If you’re hoping to qualify for the best auto loan rates, having excellent credit is a good start.
But even if your credit isn’t perfect, some lenders offer interest rate discounts and other features that may make them a good fit for you. We’ve rounded up banks, credit unions and online lending platforms offering some of the best starting loan rates (as of Nov. 5, 2024) and other potential benefits for different auto loan types.
- Best rates for new-car loans: Bank of America and PenFed Credit Union
- Best rates for used-car loans: Navy Federal Credit Union and U.S. Bank
- Best rates for private-party loans: LightStream and Digital Federal Credit Union
- Best rates through lending platforms: Autopay and MyAutoLoan
Best auto loan rates
| Best rates for … | Lender | Starting APR | Loan terms | Loan amounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New-car loans | Bank of America | 5.69% | 48 to 72 months (online) | $7,500 minimum |
| New-car loans | PenFed Credit Union | 4.44% | 36 to 84 months | $150,000 maximum |
| Used-car loans | Navy Federal Credit Union | 9.04% | 36 to 72 months | Not listed |
Used-car loans | U.S. Bank | 6.96% | 12 months minimum | $5,000 minimum |
| Private-party loans | Lightstream | 7.64% | 24 to 240 months | $5,000–$100,000 |
| Private-party loans | Digital Federal Credit Union | 5.74% | 36 to 84 months | Not listed |
| Lending platforms | MyAutoLoan | 7.24% | 24 to 72 months | $8,000 minimum |
Best rates for new-car loans: Bank of America and PenFed Credit Union
Loans for new cars typically have lower interest rates than used-car loans, so you may already be on track to score a better auto loan rate. Among all of the lenders we reviewed, Bank of America and PenFed Credit Union are our top choices.
Bank of America
Why Bank of America stands out: If you’re a Preferred Rewards customer with the bank, you can qualify for an interest rate that’s up to 0.5% lower than the already low annual percentage rate, or APR, that the bank offers.
But to qualify for the Preferred Rewards rate discount of 0.5%, you must have three-month average combined balances of at least $100,000 in qualifying accounts with Bank of America and Merrill. And to be eligible for the lowest rate discount of 0.25%, you’ll still have to have three-month average combined balances of $20,000.
Here’s some more info about Bank of America auto loans.
- If you choose to purchase from a dealership, you’ll be limited to franchise dealerships and a few independent dealers, including CarMax, Carvana and Enterprise Car Sales.
- Repayment terms range from 48 months to 72 months via the online application, though you may have different options after you submit your application.
- If your application is approved, your rate is locked in for 30 days, which gives you time to shop around.
Read reviews of Bank of America auto loans to learn more.
PenFed Credit Union
Why PenFed Credit Union stands out: PenFed offers auto loan rates as low as 4.44% if you purchase a new vehicle through its car-buying service — 5.24% if you get a new-car loan but don’t use the car-buying service. It also allows you to finance up to 125% of the purchase price of the vehicle. That feature can come in handy if you’re low on cash and want to buy some add-ons like a maintenance contract or gap insurance.
Here are some things to know before you apply for a PenFed Credit Union auto loan.
- You must become a member to get a car loan with PenFed Credit Union, but membership is open to everyone. To become a member, you’ll need to provide some basic information and open a savings account with a $5 initial deposit.
- Loan terms range from 36 months to 84 months. Remember that while choosing a longer term could reduce your monthly payment, you could end up paying more in interest over the life of the loan.
- If you’ve been a member of the credit union for at least 90 days, you can apply for preapproval (a conditional loan approval that includes an estimated loan rate and terms). Preapproval can tell you how much you may be approved to borrow and can help you focus on finding a car that fits your budget instead of worrying about what financing the dealer may offer you. Just keep in mind that preapproval isn’t a guarantee of approval, and your loan terms may change after you submit a formal application.
Read reviews of PenFed Credit Union auto loans for more info.
