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Car loans with bad credit: what to expect and how to prepare

Most lenders do not have a minimum score, but your score sets your rate, and your rate sets your payment.

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Change it to the price of the car.

10% down, $2,800. Amount borrowed $25,200.

Estimated monthly payment

$579 a month

At 13.44% APR, the average for a new car at a 501 to 600 score. $9,544 in interest over 60 months.

What a better score is worth

At a 601 to 660 score the average is 9.67%. The same loan is $48 less a month and $2,864 less over the loan.

If the purchase can wait 60 to 90 days, fixing errors on the report could move the score up a tier.

Get loan-ready

This is a soft credit pull, so it won’t impact your score.

Rates shown are averages by credit tier from published industry sources: car loans from Experian's State of the Automotive Finance Market (Q1 2026, new-vehicle averages, banded on VantageScore 4.0); mortgages from the myFICO Loan Savings Calculator (Curinos LLC data, May 2026, 30-year fixed at 80% loan-to-value, banded on FICO Scores); personal loans from LendingTree's analysis of closed personal loans on its marketplace (Q1 2026, loan amounts $5,000 to $54,999 and terms of 36 to 83 months). Because these sources band by different credit-scoring models, the same score may fall in different tiers depending on the product. Credit card tiers are illustrative estimates throughout; no comparable published tier table exists for revolving card APR. Tiers marked * are estimates rather than published figures, shown so the calculator can display a result where the underlying source publishes no tier at all. myFICO publishes no mortgage tier below 620, and most lenders decline at that level. Marketplace and survey averages reflect the borrowers and lenders in each source rather than the national market as a whole, and rates change over time. This is an illustration, not an offer of credit or a rate quote, and no result is guaranteed. No credit repair company can promise a specific score change.

This free tool gives a general estimate based on what you enter. The Credit Pros makes no representations or guarantees about any outcome.

What is your timeline?

Shop smart with the score you have

  1. Get pre-approved by a credit union or online lender before the dealer.
  2. Do all your rate shopping in two weeks. It counts as one inquiry.
  3. A bigger down payment lowers both your rate and the chance of a no.

Read next

  • No set

    minimum score. Each lender sets its own

  • 14 days

    to rate-shop and have it count as one inquiry

  • 60 to 90

    days is often enough to fix report errors before you apply

Can I get a car with my score?

Answers for the score and the car or lender you have in mind.

Guides for car loans

Start where you are. Everything here is free to read.

Just learning

The basics of car loans

Making a plan

Tools and plans you can use today

Ready for help

When you want us to handle it

Every car loans guide

Common questions

What credit score do I need for a car loan?

There is no single minimum. Lenders approve scores in the 500s, but at much higher rates than scores over 660.

Does shopping for a car loan hurt my score?

Several auto loan inquiries within about two weeks count as one for most scores.

Should I use dealer financing?

Get a pre-approval first so you have a rate to compare. Then let the dealer try to beat it.

More credit help

See your credit through a lender’s eyes.

Get your free credit review to see where you stand. This is a soft credit pull, so it won’t impact your score.

Start your free reviewor call (800) 411-3050