Auto dealerships use the FICO credit bureau, which stands for Fair Isaac Corporation. They also use the FICO Auto Credit Score, which has a range of 250 to 900. This may mean that an auto dealer has a different credit score for you than the one you see on your personal credit report.
Equifax and Experian are the most commonly used credit bureaus by auto lenders. They offer services that are directed specifically at the auto industry, and each gets a portion of their revenue from the industry.
While Experian and Equifax are the most popular bureaus among auto lenders and car dealers, TransUnion can also be used for auto loan decisions. And the truth is, the credit bureau lenders use when evaluating your auto loan application probably will not influence their decision too much.
Your credit score is a major factor in whether you'll be approved for a car loan. Some lenders use specialized credit scores, such as a FICO Auto Score. In general, you'll need at least prime credit, meaning a credit score of 661 or up, to get a loan at a good interest rate.
The recommended credit score needed to buy a car is 660 and above. This will typically guarantee interest rates under 6%.
A good credit score to buy a car is often above 660, as you're then considered a "prime" borrower. There's no industry-wide, official minimum credit score in order to qualify for an auto loan. Generally, the higher your credit score, the better terms you're likely to get on the loan.
Generally, auto lenders use the FICO Score 8 model. But VantageScore, which the three main credit bureaus founded, is still used quite often. In addition, sometimes lenders will use multiple models, depending upon your score and credit history, as a way to skirt restrictions to get you a loan.
Your credit score might look higher than you thought it was. You may not realize that when you go for a car loan that your FICO Auto Score is used. It puts a little more weight on your history with car loans and leases, and also other installment loans.
Neither score is more or less accurate than the other; they're only being calculated from slightly differing sources. Your Equifax credit score is more likely to appear lower than your TransUnion one because of the reporting differences, but a “fair” score from TransUnion is typically “fair” across the board.
Answer provided by. While your friend is right that your credit score is considered fair, that doesn't mean securing an auto loan is impossible! With a 640 credit score, a new car loan interest rate hovers around 6.5% and a used car loan sits at about 10.5%. A credit score of 640 is below the national average of 710.
700 is a good credit score to buy a car because it proves you are a responsible borrower with a credit history in the prime range. Even if your score is under 700 there are still ways to obtain affordable financing, especially at Green Light Auto Credit!
PenFed Credit Union is the only loan company that uses only your Equifax credit data. In most cases, you won't be able to determine beforehand which credit bureaus your lender will use. In some cases, lenders will pull your credit report from two or even all three major credit bureaus.
Credit Karma touts that it will always be free to the consumers who use its website or mobile app. But how accurate is Credit Karma? In some cases, as seen in an example below, Credit Karma may be off by 20 to 25 points.
Equifax credit scores are not used by lenders and creditors to assess consumers' creditworthiness. FICO scores are general purpose credit scores developed by the Fair Isaac Corporation, which are used by lenders and creditors to help assess consumers' creditworthiness.
Your score can then differ based on what bureau your credit report is pulled from since they don't all receive the same information about your credit accounts. Secondly, different credit score models (and versions) exist across the board. As it states on its website, Credit Karma uses the VantageScore® 3.0 model.
692 credit score car loan options
A 692 score should easily secure you a car loan. On average, your score should get you an interest rate between 3.6- 4.6 and between – and 6 percent on a used car. Scores above 720 are more likely to net you the lower percentage rates.
Consequently, when lenders check your FICO credit score, whether based on credit report data from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion, they will likely use the FICO 8 scoring model. FICO 8 scores range between 300 and 850. A FICO score of at least 700 is considered a good score.
FICO Score 8 is the most commonly used FICO credit score among lenders in the financial industry. This score ranges anywhere between 300 and 850.
What is a good FICO® Auto Score? While different lenders use different standards for rating credit scores, when it comes to base FICO® scores, many lenders consider a 700 or higher (on a scale of 300–850) to be a good credit score.
This can help you find the best auto loan interest rates by credit score with less legwork than reaching out to lenders on your own. Rates for borrowers with excellent credit scores start at 1.9% for new cars and 2.15% for used cars, but those with credit scores of 575 or above can find loan offers through the site.
A 700 credit score puts you firmly in the prime range of credit scores, meaning you can get a competitive rate as long as you shop around, have good income, and have a solid debt-to-income ratio. A 700 credit score gets an average car loan interest rate of 3% to 6% for new cars and 5% to 9% for used cars.
Good Credit Score Range For Auto Loans
If you're shooting for the lowest possible APR on your auto loan your Auto credit score should be above 740.
The most accurate credit scores are the latest versions of the FICO Score and VantageScore credit-scoring models: FICO Score 8 and VantageScore 3.0. It is important to check a reputable, accurate credit score because there are more than 1,000 different types of credit scores floating around.
Our Verdict: Credit Karma has better credit monitoring and more features, but Experian actually gives you your “real” credit score. Plus it offers the wonderful Experian Boost tool. Since they're both free, it's worth it to get both of them.
Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.