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.
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.
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.
While there's no exact answer to which credit score matters most, lenders have a clear favorite: FICO® Scores are used in over 90% of lending decisions.
The FICO® Score☉ , which is the most widely used scoring model, falls in a range that goes up to 850. The lowest credit score in this range is 300. But the reality is that almost nobody has a score that low. For the most part, a score below 580 is considered "bad credit." The average FICO® Score in the U.S. is 704.
This is due to a variety of factors, such as the many different credit score brands, score variations and score generations in commercial use at any given time. These factors are likely to yield different credit scores, even if your credit reports are identical across the three credit bureaus—which is also unusual.
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.
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.
You can get a car loan with a low credit score
While the exact definitions of these terms vary depending on who you ask, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, defines subprime as borrowers with credit scores of below 620 and deep subprime as borrowers with scores below 580.
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.
The recommended credit score needed to buy a car is 660 and above. This will typically guarantee interest rates under 6%. The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, act as legal, financial or credit advice.
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.
FICO® Score☉ 8 and 9.
These are the latest generic FICO® scoring models. Although FICO® didn't create these models specifically for auto lenders, they are widely used credit scores, and auto lenders may use a base FICO® Score when reviewing auto loan applications.
580 and 669, your rating is fair, and you are considered to be a subprime borrower and the dealership will consider your application. 670 and 739, you have a good rating, and as such, you are not likely to default on your finance agreement. Finance will be approved.
Applicants with a credit score of at least 560 and up to 850 may be eligible for USAA Auto Loan.
When it comes to a down payment on a new car, you should try to cover at least 20% of the purchase price. For a used car, a 10% down payment might do. Part of your decision will depend on where your credit score stands.
To qualify, you must have a fair credit score of 600 or above and a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio below 40%. Peerform uses a proprietary algorithm to determine your qualification. Through the marketplace, borrowers can get loans ranging from $4,000 up to $25,000 with limited loan term options of either 36 or 60 months.
Interest Rate
If you get approved for a car loan, lenders will charge you with high interest to compensate for that risk. A high credit score of 700 to 850 usually commands an APR or around 4% or lower. An average score of around 650 to 699 will likely give you 6 to 10% APR.
TransUnion: The Bottom Line. While both TransUnion and Experian have some similarities, Experian offers a more robust suite of consumer services. It also reveals your FICO Score 8—the score most lenders use—which can give you a better idea of what lenders see than the VantageScore that TransUnion provides.
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.
The reason that your Equifax score is lower than your TransUnion score is based on the fact that TransUnion adds personal information and employment data that is weighted into their model. The other two only report the name of your employer and do not add any weight to that fact.
A 706 credit score is considered a good credit score by many lenders. “Good” score range identified based on 2021 Credit Karma data. With good credit scores, you might be more likely to qualify for mortgages and auto loans with lower interest rates and better terms.
A 699 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.