What credit score do I need to buy a car?
What Is the Minimum Score Needed to Buy a Car? In general, lenders look for borrowers in the prime range or better, so you will need a score of 661 or higher to qualify for most conventional car loans.
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.
Recently the difference was more than a full percentage point higher for new and used car loans. That's a significant difference, and the rates are worse for lower scores. Your 720 credit score is lower than the average new-car buyer's score of 735, but higher than the typical used-car buyer's score of 675.
How to qualify for a 0% APR car deal. Zero percent financing deals are generally reserved for borrowers with excellent credit — typically classified as a credit score of 800 and above.
| Credit Score Range | New Car Loan Rates | Used Car Loan Rates |
|---|---|---|
| 781 to 850 | 5.64% | 7.66% |
| 661 to 780 | 7.01% | 9.73% |
| 601 to 660 | 9.60% | 14.12% |
| 501 to 600 | 12.28% | 18.89% |
| APR range | Minimum credit score requirement | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Egg | 8.99%-35.99% | 600 |
| LightStream | 7.49% to 25.49%* with Autopay | 695 |
| Upgrade | 8.49%-35.97% | 600 |
| SoFi | 8.99%-29.99% | 680 |
There isn't a set credit score that each person starts out with. Instead, if you don't have any credit history, you likely don't have a score at all.
You can borrow $50,000 - $100,000+ with a 720 credit score. The exact amount of money you will get depends on other factors besides your credit score, such as your income, your employment status, the type of loan you get, and even the lender.
Plus, you're likely to get approved for lower interest rates, which can save you money in the long run. According to the latest credit score statistics, the average FICO score is 716, so a 720 is slightly above average. 67% of Americans have a score in this range or higher based on data from Experian®.
If you're more interested in a personal loan, you could borrow up to $100,000. The best personal loans for a 770 credit score are from LightStream because they offer $5,000 - $100,000 in funding with APRs of 7.49% - 25.99% and repayment periods of 24 - 144 months.
Is it better to finance or pay cash for a car?
Paying cash for your car may be your best option if the interest rate you earn on your savings is lower than the after-tax cost of borrowing.
0% APR car finance is generally only available for new cars. Where it is available on used cars, this typically means you'll be paying an artificially high cash price, as dealers often inflate the price to cover what they lose by not charging interest.
| Credit score | Average APR, new car | Average APR, used car |
|---|---|---|
| Superprime: 781-850. | 5.64%. | 7.66%. |
| Prime: 661-780. | 7.01%. | 9.73%. |
| Nonprime: 601-660. | 9.60%. | 14.12%. |
| Subprime: 501-600. | 12.28%. | 18.89%. |
| Company | Forbes Advisor Rating | Minimum rate |
|---|---|---|
| PenFed Credit Union | 4.7 | Starting at 5.24% |
| Consumers Credit Union | 4.2 | Starting at 6.54% (with autopay) |
| Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) | 3.7 | Starting at 6.74% (with autopay) |
| USAA | 3.7 | Starting at 6.09% (with autopay) |
There is no set minimum FICO® Score to get a car loan. However, a good score at 720 or better will get you the best rate. Consider spending some time improving your credit score before shopping for your next car.
To qualify for a $100,000 personal loan, you should have a score of at least 720, though a score of 750 or above is ideal.
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.
A $30,000 auto loan balance with an average interest rate of 5.0% paid over a 6 year term will have a monthly payment of $483. In total, the loan will cost $34,787 with $4,787 in interest.
| Loan Amount | Loan Term (Years) | Estimated Fixed Monthly Payment* |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | 5 | $518.84 |
| $30,000 | 3 | $926.18 |
| $30,000 | 5 | $613.93 |
| $35,000 | 3 | $1080.54 |
How soon can you see improvement? The length of time it will take to improve your credit scores depends on your unique financial situation. At the earliest, you may see a change between 30 and 45 days after you have taken steps to positively impact your credit reports.
What is a good credit score to buy a house?
It's recommended you have a credit score of 620 or higher when you apply for a conventional loan. If your score is below 620, lenders either won't be able to approve your loan or may be required to offer you a higher interest rate, which can result in higher monthly mortgage payments.
The time it takes to raise your credit score from 500 to 700 can vary widely depending on your individual financial situation. On average, it may take anywhere from 12 to 24 months of responsible credit management, including timely payments and reducing debt, to see a significant improvement in your credit score.
| Annual Salary | $40,000 |
|---|---|
| Home Purchase Budget (25% monthly income on mortgage payments) | $103,800 |
| Home Purchase Budget (28% monthly income) | $109,500 |
| Home Purchase Budget (36% monthly income) | $141,100 |
| Home Purchase Budget (40% of monthly income) | $156,900 |
The monthly payment on a $20,000 loan ranges from $273 to $2,009, depending on the APR and how long the loan lasts. For example, if you take out a $20,000 loan for one year with an APR of 36%, your monthly payment will be $2,009.
What is the monthly payment on a $5,000 personal loan? The monthly payment on a $5,000 loan ranges from $68 to $502, depending on the APR and how long the loan lasts. For example, if you take out a $5,000 loan for one year with an APR of 36%, your monthly payment will be $502.
