiate interest rates?

Yes, just like the price of the vehicle, the interest rate is negotiable.

Is a $300 car payment too much?

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.

Is 8% interest on a car bad?

Good Credit (700-749): 4-5% for new cars, 5-6% for used cars. Fair Credit (650-699): 6-7% for new cars, 7-8% for used cars. Poor Credit (600-649): 8-10% for new cars, 10-13% for used cars.

Why is my APR so high with good credit?

Even people with good credit scores make mistakes, and a bank may charge a penalty APR on your credit card without placing a negative mark on your credit report. Penalty APRs typically increase credit card interest rates significantly due to a late, returned or missed payment.

What is a good credit score to buy a car with no down payment?

Every lender sets its own requirements for zero-down-payment deals, if they offer them at all. Generally, the credit score needed to buy a car is at least 661 whether you make a down payment or not. You could still get a car loan if your score is lower than 661, but be prepared to pay higher interest rates.

Is 8% APR good for a credit card?

A good credit card APR is a rate that's at or below the national average, which currently sits above 20 percent. While there are credit cards with APRs below 10 percent, they are most often found at credit unions or small local banks. If you don't have good credit, you're likely to receive a higher credit card APR.

How much will it cost in fees to transfer a $1000 balance to this card?

Balance transfer fee. This fee will typically be 3% to 5% of the amount transferred, which translates to $30 to $50 per $1,000 transferred. The lower the fee, the better, but even with a fee on the high end, your interest savings might easily make up for the cost.