

Interest rates: Because auto loans are secured, rates on car loans are generally lower than personal loans.Car loans, however, are strictly to finance a vehicle and are secured against the vehicle you purchase. Purpose: Personal loans are unsecured or secured and can be used for many different purposes, including to finance a vehicle, pay for a vacation, or make improvements to a home.It's possible to use a personal loan or an auto loan to finance a vehicle, but the two differ in some important ways: Check the APR, amount financed, and finance charge before you sign off on the loan. Ensure that the loan is what you've agreed upon. Finalize the offer with your lender, following instructions and filling out paperwork to complete the loan transaction.Find your vehicle and compare the dealer's financing offer to your preapproval offer.Keep in mind that any credit inquires that take place within a 14- to 45-day period only count as a single inquiry on your credit, so it's best to do all of your loan shopping within a short time span. Apply and get preapproved for a loan from several lenders to see which offer is the best.Compare rates, terms, credit score requirements, and other factors. Shop around at multiple lenders, including big banks, community banks, credit unions, and online lenders.

Your credit score determines what interest rate you'll receive.

Those borrowers, also known as super-prime borrowers, received an average APR of 2.34% for new cars and 3.66% for used cars. In Q2 2021, borrowers who received the lowest rates had a score of 781 or higher. At the end of Q2 2021, the average credit score was 732 for a new-car loan and 665 for a used car loan, according to a report from Experian. The best rates typically go to those with excellent credit. Your credit score, for example, has a major impact on the rates you get. There's a lot to take into account when choosing an auto loan. Are there any additional fees that you will be charged? Do you need to have a down payment to qualify for this rate? What is the total loan amount, and how much interest will you be paying over the life of the loan?" Morrison, consumer affairs expert and instructor at South Dakota State University, she said "When shopping for an auto loan, one needs to consider more than just the interest rate.
