If you have been qualified for a $30,000 car loan, the monthly payment depends on the amount of the down payment, interest rate, and loan length. For example, with a down payment of $2,500, an interest rate of 5%, and a loan length of three years, you will have to pay $824.20/month.
The monthly payment on a $30,000 loan ranges from $410 to $3,014, depending on the APR and how long the loan lasts. For example, if you take out a $30,000 loan for one year with an APR of 36%, your monthly payment will be $3,014.
The widely accepted answer to how much down payment is needed to buy a car is 20% of the purchase price. So, if you are buying a car that costs $30,000, you need $6,000 as the down payment. However, well-qualified buyers may be able to take advantage of “low money down” offers from manufacturers in some cases.
Consider putting at least $6,000 down on a $30,000 car if you're buying it new or at least $3,000 if you're buying it used. This follows the guidelines of a 20% down payment for a new car or a 10% down payment for a used car.
For instance, using our loan calculator, if you buy a $20,000 vehicle at 5% APR for 60 months the monthly payment would be $377.42 and you would pay $2,645.48 in interest.
Example: A six year fixed-rate loan for a $25,000 new car, with 20% down, requires a $20,000 loan. Based on a simple interest rate of 3.4% and a loan fee of $200, this loan would have 72 monthly payments of $310.54 each and an annual percentage rate (APR) of 3.74%.
Still, you typically need a good credit score of 661 or higher to qualify for an auto loan. About 69% of retail vehicle financing is for borrowers with credit scores of 661 or higher, according to Experian.
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.
Getting a car loan is possible if you have a 650 credit score. Although the loan terms may not be ideal, and you'll end up paying more for the car than someone with a lower credit score, you're still eligible for a loan.
In general, it's recommended to spend no more than 10% to 15% of your monthly take-home income on your car payment, and no more than 20% on your total vehicle expenses, including insurance and registration. Read on to learn how you can determine how much car you can afford based on your financial situation.
Financial experts recommend spending no more than about 10% to 15% of your monthly take-home pay on an auto loan payment. These percentages do not factor in total car expenses, including gas, insurance, repairs and maintenance costs.
Making a large down payment on a car may also limit your financing or refinancing options. Some lenders may not offer financing if you propose to make a down payment that the lender deems too large. You might not meet a lender's financing requirements if you're seeking to put 90% down on a vehicle that costs $25,000.
Experts say you should earn $100K before buying a new car so you don't spend more than ten percent of your monthly income on payments. Thanks to rising interest rates, dealer markups, and a messed up supply chain, the cost of buying a car is through the roof.
For this example, the interest calculation is straightforward: a 6% interest rate on $30,000 results in $1,800 in interest over one year. This means, without considering any repayments or additional fees, the cost of borrowing $30,000 for a year at this interest rate would increase the total amount owing to $31,800.
$30,000 loans may be available to people with no credit or bad credit, these options likely will come with higher interest rates, fees, or even the need to provide collateral to get approved. If you don't have a strong credit history, lenders might consider you a risk and structure your loan terms with that in mind.
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.
An interest rate under 5% is a great rate for a 72-month auto loan. However, the best loan offers are only available to borrowers who have the best credit scores and payment histories.
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.
Payment Example: $30,000 at 7.79% APR* for 60 months equals $605.28/month.
The average monthly car payment is now a record $733, according to Edmunds. And even if your monthly auto loan payments are around $500 per month, that still may be uncomfortably high. And that's before adding up the cost of maintenance, fuel, and auto insurance.
If your credit score isn't good, however, you're typically required to make a down payment of at least $1,000 or 10% of the vehicle's selling price. This varies by lender, and some may accept the lesser amount. On a $20,000 car, that would be up to $2,000 down.
Every lender sets its own requirements for zero-down-payment deals, if they offer them at all. Generally, the credit score needed to buy a car is at least 661 (down payment notwithstanding). You could still get a car loan if your score is lower than 661, but be prepared to pay higher interest rates.
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.