Is paying off a personal loan early good for credit?

Asked by: Naomie Gerlach  |  Last update: January 15, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (6 votes)

Generally, the longer your credit history, the better your credit score will be. Therefore, if you pay off a personal loan early, you could bring down your average credit history length and your credit score.

Does paying off loans early increase credit score?

Paying off installment loans early will not usually help your credit score. There are exceptions to this but those usually have to do with how the balance is reported, like with student loan debt that has capitalized interest from deferment or forbearance.

Is it worth paying off a personal loan early?

The best benefit from paying off a loan early is reduced interest costs –– saving you a lot of money. But there are other significant reasons you should consider it. Eliminating debt and demonstrating responsible financial behavior may also boost your credit score.

Why did my credit score go down when I paid off a personal loan?

You paid off your car, and the personal loan, which closes that line of credit. That means your overall credit score goes down, because the amount of lines of credit, as well as credit age dropped.

How much is a $20,000 loan for 5 years?

A $20,000 loan at 5% for 60 months (5 years) will cost you a total of $22,645.48, whereas the same loan at 3% will cost you $21,562.43. That's a savings of $1,083.05. That same wise shopper will look not only at the interest rate but also the length of the loan.

Can Personal Loans be Paid Off Early? The Pros and Cons of Paying Off Personal Loans Early

32 related questions found

How much is 26.99 APR on $3000?

How much is 26.99 APR on $3,000? An APR of 26.99% on a $3,000 balance would cost $67.26 in monthly interest charges.

Does paying off a loan improve credit?

Paying off a loan can positively or negatively impact your credit scores in the short term, depending on your mix of account types, account balances and other factors.

How can I raise my credit score 200 points in 30 days?

How to Improve Your Credit Score
  1. Review Your Credit Reports. The best way to identify which steps are most important for you is to read through your credit reports. ...
  2. Pay Every Bill on Time. ...
  3. Maintain a Low Credit Utilization Rate. ...
  4. Avoid Unnecessary Credit Applications. ...
  5. Monitor Your Credit Regularly.

Is 650 a good credit score?

A FICO® Score of 650 places you within a population of consumers whose credit may be seen as Fair. Your 650 FICO® Score is lower than the average U.S. credit score. Statistically speaking, 28% of consumers with credit scores in the Fair range are likely to become seriously delinquent in the future.

Can I pay off personal loan early to avoid interest?

Depending on your lender and terms, paying off a personal loan early can mean saving on interest and freeing up money in your monthly budget. Prepayment has pros and cons. The benefits can include interest savings and early freedom from debt, while the drawbacks can include prepayment fees.

Why is it cheaper if you finish your loan payments early?

Save money on interest

Interest is typically spread out over the loan term. You'll pay less interest by paying off your loan early since the lender will have less time to collect interest from you.

Will a personal loan lower my credit score?

Does Taking Out a Personal Loan Hurt my Credit Score? Your credit score will take a slight hit when you apply for a loan, as the lender looks hard at your credit. However, your credit score should improve if you make your payments on time.

Is there a downside to paying off a loan early?

If you pay off the personal loan earlier than your loan term, your credit report will reflect a shorter account lifetime. Your credit history length accounts for 15% of your FICO score and is calculated as the average age of all of your accounts.

How to get 800 credit score?

Making on-time payments to creditors, keeping your credit utilization low, having a long credit history, maintaining a good mix of credit types, and occasionally applying for new credit lines are the factors that can get you into the 800 credit score club.

How long does a personal loan stay on your credit report?

In most cases, personal loans will stay on your credit report for around 10 years.

Is 700 a good credit score?

A 700 credit score is considered a good score on the most common credit score range, which runs from 300 to 850. How does your score compare with others? You're within the good credit score range, which runs from 690 to 719.

What brings your credit score up the fastest?

In this article:
  • 1. Make On-Time Payments.
  • Pay Down Revolving Account Balances.
  • Don't Close Your Oldest Account.
  • Diversify the Types of Credit You Have.
  • Limit New Credit Applications.
  • Dispute Inaccurate Information on Your Credit Report.
  • Become an Authorized User.

How fast does credit score go up after paying off debt?

How long after paying off credit cards does credit score improve? You should see your score go up within a month (sometimes less).

Is it good to close a personal loan early?

Loan preclosure is a good decision in many circumstances, as it offers multiple benefits, including the following: Save Big on the Interest Cost: If you pre-close a Personal Loan, you save a considerable amount on the total interest outgo.

Why is my credit score dropping when I pay on time?

Using more of your credit card balance than usual — even if you pay on time — can reduce your score until a new, lower balance is reported the following month. Closed accounts and lower credit limits can also result in lower scores even if your payment behavior has not changed.

Will my credit score go up if I pay my car loan early?

It may seem backward, but paying off a car loan early could cause your credit scores to dip. But how it could affect your scores depends, in part, on your overall credit profile. Paying off a car loan early can cause a slight dip in your credit scores, depending on your credit profile.

How much would a $20,000 loan cost per month?

The monthly payment on a $20,000 loan ranges from $273 to $2,009, depending on the APR and how long the loan lasts. For example, if you take out a $20,000 loan for one year with an APR of 36%, your monthly payment will be $2,009.

How many credit cards should I have?

It's generally recommended that you have two to three credit card accounts at a time, in addition to other types of credit. Remember that your total available credit and your debt to credit ratio can impact your credit scores. If you have more than three credit cards, it may be hard to keep track of monthly payments.

How much will Affirm approve me for?

Currently, the standard purchase limit across all of Affirm's services is $30,000 USD. These are the conditions for purchases reaching the limit: The highest cart allowable is $30,000 USD.