What is the 20/4-10 rule for buying a car?

Asked by: Garland Goldner  |  Last update: March 27, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (65 votes)

The rule recommends making a 20% down payment on the car, taking four years to return the money to the lender, and keeping transportation costs at no more than 10% of your monthly income.

What is the 50/30/20 rule for car payments?

Set your car payment budget

50% for needs such as housing, food and transportation — which, in this case, is your monthly car payment and related auto expenses. 30% for wants such as entertainment, travel and other nonessential items. 20% for savings, paying off credit cards and meeting long-range financial goals.

How much is a $30,000 car payment for 60 months?

How much would a $30,000 car cost per month? This all depends on the sales tax, the down payment, the interest rate and the length of the loan. But just as a ballpark estimate, assuming $3,000 down, an interest rate of 5.8% and a 60-month loan, the monthly payment would be about $520.

Is it smart to do a 72 month car loan?

Pros: Lower monthly payments: Many choose to get a 72-month loan because the monthly payments are lower. And, borrowers may be able to get a more expensive used or new car and still stay within their budget.

How to pay off a 7 year car loan in 3 years?

If you want to pay off your loan early, here are six ways to make it happen:
  1. Refinance your car loan. ...
  2. Make biweekly payments. ...
  3. Round up your payments. ...
  4. Put extra money toward a lump-sum payment. ...
  5. Continue making your monthly payments. ...
  6. Opt out of any unneeded add-ons.

How Much Car Can I Afford (20/4/10 Rule)

30 related questions found

How much is a $20,000 car payment per month?

Payments would be around $377 per month. According to the results, it will take you 60 months, an interest rate of 5% of $2,645, to fully pay your $20,000 car loan. However, the monthly cost of a $20,000 car loan will depend on your repayment period and the annual percentage rate (APR).

How much should my car payment be if I make $60000 a year?

Bank underwriting guidelines allow for the monthly car payment to be 15% of the total monthly income. With a salary of $60000, and a monthly income of $5000, the maximum car budget is $750 per month, which can afford a maximum priced vehicle of $44302 using a 72 month term with a 6.75% APR.

What credit score do you need to get a 30K car loan?

A target credit score of 661 or above should get you a new-car loan with an annual percentage rate of around 6.7% or better, or a used-car loan around 9.63% or lower. Superprime: 781-850.

What is the car buying rule?

20% down — be able to pay 20% or more of the total purchase price up front. 4-year loan — be able to pay off the balance in 48 months or fewer. 10% of your income — your total monthly auto costs (including insurance, gas, maintenance, and car payments) should be 10% or less of your monthly income.

How much does the average millionaire pay for a car?

Also, I mention the median price paid for the most recent motor vehicle purchased by a millionaire was $31,367 [for decamillionaires-$41, 997]. It is understandable why so many people relate wealth with the price tag of a motor vehicle.

Is 100k on a car bad?

Traditional wisdom used to warn car buyers to keep away from vehicles with over 100,000 miles. Put simply, though, the 100,000 mile-marker is no longer a good indicator for buying used. If a vehicle has been properly maintained, it can last several hundred thousand miles.

What is too high of a car payment?

Here are some important points to consider when getting into car payments. So, When Is a Car Payment Too High? According to experts, a car payment is too high if the car payment is more than 30% of your total income. Remember, the car payment isn't your only car expense!

What is the car finance golden rule?

The 20/4/10 Rule

This rule recommends making a downpayment of no more than 20% of the vehicle's cost, not taking a loan with a longer term than four years, and not allowing the monthly payment to exceed 10% of gross monthly income, said Peter C.

What is the Ford rule of 10?

20/4/10 Rule: This rule suggests leaving a 20% down payment, limiting your loan term to four years or less, and ensuring your car payments take up no more than ten percent of your income.

What credit score do you need for $20000 loan?

A minimum credit score of 670 to 739 is typically required for a $20,000 personal loan. Proof of steady income, including pay stubs, tax returns, and bank statements, is essential. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and legal U.S. citizens. A debt-to-income ratio below 36% enhances loan approval chances.

Is $2000 a good down payment on a car?

How much should you put down on a car? A down payment between 10 to 20 percent of the vehicle price is the general recommendation.

Is $300 a month a good car payment?

NerdWallet recommends spending no more than 10% of your take-home pay on your monthly auto loan payment. So if your after-tax pay each month is $3,000, you could afford a $300 car payment. Check if you can really afford the payment by depositing that amount into a savings account for a few months.

How do I pay off my car loan faster?

7 ways to pay off your car loan faster
  1. Refinance with a new lender. ...
  2. Make biweekly payments. ...
  3. Round your payments to the nearest hundred. ...
  4. Opt out of unnecessary add-ons. ...
  5. Make a large additional payment. ...
  6. Pay each month. ...
  7. Take advantage of lender discounts.

What are the disadvantages of a large down payment on a car?

What Are the Disadvantages of a Large Down Payment? Providing more money down doesn't guarantee a lower interest rate, and it can cut into your savings. Depending on the vehicle you choose to buy, 50% can be a lot of money to put down on an auto loan.

Who is offering the best auto loan rate?

  • LightStream - Used car purchase loan. 5.0. NerdWallet rating. Est. APR. 7.74-15.69% ...
  • Consumers Credit Union - Used car purchase loan. 5.0. NerdWallet rating. Est. APR. 6.43-18.54% ...
  • Alliant Credit Union – Used car purchase loan. 4.0. NerdWallet rating. Est. APR. ...
  • Carvana - Used car purchase loan. 4.0. NerdWallet rating. Est. APR.

What credit score is needed for a 20k car?

Key takeaways. There is no minimum credit score required to buy a car, but most lenders have minimum requirements for financing. Most borrowers need a FICO score of at least 600 to get a competitive rate on an auto loan.

What are two reasons someone might purposely choose a higher monthly payment?

An increase in your monthly payment will reduce the amount of interest charges you will pay over the repayment period and may even shorten the number of months it will take to pay off the loan.