Best rates for used-car loans: Navy Federal Credit Union and U.S. Bank
If you’re buying used, you may not get an auto loan rate that’s as low as if you were buying new. But considering that new cars can lose more than 10% of their value within a month of your purchase, according to Carfax, a used vehicle may still make better sense financially.
For used-car loans, we like Navy Federal Credit Union and U.S. Bank. Here’s why.
Navy Federal Credit Union
Why NFCU stands out: This credit union offers competitive loan rates on its auto loans. Plus, being a member of the credit union offers additional advantages such as low fees on and discounts on financial products.
Here’s more on NFCU.
- You must have a connection to the armed forces, Department of Defense or National Guard — either personally or through a family member — to join Navy Federal.
- NFCU doesn’t have a minimum credit score requirement to qualify for an auto loan, stating that it considers multiple factors while evaluating your application.
- For used cars, loan terms range from 36 to 72 months.
U.S. Bank
Why U.S. Bank stands out: The bank offers interest rates as low as 6.96%
Here’s more on U.S. Bank.
- Loan terms start at 12 months.
- You can apply for a preapproval that’s good for 30 days at participating dealers.
- U.S. Bank partners with dealerships to provide a seamless financing and car-shopping experience.
Read reviews of U.S. Bank auto loans to learn more.
Best rates for private-party loans: LightStream and Digital Federal Credit Union
Buying a car from an individual instead of a car dealership has both benefits and drawbacks. It can be cheaper, but not all lenders offer financing for private-party sales.
LightStream and Digital Federal Credit Union are two lenders that offer private-party loans with low starting rates.
LightStream
Why LightStream stands out: LightStream offers rates as low as 7.64% APR on private-party loans if you opt into automatic payments.
Here’s more on LightStream.
- LightStream doesn’t offer the opportunity to apply for preapproval.
- Repayment terms for private-party loans range from 24 months to 240 months.
- LightStream has no restrictions on the model year, make or mileage of vehicles it will finance. This can be helpful if you plan to buy an older vehicle.
Read reviews of LightStream auto loans for more information.
Digital Federal Credit Union
Why Digital Federal Credit Union stands out: Interest rates go as low as 5.74% if you opt into automatic payments.
Here’s some more info on Digital Federal Credit Union.
- You must be a member of DCU to apply for an auto loan. Membership is available through a variety of means, including through relation to a current member or employment, or through a specific organization or community you’re a part of. DCU lists eligible affiliations on its site.
- If you’re eligible, you can finance up to 130% of the value of the vehicle your purchasing.
- DCU allows you to wait up to 60 days after loan closing before making your first payment.
Best rates through a lending platform: MyAutoLoan
MyAutoLoan isn’t a direct lender — it partners with financial institutions across the U.S. to offer auto loans online. Working with a variety of partners helps the company find loans for people across the credit spectrum, as well as offer competitive starting APRs to those who qualify.
MyAutoLoan
Why MyAutoLoan stands out: Some lenders in the MyAutoLoan network offer rates as low as 7.24% if you qualify. MyAutoLoan makes shopping around for a car loan easy — after submitting the prequalification application, you could receive up to four loan offers.
Here are some more details about MyAutoLoan.
- Lenders in the MyAutoLoan network offer new- and used-car loans, private-party loans, lease buyout loans and refinance loans.
- MyAutoLoan considers people who have less-than-perfect credit. Lender requirements vary, but in general, you must be at least 18 years old, have credit scores of at least 600, and have a minimum income of $21,600 to qualify ($18,000 for refinance).
- MyAutoLoan doesn’t offer loans in Alaska or Hawaii.
To learn more, check out reviews of MyAutoLoan.
How we picked these lenders
In choosing lenders for this roundup, we looked primarily at their starting loan rates. But we also considered other factors that can be beneficial, such as a range of loan terms, interest rate discounts, the ability to apply for prequalification or preapproval, and geographic availability.
While some of these lenders don’t offer auto loans in all 50 states, we still felt they could offer enough value to include them on the list.
