Whether to free up your budget or have the satisfaction of one less monthly bill, many consumers expect doing so will boost their credit score. Surprisingly, the opposite can occur—paying off a car loan early can cause a dip in your credit score.
Paying off a car loan early can cause a slight dip in your credit scores, depending on your credit profile. Any dip is likely to be temporary as long as you're practicing responsible credit habits with other accounts.
Paying off your auto loan sooner is a good idea if: You don't have a lot of high interest debt, such as credit card debt. You need to lower your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio for a large purchase, such as a new home. Your auto loan interest rate is high.
Once you pay off a car loan, you may actually see a small drop in your credit score. However, it's normally temporary if your credit history is in decent shape – it bounces back eventually. The reason your credit score takes a temporary hit in points is that you ended an active credit account.
Paying your loan back on time and in full
If you pay your car finance loan on time and in full each month, over time, this can improve your credit score. Payment history is one of the biggest factors of a credit score. Repaying your loans on time shows prospective lenders you are trustworthy.
The most likely possible reasons for your credit score dropping after paying off debt are a decrease in the average age of your accounts, a change in the types of credit you have or an increase in your credit utilization.
To reach an 800 credit score, you'll want to demonstrate on-time bill payments, have a healthy mix of credit (meaning accounts other than just credit cards), use a small percentage of your available credit, and limit new credit inquiries.
Yes, paying off a personal loan early could temporarily have a negative impact on your credit scores. But any dip in your credit scores will likely be temporary and minor. And it might be worth balancing that risk against the possible benefits of paying off your personal loan early.
Lenders like to see a mix of both installment loans and revolving credit on your credit portfolio. So if you pay off a car loan and don't have any other installment loans, you might actually see that your credit score dropped because you now have only revolving debt.
Personal satisfaction of full ownership
Once it's paid off, you'll receive the title and the car will become your property.
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.
While paying off your car loan early is typically the best move to reduce your debt and save money, it is not for everyone. If you can't afford to make a larger down payment or pay extra each month it may not be a good idea. Refinancing a car loan can be a better option in this case.
Some lenders charge a penalty for paying off a car loan early. The lender makes money from the interest you pay on your loan each month. Repaying a loan early usually means you won't pay any more interest, but there could be an early prepayment fee.
It's a good idea to pay off your credit card balance in full whenever you're able. Carrying a monthly credit card balance can cost you in interest and increase your credit utilization rate, which is one factor used to calculate your credit scores.
For a score with a range between 300 and 850, a credit score of 700 or above is generally considered good. A score of 800 or above on the same range is considered to be excellent. Most consumers have credit scores that fall between 600 and 750. In 2022, the average FICO® Score☉ in the U.S. reached 714.
Paying off debt might lower your credit scores if removing the debt affects certain factors such as your credit mix, the length of your credit history or your credit utilization ratio.
If you have personal loan debt and are in a financial position to pay it off early, doing so could save you money on interest and boost your credit score. That said, you should only pay off a loan early if you can do so without tilting your budget, and if your lender doesn't charge a prepayment penalty.
Credit card companies report your balance to the credit bureaus every month, typically at the end of each billing cycle. If you make your payment shortly before your statement date, it could help reduce your credit utilization, which can help you increase your credit score or maintain good credit.
While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.
Consider yourself in “good” shape if your credit score is above the average for people in your age group. Given that the average credit score for people aged 18 to 25 is 679, a score between 679 and 687 (the average for people aged 26 to 41) could be considered “good”.
The average credit card limit for a 25-year-old is around $3,000. To get to that number, it's important to know that the average credit score in that age bracket is 650, which is fair credit. Of course, a credit score is not the only factor issuers take into account when determining credit limits.
The credit score required and other eligibility factors for buying a car vary by lender and loan terms. 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.