Will banks give a car loan with bad credit?

In 2022, the best subprime auto lenders for bad credit car loans are myAutoloan, Capital One, and Auto Credit Express.

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In this article, we’ll cover a few reliable lenders for bad credit car loans, highlight the best subprime auto lenders, and talk about how to get approved for a bad credit car loan. We will also show auto loan rates for bad credit and give tips on how to increase your credit score. We’ve reviewed the companies with the best auto loan rates, and we recommend comparing offers from multiple top lenders.

Here are some things to keep in mind when you are searching for bad credit car loans:

  • There is no minimum credit score to get an auto loan.
  • Most lenders require a minimum income.
  • You can get bad credit car loans from a variety of sources.
  • Find better rates by comparing your options and working on raising your credit score.

Will banks give a car loan with bad credit?

Bad Credit Car Loans Lenders

Below are seven of the most reputable companies that offer bad credit car loans. You’ll see that some of them have minimum FICO credit score requirements, while others do not. Whether or not there’s a credit score requirement, most companies require you to have a certain amount of income each year. You should be prepared to provide supporting documentation in the application process. 

Best Car Loans for Bad Credit

Below are the lenders that offer the best car loans for bad credit currently:

Subprime Auto LendersMinimum Credit
Score Required
Loan AmountsMinimum
Annual Income
myAutoloan.com 575 $8,000 to $99,000 $21,000
Capital One No minimum $4,000 to $75,000 $18,000
Auto Credit Express No minimum $5,000 to $45,000 $18,000
Clearlane 580 $10,000 to $80,000 $21,600
Carvana No minimum $1,000 to $85,000 $10,000
Vroom No minimum $5,000 to $100,000 $21,600
Credit Acceptance Corp No minimum Determined by dealer Not specified

Best Subprime Auto Lenders

Below are the three best subprime auto lenders for bad credit car loans. Along with the auto loan details listed, we will give information related to their history with bad credit borrowers, highlights related to their services, and customer reviews.

#1 MyAutoloan.com: Best Bad Credit Online Lender

MyAutoloan.com is an online lending marketplace that specializes in bad credit auto loans. The company has been around since 2003, which is a long time for an internet-based company. You need a FICO score of 575 and an annual income of $21,000 to qualify for a new car loan. Here are a few additional things that make myAutoloan.com a good option. 

  • Fast service: Customers can receive up to four personalized offers in just a few minutes. 
  • Shopping tools: The website includes a current chart with the lowest interest rates in each category, an interest rate estimator, and a payment calculator to give you a better view of your financial obligations. 
  • High customer ratings: MyAutoloan.com has a 4.3 out of 5.0-star rating from over 700 reviews on Trustpilot. This sets it apart from many smaller online loan providers. The company has also received only about 10 complaints through the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in the past three years.

#2 Capital One Auto Finance: Best Bank for Bad Credit

While some banks have high credit score requirements for auto loan financing, Capital One does not. In fact, Capital One Auto Finance doesn’t require a minimum score at all. Instead, you need to be 18 years of age and make at least $18,000 annually (or $21,600, depending on your credit score). Here are a few highlights of bad credit car loans through Capital One:

  • Keeps your score safe: The pre-qualification process includes a soft pull on your credit, which doesn’t affect your credit score. 
  • Time to shop: With Capital One Auto Finance, your pre-qualification offer is good for 30 days. This gives you time to shop around at different dealerships in your area. 
  • Choice of dealership: You can use Capital One’s Auto Navigator® to search for vehicles at over 12,000 participating dealerships, which makes the car-buying process easier. 

#3 Auto Credit Express: Best Customer Ratings

Auto Credit Express is another online lending marketplace that specializes in car loans for bad credit. The company has helped millions of customers since its founding in 1999. There are no credit score requirements for securing a loan through Auto Credit Express, and loan amounts can range from $5,000 to $45,000. Here are a few more highlights:

  • Customer service: Auto Credit Express has a 4.7-star rating from customers on Trustpilot, and the company has an A+ rating with accreditation from the BBB. 
  • Good option for during or after bankruptcy: You can find lenders that specialize in auto loans after bankruptcy and even some that provide options during bankruptcy. 
  • Resource center: Auto Credit Express provides a variety of resources for shoppers, including information on credit reports, auto insurance, and refinancing, plus a loan estimator and payment calculator. 

