FICO® credit scores are the auto industry standard for determining a potential buyer's creditworthiness.
While some dealerships look at your base FICO score, others might look at your FICO Auto Score. This industry-specific rating provides a more accurate picture of the likelihood of you repaying an auto loan instead of the likelihood of you repaying any credit obligation.
Auto lenders may rely more on Equifax and Experian for credit report insights, but TransUnion also sells consumer data to a number of automotive lenders. Credit scoring models such as FICO® Auto Score 9 generate a credit score based on the debt and payment information in a consumer's credit report.
How to qualify for a 0% APR car deal. Zero percent financing deals are generally reserved for borrowers with excellent credit — typically classified as a credit score of 800 and above.
This is because individual consumer reporting agencies, credit scoring companies, lenders and creditors may use slightly different formulas to calculate your credit scores. They might also weigh your information differently depending on the type of credit account for which you've applied.
Is Experian the Most Accurate Credit Score? Credit scores from the three main bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) are considered accurate. The accuracy of the scores depends on the accuracy of the information provided to them by lenders and creditors.
There are several agencies that calculate your credit score. Car dealerships can use any of these credit reporting agencies. However, the most commonly used by car dealers is FICO.
Most used auto loans go to borrowers with minimum credit scores of at least 675. For new auto loans, most borrowers have scores of around 730. The minimum credit score needed for a new car may be around 600, but those with excellent credit often get lower rates and lower monthly payments.
The end of the calendar year — specifically October, November and December — is typically one of the best times for car shoppers to get deals on vehicles. Cars sold during this time usually come with higher discounts and incentives than those sold during other times of the year.
Key Takeaways. It is possible to buy a car with a 550 credit score, but it may be more difficult and require more effort than for someone with a higher credit score. Before shopping for a car, it's important to assess your financial situation and budget carefully to determine what you can realistically afford.
In general, you'll need a FICO credit score of at least 600 to qualify for a traditional auto loan, but the minimum credit score required with vary from lender to lender.
FICO 8 scores range between 300 and 850. A FICO score of at least 700 is considered a good score. There are also industry-specific versions of credit scores that businesses use. For example, the FICO Bankcard Score 8 is the most widely used score when you apply for a new credit card or a credit-limit increase.
Bring your own credit report with you
If you plan on using dealer financing, take your own credit report to the dealership. The salesperson may still access one, but having your own can thwart being denied the best rate because your credit isn't good enough – when it actually is.
Never fill out a loan application at a dealership before you've picked a vehicle and are ready to buy. A dealership checking your credit score is a soft inquiry and won't affect your credit. Any hard credit check triggered by a loan application will appear on your credit report, shaving points from your credit score.
To buy a $50,000 car and get favorable auto loan options, it's best to have a credit score in the prime or super prime categories. Prime borrowers are those with a credit score within the 661-780 range, while super-prime borrowers fall within the 781-850 range.
1 Two of the most common are the FICO Score 5 and the FICO Score 8. Both are used by lenders to determine a prospective borrower's creditworthiness. But FICO 5 is commonly used in the mortgage lending industry, while FICO 8 is mainly used by credit card issuers.
December has the highest discounts from the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for both new and used cars, according to Edmunds transaction data. However, if you need a car in March, we don't recommend waiting for the entire year. There are great deals out there regardless of the time of year.
“Mondays and Tuesdays tend to be less busy as many people are occupied with work and other weekday commitments. By visiting the dealership on these days, you're more likely to receive prompt attention from salespeople and have more negotiating power.
In general, lenders look for borrowers in the prime range or better, so you will need a score of 661 or higher to qualify for most conventional car loans.
There is no set minimum FICO® Score to get a car loan. However, a good score at 720 or better will get you the best rate. Consider spending some time improving your credit score before shopping for your next car. Even moving up a few points can make a big difference if you have a low score.
This depends on your financial situation. For those with a good credit score — around 670 and up — a $30,000 personal loan may be pretty easy to get.
The base FICO score is also called FICO Score 8 or 9. It's not designed specifically for auto loans, but many lenders use it. It's a number between 300 and 850, and a higher score means that a person is more likely to make loan payments on time.
Generally, lenders prefer borrowers with a lower debt-to-income ratio and will look at other factors such as credit score, income, the price of the car, the amount you're trying to finance, and employment history.
Financing is a key profit center for dealerships, which collect a portion of the interest rate or a fee when they arrange a loan on behalf of a bank, auto company or other financial firm. The financing also makes it easier for dealers to sell high-margin add-on products like insurance.