Keys to vehicle buying: How to finance a car

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The right car isn’t just a good fit for your lifestyle. It’s also a good fit for your budget and financial goals.

© Jakub Krechowicz/stock.adobe.com; Photo illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Once you’ve decided to buy a car and narrowed down your choices, it’s time to figure out how to pay. Financing a car isn’t as fun as choosing the paint color, but it’s far more essential. Learning how car loans work, figuring out your credit score to buy a car, and determining your car payment all need ironing out before you drive off the lot.

Hopefully you’ve done the research and figured out what kind of car you need, but if not, make sure you’ve answered all those questions and narrowed down your list to a few logical vehicles before you begin actively shopping for a loan.

Although some buyers have enough cash to pay for a car up front, the overwhelming majority—85% of new vehicle buyers and 39% of used vehicle buyers in 2021—choose to finance their auto purchase. That’s not surprising, with new cars averaging more than $47,000 and even used car prices averaging $27,000.

If financing is on the menu, you have many options. You can take the dealer financing (remember to discuss incentives). Or you can deal through your bank or credit union, which might have special rates for existing customers.

Money pros used to have a car financing maxim known as the 20/4/10 rule—that is, no less than a 20% down payment, for a term of no longer than four years, and your payments shouldn’t require more than 10% of your income.

While 20/4/10 might feel obsolete, or not applicable to your circumstances, it’s a good target to aim for. You won’t know the exact payments until you meet with the bank or dealer finance manager, so you should start with a ballpark estimate. Use a loan calculator, like the one below, to help you get started.

loan calculator

loan calculator by

How much can you afford? Plug in the amount of your loan (the price of a car you have your eye on, minus the down payment you plan to pay). Next, set the payment to monthly and plug in the interest rate you expect. Can you swing those payments? Keep in mind, your monthly rate will vary depending on your credit score and other factors.

Auto loans are a type of installment loan. That means you borrow a set amount of money and make regular payments until you pay off the total. Most often, a car loan is paid over 36 to 72 months. The longer plans mean less cash outlay per month, but higher interest costs. Try to take the shortest loan that fits your budget to reduce interest.

The average length is now 72 months, according to Edmunds.com, but they recommend 60 months if you can swing it. The average monthly loan payment for a new vehicle reached $648 in 2022, and the average for a used vehicle surpassed $500. Remember, that’s only the average. Some models have average monthly payments well under $500. Leasing is another option that may reduce monthly costs.

To some extent, your payment—and whether you get approved for a loan at all—reflects your credit score. There’s no set minimum credit score to secure an auto loan, as each lender has their own criteria. However, you’ll generally get a better rate if your score is above 670.

In a nutshell, your credit score reflects what kind of borrower you’ve been. It measures things like on-time payment history, any record of missed payments or foreclosures, and how much borrowing experience you have. A poor score can mean a bigger monthly payment. (You can improve your credit score, but it takes time and you might need a car sooner.)

Now that you have a better sense of car loan costs, figure out how much you can afford to put down in cash.

With car prices rising so much, most buyers can’t afford to reach the 20% down payment that conventional wisdom recommends. The average for new cars was about 13% in 2022, with used car down payments near 10% for those who opted for financing.

With new cars costing an average of $47,000, you’d have to put down $6,110 to hit the average percentage on a new car. You’d only need $2,700 on the average used car price of $27,000. If cash is scarce, that can help you decide between new and used.

It’s best to put down as much as you can. A higher down payment:

Once you’ve figured out the rate and down payment, start shopping for a loan. Begin by approaching your local bank or credit union. Many offer auto loans, and if it’s a bank where you’re already a customer, you may be able to score a lower-interest loan. They’ll also run a credit report to make sure you’ll be able to make your payments, in full and on time.

Online lenders are another potential source. Some offer competitive rates and more convenience. Approach this carefully. Check with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or the Better Business Bureau to check whether a lender has a history of serious customer complaints.

Applying for a car loan is similar to other loans. It means supplying some personal information (name, address, Social Security number) and your employment and income history. This may seem like private stuff, but the lender needs it to be sure you qualify.

Don’t be surprised if you hear back from the lender with a request for more information, such as bank statements or even pay stubs. It isn’t fun having strangers comb through your finances, but it’s reality.

Approved? Great! Now you can take the loan to local dealers and compare how much car you can afford from each. You can also plan a trade-in, if you have one, and discuss possible warranties or dealer discounts.

This is also the time to explore dealer financing, even if you’re already approved elsewhere. It’s best to go in preapproved and then let the dealer run your credit report and offer you an interest rate. This is where you can try to haggle to get better financing options.

Remember, a car price only partly determines your payment. Dealer fees and discounts, interest rates, the loan term, and your credit rating also factor in, so don’t let a bargain-basement sticker price fool you.

Actually choosing the car means not driving away in the first affordable one you swoon over. Visit several dealers to compare, and give your second-choice vehicle another look. Test drives are fun, but picture yourself in the car long term. It may be fun to cruise on a highway, but how about in stop-and-go traffic? Consider how it handles snow if you live in an area with harsh winters.

When you finally choose your vehicle, you’ll need to decide on a repayment schedule and sign the financing deal. Usually this means a monthly payment, but you may get to pay biweekly or weekly.

All done financing? Congratulations! May you enjoy many miles with your new wheels. Just remember that a car is a depreciating asset—one that will eventually be worth next to nothing. If you got such a great deal that you’re saving money each month, start putting that extra money in your emergency fund for regular maintenance and the occasional repair.

If you’re lucky and dodge big repair bills and have no fender benders, within a few years you will have built up enough for a new vehicle, or at least an upgrade to a newer model. Drive safely!