A good interest rate for a car loan is typically below 5.18% for new cars and 6.79% for used vehicles. However, the best rate is unique to the borrower so it's best to look at the average interest rates for your credit score category to know if you're getting a good deal.
According to Experian's State of the Automotive Finance Market report, the average auto loan interest rate for new cars in 2023's third quarter was 7.03 percent — 11.35 percent for used cars. Generally, the lower your score, the higher your annual percentage rate (APR) will be.
What is a good interest rate for a 72-month car loan? An interest rate under 5% is a great rate for a 72-month auto loan.
People with excellent credit qualified for rates around 5.61 percent, while people with bad credit had an average new car rate of 14.17 percent. Rates for used cars were higher — 11.35 percent across credit scores. And the average rate for bad credit was a sky-high 21.18 percent.
A credit score of 700 gets you an interest rate of 3% to 6% on car loans for new cars and about 5% to 9% for second-hand cars.
Because of the high interest rates and risk of going upside down, most experts agree that a 72-month loan isn't an ideal choice. Experts recommend that borrowers take out a shorter loan. And for an optimal interest rate, a loan term fewer than 60 months is a better way to go. You can learn more about car loans here.
In early 2023, average rates for new and used vehicles were 6.58 percent and 11.70 percent, respectively, according to Experian. The third quarter brought similar rates, 7.03 percent for new and 11.35 percent for used.
Auto loan rates for new cars were at their highest in the 1980s, when they hit 17.36% in November of 1981. Over the years, recessions and a global pandemic contributed to the volatility of loan rates. Economic experts don't expect the Fed to lower interest rates until 2024.
For most buyers in 2024, new car deals are more sensible due to lower financing costs and attractive incentives. Used car prices are declining but remain high, affected by the pandemic's long-term impact on production.
To understand what car loan interest rate you might qualify for based on your credit score, check out the average rates below for different credit tiers: Excellent (750 - 850): 2.96 percent for new, 3.68 percent for used. Good (700 - 749): 4.03 percent for new, 5.53 percent for used.
Car prices were high in 2023, and financing rates were expensive. Buying a car in 2023 wasn't good for many people's personal finances.
Visit your My NerdWallet Settings page to see all the writers you're following. The average monthly car loan payment in the U.S. is $726 for new vehicles and $533 for used ones originated in the third quarter of 2023, according to credit reporting agency Experian.
Key takeaways. Your credit card APR can go up if the prime rate changes, you paid your credit card bill late, your intro APR offer ended or your credit score dropped. If your APR increases, you can work on paying down your balance or transfer your balance to a card with a low or 0 percent intro APR offer.
One way to lower the interest rate on a car loan is to compare rates and payments terms from different sources to know all your options. Be sure to ask your current lender for a lower APR on your car loan. If you are denied a loan, inform them of your other offers and see if they will match or beat the lowest offer.
“One of the Fed's core duties is to keep purchasing power in check, and they do it by raising interest rates,” explains Sarah Foster, senior U.S. economy reporter at Bankrate. To achieve this goal, the Fed increased rates 11 times since March 2022. And lenders have been heeding the message, says Foster.
Check and improve your credit score
Your credit score is one of the biggest factors determining your auto loan interest rate. The higher your credit score, the lower your rate. You can check your credit score online, and your bank or credit card issuer may provide you with a free update every month.
Provided the down payment is $5,000, the interest rate is 10%, and the loan length is five years, the monthly payment will be $531.18/month. With a $1,000 down payment and an interest rate of 20% with a five year loan, your monthly payment will be $768.32/month.
How long is too long for a car loan? Many experts believe that once an auto loan passes five years (60 months), the benefits of the longer term are outweighed by potential problems, so that means any loan that lasts for more than five years would be a long-term auto loan.
0% 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.
Your credit score is crucial to determine your eligibility for a no down payment car loan. Most lenders require a FICO credit score of at least 680 before you can qualify. If your credit score falls below 680, improve your credit score before you apply to help you qualify in the future.
A perfect credit score of 850 is hard to get, but an excellent credit score is more achievable. If you want to get the best credit cards, mortgages and competitive loan rates — which can save you money over time — excellent credit can help you qualify. “Excellent” is the highest tier of credit scores you can have.