Is 640 a good credit score to buy a car?
Can I get an auto loan with an 640 credit score? The short answer is yes, but you're likely to get a significantly higher-than-average interest rate. To put it into perspective, as of November 2022, the typical borrower with prime credit (720 or higher FICO score) got an APR of 5.34% on a 60-month new auto loan.
In general, you'll need a FICO credit score of at least 600 to qualify for a traditional auto loan, but the minimum credit score required with vary from lender to lender.
You can borrow as much as $40,000 - $100,000+ with a 640 credit score. The exact amount of money you will get depends on other factors besides your credit score, such as your income, your employment status, the type of loan you get, and even the lender.
FICO® score | APR | Monthly payment * |
---|---|---|
680-699 | 6.873% | $1,970 |
660-679 | 7.087% | $2,013 |
640-659 | 7.517% | $2,101 |
620-639 | 8.063% | $2,214 |
Exceptional (800-850): Your score is well above the average score of U.S. consumers and clearly demonstrates to lenders that you are an exceptional borrower. Very Good (740-799): Your score is above the average of U.S. consumers and demonstrates to lenders that you are a very dependable borrower.
The minimum credit score that a lender will approve for a personal loan is generally in the 610 – 640 range, but this can vary among lenders, and some institutions may require a higher score for a $20,000 loan. For a lower interest rate, aim for a score of at least 650.
Still, you typically need a good credit score of 661 or higher to qualify for an auto loan. About 69% of retail vehicle financing is for borrowers with credit scores of 661 or higher, according to Experian. Meanwhile, low-credit borrowers with scores of 600 or lower accounted for only 14% of auto loans.
- Lower Your Credit Utilization Ratio. Credit utilization makes up the second-largest percentage of your credit score. ...
- Space Out New Credit Applications. ...
- Diversify Your Credit Mix. ...
- Keep Old Credit Cards Open. ...
- Make On-Time Payments.
- Make your payments on time. ...
- Set up autopay or calendar reminders. ...
- Don't open too many accounts at once. ...
- Get credit for paying monthly utility and cell phone bills on time. ...
- Request a credit report and dispute any credit report errors. ...
- Pay attention to your credit utilization rate.
Your score falls within the range of scores, from 580 to 669, considered Fair. A 640 FICO® Score is below the average credit score. Some lenders see consumers with scores in the Fair range as having unfavorable credit, and may decline their credit applications.
Can I rent a house with 640 credit score?
Generally, most landlords require applicants to have a credit score of at least 620 to be considered for rental housing. This means that if your FICO score is lower than 620, you may be denied an application or asked for additional security deposits or co-signers before being approved.
Among most conventional and government-insured mortgage programs, a 640 credit score meets or exceeds minimum requirements. You may receive a favorable interest rate. Because you have fair credit, lenders are more likely to give you a good interest rate than people in the poor credit score range.
Depending on how responsibly you use your card, your first score could be anywhere from bad to good. With bad credit: if you pay your bill on time and otherwise manage your finances responsibly, you can rebuild from a bad credit score (300-639) to a fair credit score (640-699) in approximately 12-18 months.
How to qualify for a 0% APR car deal. Zero percent financing deals are generally reserved for borrowers with excellent credit — typically classified as a credit score of 800 and above.
Most used auto loans go to borrowers with minimum credit scores of at least 675. For new auto loans, most borrowers have scores of around 730. The minimum credit score needed for a new car may be around 600, but those with excellent credit often get lower rates and lower monthly payments.
The basic FICO and auto loan FICO scores use different credit scoring models. The base FICO score ranges from 300 to 850, but FICO auto scores range from 250 to 900. The FICO auto score that lenders look at is measured using the 9 XT version of auto score measurement.
Lender | Loan Amounts | APRs |
---|---|---|
Oportun | $300 - $18,500 | 10.07% - 35.95% |
OneMain Financial | $1,500 - $20,000 | 18% - 35.99% |
RISE | $500 - $5,000 | 60% - 299% |
Jora Credit | $500 - $4,000 | 99% - 349% |
How much can I borrow with a 640 credit score? Lenders can set their minimum and maximum loan amounts. In most cases, limits will start at $1,000 and go up to $100,000, depending on credit score and other factors.
The monthly payment on a $20,000 loan ranges from $273 to $2,009, depending on the APR and how long the loan lasts. For example, if you take out a $20,000 loan for one year with an APR of 36%, your monthly payment will be $2,009.
Tesla doesn't list a minimum credit score to be approved for financing, however, typically your shot of being approved will increase if your score is in the 600s or better. It could be possible with a 500 score still, though not as likely.
What is a good interest rate for a car for 72 months?
An interest rate under 5% is a great rate for a 72-month auto loan. However, the best loan offers are only available to borrowers who have the best credit scores and payment histories.
How fast will a car loan raise my credit score? There's no set time frame for how long it takes a car loan to improve your credit score. After buying a car, you can expect to see your score improve after making monthly payments on time and paying down your loan balance.
- Review Your Credit Report. ...
- Pay Your Bills on Time. ...
- Ask for Late Payment Forgiveness. ...
- Keep Credit Card Balances Low. ...
- Keep Old Credit Cards Active. ...
- Become an Authorized User. ...
- Consider a Credit Builder Loan. ...
- Take Out a Secured Credit Card.
- Get More Credit Accounts.
- Pay Down High Credit Card Balances.
- Always Make On-Time Payments.
- Keep the Accounts that You Already Have.
- Dispute Incorrect Items on Your Credit Report.
- Check for errors on your credit report. ...
- Remove a late payment. ...
- Reduce your credit card debt. ...
- Become an authorized user on someone else's account. ...
- Pay twice a month. ...
- Build credit with a credit card.
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