{"id":22653,"date":"2025-12-17T21:38:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T21:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/budgetadirect.com\/?p=22653"},"modified":"2025-12-17T21:38:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T21:38:17","slug":"what-credit-score-do-you-need-to-buy-a-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/budgetadirect.com\/?p=22653","title":{"rendered":"What Credit Score Do You Need To Buy A Car?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\">\n<div class=\"overflow-hidden relative bg-blue-50 aspect-video w-full rounded-lg\"><\/div>\n<p>\n            Luis Alvarez\/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton\/Bankrate\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<div id=\"block_136dd56a340d59bf918ce8c8ab0ee064\" class=\"key-takeaways sm:border-l-4 border-(--accent) sm:pl-8 my-8 relative\" style=\"--accent: var(--color-blue-medium)\">\n    <!-- htmlmin:ignore --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading-4 mt-0 mb-4 text-crop-none max-sm:flex max-sm:items-center max-sm:gap-4\" id=\"key-takeaways\" data-position=\"0\" data-beam-element-viewed=\"\" data-id=\"br-h2-0-onpage-placement\" data-type=\"h2\" data-location=\"Editorial\" data-name=\"h2_all\" data-text=\"Key takeaways\" data-outcome=\"\">\n    <span class=\"shrink-0\">Key takeaways<\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"max-sm:h-0.5 max-sm:w-full max-sm:w-full max-sm:bg-(--accent) max-sm:rounded-full max-sm:block\"\/><br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<p>    <!-- htmlmin:ignore --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col text-gray-700 mb-0 gap-2 list-disc\">\n<li class=\"pl-4 relative marker:text-(--accent)\">\n                                                            There is no minimum credit score required to buy a car, but most lenders have minimum requirements for financing.\n                                                <\/li>\n<li class=\"pl-4 relative marker:text-(--accent)\">\n                                                            Most borrowers need a FICO score of at least 661 to get a competitive rate on an auto loan.\n                                                <\/li>\n<li class=\"pl-4 relative marker:text-(--accent)\">\n                                                            If you have a low credit score, you may still qualify, but you should consider building your score before you start searching for loans.\n                                                <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Before you head to the dealership, consider how your credit score will affect how much you are able to spend. Lenders use your credit score as an indication of how likely you are to repay a loan. This means that the higher your credit score, the more favorable your interest rate and terms will be.<\/p>\n<p>In general, you\u2019ll need a FICO credit score of at least 661 to qualify for a traditional auto loan, although there are lenders that offer bad credit auto loans. Because interest rates remain high, securing a subprime auto loan may be more difficult \u2014 and while it is possible, expect to pay a premium.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what\" data-position=\"1\" data-beam-element-viewed=\"\" data-id=\"br-h2-1-onpage-placement\" data-type=\"h2\" data-location=\"Editorial\" data-name=\"h2_all\" data-text=\"What credit score is needed to buy a car?\" data-outcome=\"\">What credit score is needed to buy a car?<\/h2>\n<p>The average credit score was 754 for a new car and 691 for a used car, according to data from Experian.<\/p>\n<p>There is no official minimum credit score required to buy a car, but most lenders have minimum standards for financing. Your credit score demonstrates your likelihood of repaying a loan, which is why it is one of the main tools lenders use when determining if you qualify for a car loan. Generally speaking, the higher your credit score, the more likely you are to be approved for an auto loan and receive a competitive interest rate.<\/p>\n<p>This table illustrates loan risk distribution, which is the percentage of people in each credit band auto lenders chose to finance. You are much more likely to be approved for an auto loan with a score of 600 or above because lenders have low risk tolerance for borrowers. <\/p>\n<div class=\"w-full overflow-x-auto\">\n<table class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes has-fixed-layout wrapped\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th\/>\n<th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">New car financing<\/th>\n<th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Used car financing<\/th>\n<th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">All car financing<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Super prime (781-850)<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">48.01%<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">23.34%<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">31.82%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Prime (661-780)<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">35.19%<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">35.65%<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">35.49%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Nonprime (601-660)<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">10.86%<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">18.67%<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">15.98%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Subprime (501-600)<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">5.50%<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">9.33%<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">14.58%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Deep subprime (300-500)<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">0.44%<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">3.01%<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">2.13%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: Experian State of the Automotive Finance Market, Q2 2025<\/figcaption><h2 id=\"rates\" data-position=\"2\" data-beam-element-viewed=\"\" data-id=\"br-h2-2-onpage-placement\" data-type=\"h2\" data-location=\"Editorial\" data-name=\"h2_all\" data-text=\"Auto loan interest rates by credit score\" data-outcome=\"\">Auto loan interest rates by credit score<\/h2>\n<p>When you apply for a car loan, the average auto loan rate you receive will primarily be based on your credit score. <\/p>\n<div class=\"w-full overflow-x-auto\">\n<table class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes has-fixed-layout wrapped\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Credit score<\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>New cars <\/strong><\/th>\n<th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>Used cars<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Super prime (781-850)<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">5.27%<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">7.15%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Prime (661-780)<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">6.78%<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">9.39%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Nonprime (601-660)<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">9.97%<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">13.95%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Subprime (501-600)<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">13.38%<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">18.90%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Deep subprime (300-500)<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">15.97%<\/td>\n<td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">21.58%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: Experian State of the Automotive Finance Market, Q3 2025<\/figcaption><p>Borrowers in the super prime range are more likely to qualify for auto loans with below-average rates. That said, there are bad credit auto loans available, but the cost of financing a car may be significantly higher.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how\" data-position=\"3\" data-beam-element-viewed=\"\" data-id=\"br-h2-3-onpage-placement\" data-type=\"h2\" data-location=\"Editorial\" data-name=\"h2_all\" data-text=\"How credit scores affect auto loans\" data-outcome=\"\">How credit scores affect auto loans<\/h2>\n<p>Lenders use your credit score, along with other factors like your income and debts, to determine how likely you are to repay a loan. The higher your credit score, the less risk lenders think you pose. This means that you are more likely to receive more competitive auto loan rates and better terms.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<strong>Better interest rates.<\/strong> A good to excellent credit score \u2014 either in the prime or super prime category \u2014 will help you secure a competitive interest rate on your car loan.<\/li>\n<li>\n<strong>Smaller down payment. <\/strong>With the added layer of good credit, you can likely avoid making a large down payment, although it\u2019s a good idea to put down as much as you can afford to reduce overall costs.<\/li>\n<li>\n<strong>Higher chance of approval. <\/strong>A higher credit score means that lenders view you as less of a risk. The vast majority of car loans go to those with scores above 661.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Do auto loans use FICO or VantageScore?<\/h3>\n<p>Lenders may use both your FICO score and VantageScore to determine your eligibility for an auto loan. Some lenders may also use your FICO Auto Score, which is focused specifically on your ability to pay back debts, and these scores range from 250 to 900.<\/p>\n<section class=\"editorial-insight-box --insight-box +mg-vertical-md\" data-template=\"insight_box\">\n<div class=\"card-body border-l-4 border-blue-800\">\n<div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<p>\n                    Bankrate tip\n                <\/p>\n<div class=\"content wysiwyg wysiwyg--flush\">\n<p>It is possible for lenders to use a different type of credit scoring metric. If you are unsure, reach out to your prospective lender to determine what measure will be used.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<h2 id=\"get\" data-position=\"4\" data-beam-element-viewed=\"\" data-id=\"br-h2-4-onpage-placement\" data-type=\"h2\" data-location=\"Editorial\" data-name=\"h2_all\" data-text=\"How to get a car with bad credit\" data-outcome=\"\">How to get a car with bad credit<\/h2>\n<p>It might be harder to secure a low interest rate, but there are still ways to get a car loan with bad credit, even if it means potentially higher rates.