How To Get a Car Loan With Bad Credit

How you can get a car loan with bad credit depends on your credit score, the amount you can pay for a downpayment, and the lender you choose. Many lenders are willing to work with you to find the best auto loan rates and terms for your situation. However, we recommend that you try to increase your credit score before you shop around and compare offers so you can get the best bad credit car loans.

How To Get Approved For a Car Loan With Bad Credit

We know getting approved for a car loan with bad credit is difficult so we have listed the best ways to improve your chances of getting the ideal loan terms for your situation. These methods include:

  • Buy from a private seller: You can avoid the car dealership markup by shopping from a private seller instead. 
  • Skip the financing and pay in cash: You can sometimes save thousands by purchasing a low-cost vehicle with cash and waiting to make a bigger car purchase until you have good credit. 
  • Take out a personal loan instead: Depending on your credit score, you might find it easier to qualify for a personal loan. Be aware that interest rates for these can be higher. 
  • Put more money down: If you can make a larger down payment, there will be less of the vehicle’s value to finance. You can generally get better interest rates by making a larger down payment. 
  • Get a cosigner: If a family member or close friend can cosign on your loan, the lender will take their credit situation and income into consideration, which means you can secure a lower interest rate. But, if you miss a payment, you’ll affect your own score as well as the cosigner’s. 
  • Get multiple pre-qualification offers: You can find different interest rates and terms from different lenders, so it pays to get preapproval from multiple financial institutions. However, avoid a full loan application with a hard credit check until you’re sure about accepting the terms.
  • Bad Credit Car Loans Guaranteed Approval: Another option is guaranteed approval for bad credit car loans, which are often offered by in-house financing dealerships. Instead of checking your credit, dealers use your income to determine if you can afford a car payment.

What is The Average Interest Rate For a Car Loan With Bad Credit?

The average interest rates for a car loan with bad credit range from 10.87% to 14.76% for new cars and 17.29% to 20.99% for used vehicles. Average rates for bad credit car loans are quite high and are primarily influenced by your credit score. In the section below we will go into more detail about why this is.

Car Loan Rates With Bad Credit

Usually, those with bad credit have the highest car loan rates since they are typically seen as the riskiest borrowers. So, lenders tend to charge the highest rates for bad credit car loans to combat this risk. To put this in perspective, below are the average rates for new and used car loans by credit score according to Experian’s Q1 2022 State of the Auto Finance Market report.

Credit CategoryCredit ScoreAverage Rates
for New Car Loans
Average Rates
for Used Car Loans
Superprime 781 to 850 2.40% 3.71%
Prime 661 to 780 3.56% 5.58%
Nonprime 601 to 660 6.70% 10.48%
Subprime 501 to 600 10.87% 17.29%
Deep Subprime 300 to 500 14.76% 20.99%

In the chart you can see there are five categories based on credit score: superprime, prime, nonprime, subprime, and deep subprime. Those with bad credit fall into the subprime and deep subprime credit categories. Moving from one tier to the next increases car loan interest rates and rates jump the most from nonprime to subprime.

How A Bad Credit Score Affects Car Loan Payments

When you borrow money to buy a car, the lender basically purchases the car for you. Then, it charges you interest for using its money while you pay back the purchase price. To the lender, a low credit score means the borrower is less likely to make on-time payments and poses a higher risk for nonpayment. Auto lenders charge more in interest to offset this risk.

You can save a lot of money by moving your credit score in the right direction. Let’s look at a quick example of how credit scores affect auto loan rates. If you financed a new car with a $15,000 loan for 60 months, you’d pay:

  • $298 monthly ($2,881 in total interest) for a nonprime score
  • $329 monthly ($4,717 in total interest) for a subprime score 
  • $349 monthly ($5,927 in total interest) for a deep subprime score

You can see that a few hundred points on the credit score scale can account for thousands more in interest. If you were to move your score up 100 points, say from 450 to 550, you could expect to save about a thousand dollars in interest on this loan amount. Even moving 25 or 50 points can have a positive impact on the rates you find.

Keep in mind that your credit score isn’t the only thing that changes your loan payment. If you choose to get an extended car warranty at a dealership, that cost could be rolled into the price of your loan as well. 

