Can I buy a car with a 612 credit score?
Can I get an auto loan with an 612 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. As interest rates increase due to inflation, securing a subprime auto loan may be more difficult — but not impossible.
Type of Credit | Do You Qualify? |
---|---|
Secured Credit Card | YES |
Unsecured Credit Card | YES |
Home Loan | YES (FHA Loan) |
Personal Loan | MAYBE |
It's essential to be knowledgeable about how your auto loan process will be different than someone with a higher score. You might not have the same options, but you can still get an auto loan with a 600 credit score.
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.
A FICO® Score of 612 places you within a population of consumers whose credit may be seen as Fair. Your 612 FICO® Score is lower than the average U.S. credit score. Statistically speaking, 28% of consumers with credit scores in the Fair range are likely to become seriously delinquent in the future.
With FICO, fair or good credit scores fall within the ranges of 580 to 739, and with VantageScore, fair or good ranges between 601 to 780. Many personal loan lenders offer amounts starting around $3,000 to $5,000, but with Upgrade, you can apply for as little as $1,000 (and as much as $50,000).
You'll typically need a credit score of 620 to finance a home purchase. However, some lenders may offer mortgage loans to borrowers with scores as low as 500. Whether you qualify for a specific loan type also depends on personal factors like your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), loan-to-value ratio (LTV) and income.
Generation | Average credit score (FICO) in 2023 |
---|---|
Generation Z (18-25) | 680 |
Millennials (26-41) | 690 |
Generation X (42-57) | 709 |
Baby boomers (58-76) | 745 |
Age Bracket | 2022 |
---|---|
26–41 | 687 (Good) |
42–57 | 706 (Good) |
58–76 | 742 (Very Good) |
77+ | 760 (Very Good) |
What credit score do I need to buy a $20000 car?
While there is no set credit score to get an auto loan, a majority of approved borrowers have scores above 660. Having a low credit score won't necessarily keep you from getting an auto loan, but you will likely pay a higher interest rate.
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.
A credit score of 600 won't necessarily keep you from getting an auto loan, but it's likely to make that loan more expensive. Taking steps to improve your score before you apply for a car loan can put you in the driver's seat and make it easier to negotiate the best possible loan terms.
You can borrow anywhere from a few thousand dollars to $100,000+ with a 620 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.
The three major credit bureaus are Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. The two big credit scoring models used by auto lenders are FICO® Auto Score and Vantage.
Your credit score is a major factor in whether you'll be approved for a car loan. Some lenders use specialized credit scores, such as a FICO Auto Score. In general, you'll need at least prime credit, meaning a credit score of 661 or up, to get a loan at a good interest rate.
TransUnion (formerly Callcredit) is the UK's second largest CRA, and has scores ranging from 0-710. A credit score of 566-603 is considered fair. A credit score of 604-627 is good. A score of 628-710 is considered excellent (reference: https://www.finder.com/uk/transunion).
Credit score requirements for apartments vary by landlord, but most require at least a 670. Landlords can also view your credit report for any delinquencies or accounts in collections. If you have a low credit score, landlords may ask for upfront payments, guarantors, or references.
Average FICO® Score By Age Group In 2022 | |
---|---|
Generation Z (18 – 25) | 679 |
Millennials (26 – 41) | 687 |
Generation X (42 – 57) | 706 |
Baby Boomers (58 – 76) | 742 |
What Is the Typical Credit Score Required for a $3,000 Personal Loan? Since $3,000 is not a large loan amount, a credit score between 610 and 640 should suffice for an “unsecured” personal loan (a loan with no collateral). The higher your credit score, the less interest you will pay.
What credit score do I need for a $5000 loan?
Requirements for a $5,000 loan vary by lender. But in general, you should have at least Fair credit, which is a score of 580 or above. Lenders may also look at other factors, such as your income and your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), during the application process.
A 600 credit score will qualify you for a subprime loan, meaning that lenders are likely to charge you more interest due to your highest risk status. According to Experian, you can expect the following breakdown of auto loan rates: 781-850: Superprime loan at 3.65% (new) or 4.29% (used)
Conventional loan | Credit score: 620
To qualify for a conventional loan, you'll need a credit score of at least 620, though some lenders may choose to approve conventional mortgage applications only for borrowers with credit scores of 680 and up.
Average FICO 8 Score by Generation | ||
---|---|---|
Generation | 2022 | 2023 |
Generation Z (ages 18-26) | 679 - Good | 680 - Good |
Millennials (27-42) | 687 - Good | 690 - Good |
Generation X (43-58) | 707 - Good | 709 - Good |
Generally speaking, you'll likely need a score of at least 620 — what's classified as a “fair” rating — to qualify with most lenders. With a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, though, you might be able to get approved with a score as low as 500.
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