What You Need to Know About FICO Scores & Rates

Credit scores and car loans. Car loans and credit scores. The two go hand in hand. While most people know that having a “good” credit score can help you get more of what you want when buying a car, many still have questions: Will it hurt my credit score if I apply for a loan? How can I make sure I don’t get dinged for applying for multiple loans? If you have questions like these, read on. Find out how your credit score typically factors into your car interest rate, and if need be, what you can do to boost your score!

Credit Score 101

Let’s start with some basic terminology.

What is a credit score?

Your credit score is a number that helps lenders understand the amount of risk they’re taking on by loaning you money. Your score influences the credit and terms that lenders make available to you.

“It is a number that summarizes credit risk, based on a snapshot of a credit report at a particular time,” says myFICO.

What does FICO mean?

You’ve seen “FICO” a couple of times now. Used by 90% of top lenders, FICO scores are the most widely used credit scores. They were first introduced by the Fair Isaac Corporation in 1989.

Your FICO score is based on five categories of information in your credit report:

Payment history (35%): Have you paid past credit accounts on time?
Amounts owed (30%): Do you currently owe money on your credit accounts?
Length of credit history (15%): A longer credit history can sometimes increase your FICO score.
Credit mix in use (10%): FICO scores will look at your mix of credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans, and mortgage loans.
New credit (10%): Avoid opening several credit accounts in a short period of time. Research shows that doing so represents a greater risk — especially for people who don’t have a long credit history.

What’s a good FICO score?

FICO scores range from 300-850. In general, the higher the score, the lower the risk. Credit applicants with higher scores generally receive the most favorable interest rates from lenders, whether they’re applying for a car loan, mortgage, or credit card.

Request your FICO credit score for free to see where you fall on the credit spectrum.

FICO CREDIT SCORE RANGES
Score	Grade	What to Know
800+	Exceptional	Well above the average U.S. consumer’s score. Likely to enjoy an easy approval process when applying for credit.
740-799	Very Good	Above the average U.S. consumer’s score. Could qualify for better interest rates from lenders.
670-739	Good	Median credit score in the U.S. Considered an “acceptable” borrower.
580-669	Fair	Below the average score of U.S. consumers. Considered subprime borrowers. Getting credit may be difficult and could come with higher interest rates. Work to improve.
<579	Poor	Poor credit. May be rejected for credit or be required to pay a fee or deposit. Score could be a result from bankruptcy or other credit problem. Work to improve

(Source: Experian)

Credit Scores & Car Loan Interest Rates

Now you’re probably thinking, “All of this is great information guys, but what does it mean for me? I just want to get a car loan.”

We hear you. Unless you can pay cash for a new or used car, you’re going to need financing. Auto lenders use your FICO credit score to determine loan eligibility and interest rate just like any other lender.

According to Experian via Bankrate, the average credit score needed to buy a new car is about 714. The average score to buy a used car is 655. If your score is lower than these averages, it’s certainly not impossible to buy a car. You may just have to accept a loan with a higher interest rate.

You see, your FICO score is especially important when it comes to car loan interest rates. A lower interest rate can help you get a low monthly payment, but also help you spend less over the course of your loan. Check out a sampling of average car loan interest rates below, per Bankrate.

AVERAGE CAR LOAN RATES BY CREDIT SCORE
Credit Score Range	New Car Loan	Used Car Loan
781-850	2.6%	3.3%
661-780	3.59%	5.12%
601-660	6.39%	9.47%
501-600	10.65%	15.72%
300-500	13.53%	18.98%

(Source: Bankrate)

Your car loan interest rate may differ from these averages. If you know your general score range, you can estimate your auto loan interest rate using myAutoloan’s Interest Rate Calculator.

Note that simply applying for a car loan likely won’t hurt your credit score in the long term. Reporting agencies recognize that when people shop for an auto loan, they’re going to compare multiple loan options. With this in mind the top three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion), for the purpose of credit scoring, roll multiple auto inquiries into one inquiry on a continuous, 14-30 day cycle.

Boosting Your Credit Score for a Better Loan Interest Rate

The simple truth is, the better your FICO credit score, the better loan interest rate you can secure. There’s always room for improvement, even if you have a score of 700.

Follow these simple tips to start improving your credit score ASAP:

Pay your bills on time
Maintain a low balance on your credit cards
Do not max out your credit cards
Maintain a long credit history
Apply for credit sparingly
Keep spending and payment habits consistent (and good!)

You Don’t Need a Perfect FICO Score to Apply for an Auto Loan

Don’t let your credit score get in the way of a car loan. Everyone needs a means of transportation! There’s a good chance you can still secure financing, even if your score isn’t perfect. After a year or so of healthy credit habits, you can always apply to refinance at a lower interest rate, too.

Download myAutoloan’s Guide to Better Credit and take the first step towards the credit score you need. Getting your credit score exactly where you want it to be isn’t as hard as you might think. Neither is securing financing. Apply for an auto loan through myAutoloan and compare up to four offers in a matter of minutes. There are loans for almost any credit score!