<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<strong>Work to improve your credit.<\/strong> If patience is on your side, using credit-building strategies can mean money saved in the future. Pay down your debts and check for errors on your credit report that may be lowering your score.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>\n<strong>Focus on your down payment. <\/strong>When you apply for a car loan with bad credit, a down payment offers multiple benefits. It may make you appear less risky to your lender, and you\u2019ll need to borrow less, which will also help improve your chances of being approved.<\/li>\n<li>\n<strong>Look for subprime auto loans. <\/strong>Subprime auto loans are viewed as a risk to lenders, but they are designed for people with bad credit. Expect high interest rates and less favorable terms, but you do have options.<\/li>\n<li>\n<strong>Apply for preapproval.<\/strong> If possible, apply for preapproval before you head to the dealership. This will help you compare rates and determine how much you can afford when you\u2019re not in a high-pressure sales environment.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If you have enough cash to cover the transaction, you can avoid the entire financing process, but for many, this is nearly impossible. The average cost of a new car was $48,699 in April, according to a report from KBB, and the average cost for a used car was 25,547. <\/p>\n<p>Unless you need a car in the near future, it will save you money if you focus on building your credit score and saving for a large down payment rather than jumping into an expensive auto loan.<\/p>\n<h2 data-position=\"5\" data-beam-element-viewed=\"\" data-id=\"br-h2-5-onpage-placement\" data-type=\"h2\" data-location=\"Editorial\" data-name=\"h2_all\" data-text=\"Bottom line\" data-outcome=\"\">Bottom line<\/h2>\n<p>Your credit score serves as an important indicator for lenders, but there is no set minimum requirement to buy a car. If you are on the lower end of the credit spectrum, you can find a second-chance auto loan. You can also refinance to a lower rate in the future once your credit score improves.<\/p>\n<div class=\"HelpfulCTA mx-auto flex flex-col items-center gap-6 my-6 py-12 text-base border-y border-gray-200\" data-helpful-cta=\"\" data-beam-element-viewed=\"\" id=\"did-you-find-this-helpful\" data-type=\"cta\" data-location=\"article-bottom\" data-position=\"banner\" data-text=\"Did you find this page helpful?\">\n<div class=\"HelpfulCTA-initial w-full flex flex-col items-center gap-4\" data-cta-initial=\"\">\n<div class=\"HelpfulCTA-question text-lg font-bold text-center text-gray-900\">\n            Did you find this page helpful?<\/p>\n<div id=\"c3FMIjf8A3\" class=\"hidden\">\n<div class=\"wysiwyg wysiwyg--sm wysiwyg--flush max-w-xs\">\n<p class=\"mb-6 text-base\">\n                            <strong class=\"block font-bold text-gray-900\">Why we ask for feedback<\/strong><br \/>\n                            Your feedback helps us improve our content and services. 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Icon<\/default:title><default:path d=\"M13.165 2.175c.322 0 .57.022.774.065.796.161 1.43.624 1.85 1.345.71 1.216.722 3.067.023 5.499h.516c2.28 0 3.422 0 4.337.548a3.844 3.844 0 0 1 1.721 2.25c.29 1.032 0 2.13-.592 4.336l-.516 1.926c-.312 1.151-.484 1.786-.882 2.324a3.368 3.368 0 0 1-1.442 1.098c-.625.247-1.28.248-2.475.248l-.021.01h-4.595c-.42 0-.636 0-.84-.032a4.19 4.19 0 0 1-.635-.15c-.204-.065-.387-.162-.763-.355l-1.69-.856c-.014.034-.026.069-.043.102a2.334 2.334 0 0 1-1.044 1.044c-.495.247-1.012.248-1.948.248h-.161c-.936 0-1.453 0-1.947-.248a2.333 2.333 0 0 1-1.044-1.044C1.5 20.038 1.5 19.52 1.5 18.585v-7.683c0-.936 0-1.452.248-1.947A2.387 2.387 0 0 1 2.792 7.91c.494-.248 1.01-.247 1.947-.247h.16c.937 0 1.454 0 1.95.247.353.177.653.44.875.763.64-.606 1.788-2.184 3.31-5.142.183-.366.312-.603.538-.819.193-.193.462-.355.72-.441.302-.097.539-.097.873-.097ZM4.739 9.288c-.624 0-1.076 0-1.227.076a.721.721 0 0 0-.323.322c-.075.15-.075.603-.075 1.216v7.683c0 .624 0 1.076.075 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href=\"https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/auto-loans\/what-credit-score-do-you-need-to-buy-a-car\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Luis Alvarez\/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton\/Bankrate Key takeaways 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 661 to get a competitive rate on an auto loan. If you have a low credit score, you may<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22654,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-22653","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-homes"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Credit Score Do You Need To Buy A Car? | BudgetADirect<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Luis Alvarez\/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton\/Bankrate Key takeaways There is no minimum credit score required to buy a car, but most lenders\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/budgetadirect.com\/?p=22653\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Credit Score Do You Need To Buy A Car? 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