Used Car Interest Rates Based On Credit Score – You’ve shopped for cars, gone for a test drive, and found the perfect car. But are you eligible for a car loan? Before approving you, the lender pulls your credit report to determine your creditworthiness. Your credit report and credit score help them decide whether to give you a loan and at what interest rate.
Lenders can choose between several credit scoring models and multiple credit bureaus. So what credit score do car dealers typically use?
Used Car Interest Rates Based On Credit Score
When you apply for an auto loan, your lender will likely use one version of the following credit scores: FICO® Auto Score, Base FICO® Score, or VantageScore®. FICO® scores are used by 90% of major lenders and VantageScore® credit scores are used by nine of the 10 largest banks.[1] [2]
Getting The Best Interest Rate (apr) When Buying A Car (new Or Used)
FICO® Auto Scores are industry-specific scores that focus on how likely you are to pay off your car loan late. For example, late payments (or other negative information) on previous auto loans may hurt your automatic FICO® score more than other derogatory items.
Instead of the traditional credit score range of 300-850, the Automatic FICO® Score features a scale of 250-900. A higher FICO® Auto Score indicates lower credit risk — just as a higher score means lower risk under other credit scoring models. With a higher score, you’re more likely to qualify for auto financing and receive a better interest rate based on each auto lender’s criteria. Each individual lender also determines what other financial information it will consider in its credit review process.
Lenders use multiple versions of the FICO® Auto Score. (Think of the many versions of smartphone software, and how some users will update their operating systems while others continue to use older options.)
The most recent version (as of this writing) is FICO® Auto Score 10, which was introduced in 2020. However, many auto lenders still use FICO® Auto Score 2, FICO® Auto Score 4, and FICO® Auto Score 5, and FICO® Auto Score 8.
What Are The Different Types Of Auto Loans?
Core FICO® scores predict your likelihood of making a late payment on any credit obligation within the next 24 months. They feature a traditional score range of 300-850.
Lenders use several versions of the basic FICO® Score. The FICO® Score 10 is the latest (as of this writing). However, the FICO® Score 8, introduced in 2009, remains the most widely used version.[3]
In 2006, a new credit scoring option became available — VantageScore®. The VantageScore® credit score was created as a result of collaboration between the three major credit bureaus.
The two newest versions of the VantageScore® credit score (3.0 and 4.0) feature an industry-standard credit score range of 300-850. Early VantageScore® models had a scale of 501-990.[4]
Car Interest Explained (credit Score Based Apr For 2021)
VantageScore® is becoming increasingly popular among auto lenders. The 2019 VantageScore® Market Study Report revealed that auto lenders used approximately 131 million VantageScore® credit scores between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019.[5]
Your credit score will vary depending on the credit scoring model and credit bureau. Many companies will reveal credit scores to you, often for a fee. For example, you can get the FICO® Score 8 for free from Experian, or VantageScore® 3.0 for $7.95. Equifax will reveal your FICO® 5 Score based on its report for $14.95 per month, and TransUnion will share your VantageScore® 3.0 based on its report for $24.95 per month.[6] VantageScore offers free credit score reports from some providers as well.[7]
FICO® offers an “Advanced” plan that offers 28 FICO® scores, including auto, mortgage, and credit versions, plus a three-bureau credit report and other services for $29.95 per month.[8] FICO® also offers other plans, so be sure to check the pricing page to determine which option is best for you, if you think you need the service. You can also request a free copy of your credit report at annualcreditreport.com every 12 months from each credit reporting company.[9]
Even if you don’t know which model your lender uses, it’s important to roughly understand your credit score and how that will affect your interest rate.
What Car Loan Can I Get With A 650 Credit Score?
There are three main credit bureaus that compile your credit history into credit reports: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Lenders can use any credit bureau to determine your loan eligibility.
There is no set answer as to which credit bureau to use most for car loans, and it can vary depending on several different factors on how each lender reports to each credit bureau. While most do, lenders are also not required to report to every credit bureau, which may mean that there is no guarantee that your credit information will be the same at all three credit bureaus.[10]
Lenders will look at your credit score to help determine whether to approve your car loan application, but it’s not the only factor. They will also take into account your debt-to-income ratio; Personal information such as how long you have lived at your current address or how long you have worked for your current employer; The size of the down payment you wish to make.[11]
You may still be able to buy a new car with bad credit, but if you’re approved, the above factors will likely affect your loan terms, monthly payment size, and interest rate. Remember to keep your budget in mind and evaluate your used car options. While a luxury car may look attractive, a practical used model may suit your budget and credit rating better.[12]
Get The Best Used Car Loan Rates And Deal On Your Next Purchase
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), your credit score is one of many other factors that can affect your interest rate. Your interest rate may fluctuate based on your credit history, the loan amount, the type of car you buy, and the term of the loan.[13]
If you’re in the “fair” or “very poor” credit score range, you may want to try increasing your score before applying for a car loan. Borrowers with fair credit may be considered sub-prime borrowers, and are unlikely to get the best terms if their loan is approved. Those with very poor credit may be rejected outright or face higher loan rates and additional fees even if they are approved.
This chart shows the average interest rate by credit score for a new or used car loan. You can see that it categorizes borrowers into five risk categories based on their credit score: deep mortgage, subprime, non-prime, prime, or prime, according to the latest data from Experian for Q4 2021.[14]
Disclaimer: All rates are subject to change and lenders may have different categories and scoring forms. Please use this strictly as a guide.
Pccu Auto Loan Special
A lender may view a borrower with a lower credit score as a higher risk and may require a higher down payment. However, this can work to your advantage, because you will have a smaller loan to pay back. If you can afford a larger down payment, you may be able to save some money by paying less interest overall, even at a higher rate.
Before you decide to buy a car, it’s helpful to understand the factors that go into calculating your credit score. You can then customize your financial activity to help you build credit.
Your payment history is the most important factor in your credit score, making up 35% of your FICO® Score. Making loan payments on time — whether personal loans, student loans, or payments to credit card issuers — is an important step to take to raise your credit score.
Your credit utilization ratio is the second largest factor in calculating your FICO® Score, at 30%. This is the amount of credit card debt on all of your credit cards divided by their combined credit limit.
How To Get A Car Loan
If you had $2,000 in debt on three credit cards with a total limit of $5,000, your credit utilization would be 40%; Experts suggest keeping it below 30%. High credit utilization may negatively affect your credit score and lenders may see you as a risky borrower.[15]
Errors on credit reports happen more often than you think. Numbers can be moved. Accounts may be incorrectly reported as open, delinquent, or delinquent; Balances may be off; Fraud can occur. One Federal Trade Commission (FTC) study found that 1 in 4 consumers found errors on their credit reports that could affect their scores.[16]
Fortunately, you can dispute any inaccuracies. To check for any suspicious entries, you can request a free copy of your credit report at annualcreditreport.com.
Applying for new loans or new credit can affect your credit score. When you apply for new credit, an inquiry is placed on your credit report by one of the three major credit bureaus. Depending on the bureau the lender uses, and other factors in your report, this inquiry could lower your score by a few points. However, according to FICO®, if you apply for multiple car loans within a short period (usually 45 days), this will only count as one hard inquiry; This principle also applies to shopping for a mortgage.[17]
Looking For Car Loan With 640 Credit Score? Read To Know More!
If you think you’ll be in the market for a car, it’s a good idea to build your credit early. Focusing on general credit habits can be more beneficial than trying to achieve a specific score. Building credit takes time, so be patient