There may not necessarily be a minimum credit score required to buy a car. Consumers with deep subprime credit scores from 300 to 500 have obtained financing for new and used vehicles in the second quarter of 2021, according to the credit bureau Experian's State of the Automotive Finance Market report for that period.
For best results, you should aim for at least a FICO score of 660 before applying for a new car loan.
The recommended credit score needed to buy a car is 660 and above. This will typically guarantee interest rates under 6%.
Key Takeaways. 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.
As you can see, a 700 credit score puts you in the “good” or “prime” category for financing, making 700 a good credit score to buy a car. While it's always a good idea to get your credit score in its best possible shape before buying a car, if you're already around the 700 range you will be good to go.
The Federal Reserve is reportedly expecting approximately 7 rate increases by the end of 2022, setting up the likelihood of much higher financing rates for both new and used vehicles. The pace at which these increases come may vary, with some coming sooner than others.
FICO Auto Score has several versions. Most auto lenders use FICO Auto Score 8, as the most widespread, or FICO Auto Score 9. It's the most recent and used by all three bureaus. FICO Auto Score ranges from 250 to 900, meaning your FICO score will differ from your FICO Auto Score.
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.
A 712 FICO® Score is Good, but by raising your score into the Very Good range, you could qualify for lower interest rates and better borrowing terms. A great way to get started is to get your free credit report from Experian and check your credit score to find out the specific factors that impact your score the most.
If you have a credit score above 750, you can probably qualify for the best rates available and negotiate an excellent deal on your car. If your credit score is lower, see if you can give it a boost before you apply for a loan.
A 722 FICO® Score is Good, but by raising your score into the Very Good range, you could qualify for lower interest rates and better borrowing terms. A great way to get started is to get your free credit report from Experian and check your credit score to find out the specific factors that impact your score the most.
FICO Score 8 is a credit scoring model from the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) that is widely used by lenders to help determine the creditworthiness of potential borrowers and what interest rate they should be charged. This version of the company's base credit-scoring model was released in 2009.
A FICO® Score of 730 falls within a span of scores, from 670 to 739, that are categorized as Good. The average U.S. FICO® Score, 711, falls within the Good range.
The good news is, with a credit score of 670, you should be approved for a car loan. Most lenders require a credit score minimum of 661. Since this is your first time getting a car loan, here are a few tips to ensure you get the best deal: Compare multiple offers to see which lender can give you the best interest rates.
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.
The highest credit score you can have on the most widely used scales is an 850. For common versions of FICO and VantageScore, the scale ranges from 300 to 850 and lenders typically consider anything above 720 excellent credit.
A 710 FICO® Score is considered “Good”. Mortgage, auto, and personal loans are relatively easy to get with a 710 Credit Score. Lenders like to do business with borrowers that have Good credit because it's less risky.
A 715 score puts you in the "prime" category, according to Experian, which collects data about auto financing in its State of the Automotive Finance Market report. This means you would have been likely to receive an auto loan interest rate of 3.51% for a new car and 5.38% for a used car for the fourth quarter of 2021.
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.
Interest rates for new car auto loans
Credit Score of 601–660 (Nonprime): 7.14% Credit Score of 501–600 (Subprime): 11.33% Credit Score of 300–500 (Deep Subprime): 13.97%
Tier 2 credit is given to borrowers who fall into the acceptable range, meaning they can finance purchases but will not get as generous of terms as their Tier 1 counterparts, including higher interest rates. Credit scores for Tier 2 typically range from 640 to 690.
650 credit score credit card options
An individual with a 650 credit score will typically receive a credit card interest rate of between 20.5 and 16.5 percent. In comparison, someone with excellent credit can receive an average credit card interest rate of 13.5 percent.