What to consider with starting auto loan rates
The most important thing to keep in mind as you’re searching for the best auto loan rates is that they’re typically reserved for people with excellent credit. Depending on the credit-scoring model the lender uses, that could mean having a score in the high 700s or even 800s.
Beyond your credit scores, factors including the kind of loan you want, the amount and the repayment term could affect whether you qualify for a lender’s lowest interest rates.
Note that as you’re shopping around, you can apply for multiple auto loans in a short period — typically 14 days, though it can vary by credit scoring model — during which the associated hard credit inquiries might only count as a single hit.
As you compare loan offers, consider any fees, the loan amount, loan term and estimated monthly payment in addition to the APR. Weighing all loan factors can help you identify the best loan for your needs.
What is a good interest rate on an auto loan?
These were the average car loan interest rates as of March 29, 2024, according to the National Credit Union Administration.
| Loan type | Credit unions | Banks |
|---|---|---|
| New-car loan, 48-month term | 6.27% | 7.13% |
| New-car loan, 60-month term | 6.40% | 7.21% |
| Used-car loan, 36-month term | 6.35% | 7.46% |
| Used-car loan, 48-month term | 6.46% | 7.51% |
But remember that a range of factors, including the type of lender, can affect the rate you’re offered. Credit unions tend to offer lower rates than banks. And if you qualify, you may be able to get the lowest possible rate — 0% APR — when you get a new-car loan through an automaker’s finance company.
FAQ: Editors’ answers
There’s no universal minimum credit score required to get a car loan — score requirements vary from lender to lender. Some lenders specialize in lending to people with excellent or good credit, while others focus on lending to those with less-than-perfect credit scores.
In general, lower credit scores could result in fewer offers from lenders. In those cases, you may be required to make a down payment or apply with a co-signer who has good credit.
Lower credit scores can also drive up the interest rate offered to you, which means you could end up paying more to finance your car than someone with good credit. Shopping around to see what rates and terms you might qualify for with different lenders can help you find a loan that fits your budget.
What credit score do you need to get 0% APR on a car loan?
To qualify for a 0% APR auto loan, you typically must have excellent credit scores. This could mean a score in the upper 700s or even in the 800s, depending on the credit-scoring model the lender uses.
Plus, you’ll usually need to get your auto loan through the automaker’s financing company, and you’ll be limited to the makes and models included in the 0% APR promotion. This APR is typically only available on new cars, as well.
Is it better to get a car loan from a bank or dealership?
You may be offered a similar interest rate, terms and fees whether you apply for a loan from a bank or through a dealership, but you won’t know for sure unless you shop around and compare offers.
In some cases, though, a car loan from a bank may be a better option. Although it’s not guaranteed, a bank may offer you a lower rate because dealers sometimes add a markup to your loan’s interest rate in exchange for arranging your financing. Another benefit: It can also prevent a situation where you fall in love with a car and accept the financing the dealer offers you before comparing other loan options.
Last, some banks offer the ability to apply for preapproval. If you’re preapproved, you’ll get an estimate for a loan rate and terms you’re conditionally approved for. Preapproval isn’t a guarantee of loan approval, but it provides helpful information. For example, knowing the maximum amount you can finance can help you stay on budget and avoid tempting upsells as you shop for a car.
Is a 72-month car loan a bad idea?
Whether a 72-month car loan is good or bad depends on your unique financial situation. It’s right in some cases, and wrong in others.
While a longer loan term can reduce your monthly payment, you may end up paying more in total interest over the length of the loan. You could also end up owing more on your car than it’s worth, which can make selling or trading in your car complicated and expensive down the road. And if your loan term is longer than your car warranty period, you could find yourself shelling out a hefty amount for car repairs while still making loan payments.
Still, a 72-month auto loan may be ideal if the lower monthly payments free up some cash to pay down higher-interest debt elsewhere more quickly.
Before getting a 72-month car loan, consider whether buying a less expensive vehicle or delaying your purchase until you can save for a larger down payment might be better options to make your loan more affordable.