How many years is best to finance a car? (2024)

How many years is best to finance a car?

Even though the majority of car buyers are going with long-term car loans, is an auto loan of 72 months or more a good idea for you? NerdWallet recommends financing new cars for no more than 60 months and used cars for no more than 36 months.

What is the best length of time to finance a car?

NerdWallet typically recommends keeping auto loans to no more than 60 months for new cars and 36 months for used cars — although that can be a challenge for some people in today's market with high car prices. Ultimately, choosing the best auto loan term depends on balancing cost, affordability and your specific needs.

Is it worth financing a car for 5 years?

A longer loan term means you are more likely to be upside down on the loan at some point in the future. Being upside on an auto loan means you owe more than the car is worth. This is because a larger portion of the monthly payments early in the loan will go toward paying interest rather than the principal owed.

How many years is best for car loan?

However, if the burden of monthly EMI that short-term loans get problematic, choosing a long-term, anytime within 7 years would be wise. The monthly pay out would be reduced compared to short-term loans.

Is 7 years too long to finance a car?

An 84-month auto loan can mean lower monthly payments than you'd get with a shorter-term loan. But having as long as seven years to pay off your car isn't necessarily a good idea. You can find a number of lenders that offer auto loans over an 84-month period — and some for even longer.

How long does it take to pay off a $30000 car?

For example, if you have a loan for $30,000 with an 8% interest rate over 48 months, your monthly payment would be $733. Over the life of the loan, you would be paying $5,145 in interest on top of the $30,000 principal loan amount.

Is 72 months too long to finance a car?

Because of the high interest rates and risk of going upside down, most experts agree that a 72-month loan isn't an ideal choice. Experts recommend that borrowers take out a shorter loan. And for an optimal interest rate, a loan term fewer than 60 months is a better way to go.

How much is too much for a car payment?

Financial experts recommend spending no more than 10% of your monthly take-home pay on your car payment and no more than 15% to 20% on total car costs such as gas, insurance and maintenance as well as the payment. If that leaves you feeling you can afford only a beat-up jalopy, don't despair.

Is it better to pay car in full or monthly?

Paying cash for your car may be your best option if the interest rate you earn on your savings is lower than the after-tax cost of borrowing. However, keep in mind that while you do free up your monthly budget by eliminating a car payment, you may also have depleted your emergency savings to do so.

Will car loan rates go down in 2024?

McBride shares that while the high-rate environment will persist, rates will ease for most borrowers in 2024. Increased competition between lenders may help drivers secure a good rate.

Why should you avoid car loans longer than 5 years?

You'll Pay More Interest

And even if you can find a long-term loan with a low interest rate, making payments for seven or eight years will likely add up to more interest over time compared with a shorter-term loan.

What is the 84-month car payment?

What is an 84-month auto loan? Essentially, they're the same as any auto loan. An 84-month auto loan stretches the repayment period to seven years. Your lender amortizes your loan over this term to determine how much you pay each month in principal and interest.

What are the disadvantages of a large down payment on a car?

Disadvantages of a Larger Down Payment

The two biggest cons of making a down payment that's around 50 percent are: More money down doesn't lower your interest rate – Bad credit car buyers get higher than average interest rates, and it's extremely rare that a larger down payment can lower it.

What happens if I pay an extra $100 a month on my car loan?

Your car payment won't go down if you pay extra, but you'll pay the loan off faster. Paying extra can also save you money on interest depending on how soon you pay the loan off and how high your interest rate is.

How much is a 25k car payment?

Example 2: A $25,000.00 secured personal loan financed for 60 months at an interest rate of 8.500% would yield an APR* (Annual Percentage Rate) of 8.496% and 59 monthly payments of $512.87 and 1 final payment of $513.24.

What is a good down payment on a 30k car?

Consider putting at least $6,000 down on a $30,000 car if you're buying it new or at least $3,000 if you're buying it used. This follows the guidelines of a 20% down payment for a new car or a 10% down payment for a used car.

What month is it best to buy a car?

The best time to buy a car has several answers. Your best bet is to buy between October and January 1st. December is particularly ripe for deals, discounts, rebates and other incentives as well. This is because car salespeople are aggressively working to meet their monthly, quarterly and yearly quotas.

What is the oldest car a bank will finance?

Typically, a bank won't finance any vehicle older than ten years, even if a borrower has good credit.

Is it better to make two car payments a month?

Splitting the payment in half and paying twice a month (semi-monthly) saves money. Why? On an auto loan, interest compounds daily. By paying half your payment early, you actually cut down the principal faster, thereby reducing the corresponding compounding interest you'll pay over the life of the loan.

What happens if I pay off my car 2 years early?

Some lenders charge a penalty for paying off a car loan early. The lender makes money from the interest you pay on your loan each month. Repaying a loan early usually means you won't pay any more interest, but there could be an early prepayment fee.

Is $750 a month for a car good?

If your take-home pay is $60,000 per year, you should pay no more than $750 per month for a car, which totals 15% of your monthly take-home pay.

Is $1,000 a month car payment too much?

For large luxury models, $1,000-plus payments are the norm. Even a handful of buyers with subcompact cars have four-figure payments, likely due to having shorter loan terms, poor credit, and still owing money on previous car loans, according to Edmunds analysts.

What is the 20 3 8 rule?

And that's why we design the policy, the program where you put 20% down, you don't finance more than three years, and it doesn't exceed 8% of your income. That checks all the boxes. to make sure you're not driving around in a clunker.

Is it smarter to buy or finance a car?

Full car ownership provides greater financial flexibility, as you won't worry about monthly payments or interest charges. Owning a car outright also allows you to sell or trade it in at any point, giving you the flexibility to upgrade or downsize your vehicle as necessary.

Does paying your car every 2 weeks help?

By paying half of your monthly payment every two weeks, each year your auto loan company will receive the equivalent of 13 monthly payments instead of 12. This simple technique can shave time off your auto loan and could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in interest.