Your credit score is the primary factor in determining your . As of April 2026, average rates by credit tier include: Credit Tier Score Range New Car APR Used Car APR Super Prime 4.66% 7.70% Prime 6.27% 9.98% Non-Prime 9.57% 14.49% Subprime 13.17% 19.42% Deep Subprime 16.01% 21.85% Data sourced from U.S. News and Bankrate surveys. Strategic Recommendations
A good credit score to buy a car in early 2026 is generally , which places you in the "prime" credit category. While there is no universal minimum score required to secure a loan, borrowers above this threshold typically qualify for standard interest rates and account for roughly 69% of all auto financing . Average Credit Scores for Car Loans (Q4 2025) whats a good credit score to buy a car
: While some "buy here, pay here" lots may accept lower, 500 is often the functional minimum for most subprime lenders. Your credit score is the primary factor in determining your
Lenders also evaluate your overall financial health to mitigate risk: Credit Score Needed to Finance a Car - Starling GMC Strategic Recommendations A good credit score to buy
: This is a common threshold for traditional lenders. Below this, you enter "near-prime" or "subprime" categories where rates can jump by 3% to 5% .