What is a good credit score to buy a car?

Asked by: Lorna Rowe  |  Last update: February 25, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (50 votes)

Your credit score is a major factor in whether you'll be approved for a car loan. Some lenders use specialized credit scores, such as a FICO Auto Score. In general, you'll need at least prime credit, meaning a credit score of 661 or up, to get a loan at a good interest rate.

What credit score is best to buy a car?

A target credit score of 661 or above should get you a new-car loan with an annual percentage rate of around 6.7% or better, or a used-car loan around 9.63% or lower. Superprime: 781-850. 5.08%.

Can I get any car with a 700 credit score?

Can I Buy a Car With a 700 Credit Score? In 2020, Experian reported that the average credit score to secure a used-car loan was 657, with 721 being the average for new-car loans. You can buy a car with a 700 credit score, but even if you are under 700, there are still ways to get financing.

What credit score do you need to buy a $30,000 car?

There is no minimum credit score required to buy a car, but most lenders have minimum requirements for financing. Most borrowers need a FICO score of at least 600 to get a competitive rate on an auto loan.

Can you buy a car with a 600 credit score?

You have a very slim chance of getting a car loan if your credit score is less than 600. Even if you do, it will be against collateral or on unfavourable terms, such as a high-interest rate. The higher your credit score, the better your chances of obtaining a car loan.

What Credit Score Do Car Dealerships Use? (Which Credit Bureau Is Most Used for Auto Loans?)

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Can I get a 30k car with a 650 credit score?

If you have a credit score of 650, you might still be eligible for a car loan; the only caveat is that you may be subject to a higher interest rate. A credit score of 650 could land you an interest rate as high as 30%. As a result, you'll have to pay a 20% down payment (at minimum) of the entire amount.

What credit score do I need to buy a $20,000 car?

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.

Is a 900 credit score possible?

What is the highest credit score possible? To start off: No, it's not possible to have a 900 credit score in the United States. In some countries that use other models, like Canada, people could have a score of 900. The current scoring models in the U.S. have a maximum of 850.

What is a good FICO auto score?

If you need an auto loan to buy a car, lenders are going to run a credit check on you. Some lenders will use the industry-specific FICO auto score. You will likely need a credit score of 661 or higher to qualify for an auto loan with a good interest rate.

What credit score is needed to buy a car with no money down?

Every lender sets its own requirements for zero-down-payment deals, if they offer them at all. Generally, the credit score needed to buy a car is at least 661 whether you make a down payment or not. You could still get a car loan if your score is lower than 661, but be prepared to pay higher interest rates.

How to build credit quickly?

9 ways to build credit fast
  1. Dispute credit report errors. ...
  2. Pay down your credit card balances. ...
  3. Become an authorized user. ...
  4. Deal with delinquent accounts. ...
  5. Open a credit card account. ...
  6. Take out a credit builder loan. ...
  7. Request a credit limit increase. ...
  8. Keep a mix of different account types.

What credit score do car dealers want?

Generally speaking, banks require a minimum credit score of 600 to give an auto loan without any down payment. However, you CAN buy a car with a score of 400 or a score of 850. There are a lot of variables that weigh into determining your loan eligibility and interest rates available.

What is a perfect credit score?

A perfect credit score of 850 is hard to get, but an excellent credit score is more achievable. If you want to get the best credit cards, mortgages and competitive loan rates — which can save you money over time — excellent credit can help you qualify. "Excellent" is the highest tier of credit scores you can have.

What credit score do you need to get 0% interest on a car?

0% APR auto loans are reserved for "well-qualified" buyers.

In most cases, "well-qualified" refers to borrowers with a credit score of 740 or higher.

What credit score is pulled 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.

What are the income requirements for a car loan?

However, for auto loans, lenders usually prefer a debt-to-income ratio below 36%. The minimum income necessary to qualify for an auto loan may vary, but most lenders prefer an applicant to have at least $1,500 to $2,000 in monthly income before taxes.

How rare is an 800 credit score?

What it means to have a credit score of 800. A credit score of 800 means you have an exceptional credit score, according to Experian. According to a report by FICO, only 23% of the scorable population has a credit score of 800 or above.

What is the average credit score in America?

The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024.

What are the 5 levels of credit scores?

What Are the Different Credit Score Ranges?
  • Poor credit: 300 to 579.
  • Fair credit: 580 to 669.
  • Good credit: 670 to 739.
  • Very good credit: 740 to 799.
  • Excellent credit: 800 to 850.

What credit score to buy a house?

While credit score requirements vary based on loan type, lenders generally require a credit score of at least 620 to buy a house with a conventional mortgage.

What is a good interest rate for a car?

On average, a new car buyer with an excellent credit score can secure an average interest rate of 5.25%, but that average jumps to 15.77% for borrowers with poor credit scores. For used car buyers, those averages range from 7.13% to 21.55%, depending on the borrower's credit history.