What credit score do you need to get 0% interest on a car?

Asked by: Dr. Cyril Padberg MD  |  Last update: October 13, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (28 votes)

0% APR auto loans are reserved for "well-qualified" buyers. In most cases, "well-qualified" refers to borrowers with a credit score of 740 or higher. If a borrower isn't in this credit bracket and applies for the 0% APR offer, they could be taking a hit on their credit score that could have been avoided.

What credit score do you need for 0% APR on a car?

Securing a 0% APR deal usually requires an excellent credit score. Lenders consider these deals low-risk only when offered to borrowers with strong credit histories. Typically, you'll need a score of around 700 or higher to qualify.

How do you qualify for 0% interest?

In order to qualify for a zero interest loan, you'll need a very high credit score (usually 740 or higher). The exact range will vary depending on who you're shopping with, but they're not handing out this type of loan to someone who doesn't already have a proven track record with debt.

Can you get 0% APR with 750 credit score?

0% intro APR cards require good to excellent credit

This means you'll need a FICO credit score of at least 670 or a VantageScore credit score of at least 661. If you have very good or excellent credit, which means a FICO score of at least 740 or a VantageScore of at least 781, your chances of approval are even higher.

What credit score do I need for zero down on a car?

There isn't one specific score that's required to buy a car because lenders have different standards. However, the vast majority of borrowers have scores of 661 or higher.

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What is the lowest credit score a car dealership will take?

According to Car and Driver, “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.”

What is a 639 credit score?

Your score falls within the range of scores, from 580 to 669, considered Fair. A 639 FICO® Score is below the average credit score. Some lenders see consumers with scores in the Fair range as having unfavorable credit, and may decline their credit applications.

How to get 0% financing on a car?

To qualify for a 0% APR car loan, you generally need excellent credit, a solid income and a low debt-to-income ratio. But even if you qualify, your vehicle options may be limited.

How rare is a 750 credit score?

Nearly half of Americans score between 750 and 850, in the very good to exceptional range, while less than 25% of Americans have a score between 300 and 649, the poor to fair credit score range.

How do car dealerships make money on 0% financing?

Since the dealership only profits from the actual sale, they will rarely agree to bargain down the price and often waive other incentives, like cashback rebates. Stripping away rebates helps them make their money back. Because of this, a no-interest loan could cost more than the savings you'd get negotiating on price.

What is an excellent credit score?

For a score with a range of 300 to 850, a credit score of 670 to 739 is considered good. Credit scores of 740 and above are very good while 800 and higher are excellent.

Does 0 APR hurt credit?

A credit card with an introductory 0 percent APR can help you manage new debt or pay off old balances. However, a 0 percent intro APR card can hurt your credit if it causes you to carry a higher balance than usual or if you carry your balance beyond the introductory offer period.

Who qualifies for 0% APR?

There are some requirements when it comes to qualifying for 0 percent APR. The main thing is that you need to have a good credit score. This means a long credit history and one that shows you have a good history of paying your bills.

What is the lowest credit score Toyota will finance?

Toyota Financial Services requires you to have a score of at least 610 to qualify for an auto loan. And to nab Toyota's 0.00% interest deal (if it's available), you must have a credit score of at least 690.

How to buy a car with 0 credit score?

Borrowers with no credit might still be able to get an auto loan from a dealership, bank, credit union or online lender. To improve your chances of getting approved, consider making a large down payment or finding a cosigner.

Is a 900 credit score possible?

What is the highest credit score possible? To start off: No, it's not possible to have a 900 credit score in the United States. In some countries that use other models, like Canada, people could have a score of 900. The current scoring models in the U.S. have a maximum of 850.

What is the average US credit score?

The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024.

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.

Which car company is offering 0% APR?

Renault 0% APR Representative

Discover 0% APR Representative offers across the Renault car range including the Renault Clio E-Tech.

What credit score do you need for 0 APR on a car?

Lenders want to ensure you have a near-perfect history of making payments and handling your debt before offering you no-interest financing. An excellent credit score — 781 or higher — will get you the best deal on financing, but you can still qualify for a competitive interest rate if your score is 670 or higher.

Who has the best car loan rates?

  • LightStream - New car purchase loan. 4.5. NerdWallet rating. Est. APR. 7.74-15.69% Loan amount. $5,000-$100,000. ...
  • Consumers Credit Union - New car purchase loan. 5.0. NerdWallet rating. Est. APR. 5.74-17.54% Loan amount. ...
  • Alliant Credit Union – New car purchase loan. 4.0. NerdWallet rating. Est. APR. 5.24-23.25% Loan amount.

Who has a 999 credit score?

A credit score of 999 from Experian is the highest you can get. It usually means you don't have many marks on your credit file and are very likely to be accepted for a loan or credit card. However, a high credit score doesn't guarantee your loan will be accepted.

What is the best to worst credit score?

A score of 720 or higher is generally considered excellent credit. A score of 690 to 719 is considered good credit. Scores of 630 to 689 are fair credit. And scores of 629 or below are bad credit.

Can I buy a car with a 639 credit score?

Most borrowers need a FICO score of at least 600 to get a competitive rate on an auto loan.