Is a car payment good debt?

Asked by: Anibal Goyette  |  Last update: December 27, 2025
Score: 5/5 (42 votes)

Generally speaking, cars purchased with a large down payment and with a short-term car loan are considered to be good debt. That's because large down payments usually mean lower interest rates. Further, a shorter loan term means you'll pay less in interest over the life of the loan.

Are car payments considered bad debt?

Bad debt is used to purchase consumable products

A loan used to buy a car is considered bad debt because the car can lose more than half its value by the time the debt is fully repaid. Consumable products or products that depreciate in value should always be paid with cash.

Does a car payment count as debt?

Auto Loans: Monthly payments on car loans are considered debt. The outstanding balance and monthly payment amount are taken into account. Student Loans: Payments on student loans are included in your debt calculations.

How much is a $30,000 car payment for 60 months?

How much would a $30,000 car cost per month? This all depends on the sales tax, the down payment, the interest rate and the length of the loan. But just as a ballpark estimate, assuming $3,000 down, an interest rate of 5.8% and a 60-month loan, the monthly payment would be about $520.

What is considered good debt?

What is good debt? Good debt is generally considered any debt that may help you increase your net worth or generate future income. Importantly, it typically has a low interest or annual percentage rate (APR), which our experts say is normally under 6%.

Should I Buy A $3,000 Car?

26 related questions found

Is car debt considered good debt?

It might be considered good debt if you get a low interest rate and use the loan to purchase a primary vehicle. But it might be considered bad debt if you're borrowing money to buy a second car or a boat, and the loan payments make covering your day-to-day expenses difficult.

Is 20k in debt a lot?

U.S. consumers carry $6,501 in credit card debt on average, according to Experian data, but if your balance is much higher—say, $20,000 or beyond—you may feel hopeless. Paying off a high credit card balance can be a daunting task, but it is possible.

Is $700 a month a lot for a car payment?

The Average Car Payment Is More Than $700: 4 Better Ways To Spend That Money.

How much should my car payment be if I make $60000 a year?

A person making $60,000 per year can afford about a $40,000 car based on calculating 15% of their monthly take-home pay and a 20% down payment on the car of $7,900. However, every person's finances are different and you might find that a car payment of approximately $600 per month is not affordable for you.

What is a bad car payment?

Financial experts recommend spending no more than 10% of your monthly take-home pay on your car payment and no more than 15% to 20% on total car costs such as gas, insurance and maintenance as well as the payment.

What is a good credit score but a high debt-to-income ratio?

FHA loans for higher DTI

FHA loans are known for being more lenient with credit and DTI requirements. With a good credit score (580 or higher), you might qualify for an FHA loan with a DTI ratio of up to 50%. This makes FHA loans a popular choice for borrowers with good credit but high debt-to-income ratios.

Is $500 a month too much for a car?

How much car can I get for $500 a month? The answer depends on how much you put down, the interest rate and the length of the loan. Let's say you put no money down and took out a 72-month loan with a 6% APR. In that example, your $500 monthly payment would get you a car that sells for between $25,857 and $28,900.

What debt should you avoid?

High-interest loans -- which could include payday loans or unsecured personal loans -- can be considered bad debt, as the high interest payments can be difficult for the borrower to pay back, often putting them in a worse financial situation.

How do the rich use debt to get richer?

Wealthy family borrows against its assets' growing value and uses the newly available cash to live off or invest in other assets, like rental properties. The family does NOT owe taxes on its asset-leveraged loans because the government doesn't tax borrowed money.

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 much is a $25,000 car payment?

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%.

How much would a $3,000 loan cost per month?

The monthly payment on a $3,000 personal loan will depend on the loan term and the interest rate. For example, the monthly payment on a two-year $3,000 loan with an annual percentage rate (APR) of 12% would be $141.22. The monthly payment on a $3,000 loan with a six-year term and an APR of 12% would be $58.65.

Is $2000 a good down payment on a 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.

What is a realistic monthly car payment?

The average monthly car payment is $737 for new cars and $520 for used. Several factors determine your payment.

What is too high of a monthly car payment?

Here are some important points to consider when getting into car payments. So, When Is a Car Payment Too High? 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!

How old of a car can I finance for 72 months?

Some banks and credit unions may offer 72 months on a 3 or 4 year old car for most consumers, but may limit others based on credit criteria. Factory supported lenders (like BMW FS, Ford Motor Credit, ETC) may offer longer terms on their own brands, but limit off brands.

Will credit cards forgive debt?

Most credit card companies won't provide forgiveness for all of your credit card debt. But they will occasionally accept a smaller amount to settle the balance due and forgive the rest. Or the credit card company might write off your debt. But this step doesn't eliminate the debt—it's often sold to a collector.

How can I pay off $20,000 in debt fast?

If you have $20,000 in credit card debt that you need to pay off in three years or less, you have multiple options to consider, including:
  1. Take advantage of a debt relief service.
  2. Consolidate your debt with a home equity loan.
  3. Take advantage of 0% balance transfer credit cards.

How much debt is serious?

If you cannot afford to pay your minimum debt payments, your debt amount is unreasonable. The 28/36 rule states that no more than 28% of a household's gross income should be spent on housing and no more than 36% on housing plus other debt.