How To Increase Your Credit Score

If you can take some time to postpone financing a new vehicle, work on some of the following things to raise your score:

  • Make sure all bills are paid up to date.
  • Refinance loans that have high interest rates.
  • Focus on paying down your smallest debts first.
  • Consolidate debts into one monthly payment with lower interest.
  • Don’t close credit cards or charge accounts after you pay them off.
  • Avoid hard inquiries on your credit report unless absolutely necessary.
  • Shoot for using 30% of your available credit or less. You can try increasing your current credit limits to do this.
  • Review your full credit report and look for any errors to resolve. You can get a free report from each credit bureau every year. 
  • If you can open a new credit card with good terms (no fees), do this to raise your total credit limit. But, only charge what you can pay off each month.  

Car Loan For Bad Credit: Conclusion

If you have bad credit, you still have options for a car loan. You can get bad credit car loans from a number of banks, credit unions, dealerships, and online lenders. Typically, you’ll pay a higher interest rate. However, you don’t have to settle for the first offer you come across, and it’s always a good idea to compare multiple options. 

Car Loans For Bad Credit: Online Auto Lenders

Today, many companies offer online loan pre-qualification offers with just a few clicks. A few years ago, you had to physically go around to banks, credit unions, and dealerships, but now that isn’t the case. To find the right financing for bad credit car loans, we recommend comparing multiple auto lenders and reading about the terms of each loan. Below are some highly rated bad credit car loans lenders so you can compare rates.

Auto Loan For Bad Credit: FAQ

Below are the answers to some frequently asked questions about bad credit car loans:

Can I get guaranteed approval for bad credit car loans?

Yes, but be aware that these bad credit car loans are often at higher rates than subprime dealers. They are not completely guaranteed and instead often require a minimum income and a down payment.

Where can I get bad credit car loans?

A number of companies offer financing for people with bad credit, including myAutoloan.com, Capital One, and Auto Credit Express. You may also find loan offers from your local bank or credit union, especially if someone with better credit can cosign for you.

Can I get a car loan with a 500 credit score?

Yes, you can get a car loan with a credit score of 500, but you’ll pay more overall. According to Experian’s 2020 State of the Auto Finance Market report, drivers with a score of 300 to 500 pay average rates of 13.97% for new cars and 20.67% for used cars.

Can I get a car loan with very poor credit?

Yes, you can get a car loan with very poor credit. You’ll pay more for interest in the long term, so it can be a good idea to choose a cheaper car or get a cosigner. In any case, multiple providers cater specifically to people with poor credit scores.

Where can I get car loans for bad credit?

You can get car loans for bad credit from many different subprime auto lenders online, through banks, credit unions, or dealerships. We recommend getting prequalified and comparing provider offers before making a commitment.

Can I get financed for a car with a 500 credit score?

It's possible to get a car loan with a credit score of 500, but it'll cost you. People with credit scores of 500 or lower received an average rate of 13.97% for new-car loans and 20.67% for used-car loans in the second quarter of 2020, according to the Experian State of the Automotive Finance Market report.

What's the lowest credit score you can get a car loan with?

In general, you'll need a credit score of at least 600 to qualify for a traditional auto loan, but the minimum credit score required to finance a car loan varies by lender. If your credit score falls into the subprime category, you may need to look for a bad credit car loan.

What are my chances of getting a car loan with bad credit?

In most cases, having bad credit won't prevent you from finding a car loan. But you'll likely pay more — through higher interest rates and fees — than a borrower with good credit.

What kind of car can you get approved for with bad credit?

Vehicle Options with Bad Credit.
New cars – You can finance a new vehicle in some bad credit situations, but you have to be prepared when you do. ... .
Used cars – Used vehicles are often a good bet for bad credit car buyers. ... .
Certified pre-owned vehicles – CPO cars are a good middle point between new and used vehicles..

What bank is the easiest to get a car loan?

The Easiest Auto Loans to Get Online.
Auto Credit Express. 4.9 /5.0 Stars. ... .
Car.Loan.com Auto Loan. 4.5 /5.0 Stars. ... .
myAutoloan.com. 4.0 /5.0 Stars. ... .
Carvana. ... .
Capital One Auto Finance. ... .
Credit Acceptance. ... .
DriveTime. ... .
LightStream..

How can I get a 30k car loan with bad credit?

Get a Cosigner Many lenders will allow a cosigner on your loan application to improve your approval chances. A cosigner is someone who has a better credit score than you and who is willing to sign onto the loan to guarantee its payment.