Used Car Loan Rates 2026 (By Credit Score + Age)
Written by
CarSavr Editorial Team
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Reviewed by
Daniel Reyes
Auto Finance Analyst, ex-credit union underwriter
Last updated:
5 min read
Used-car APRs by FICO and vehicle age. Older + lower-score = sharply higher rates. The rules and how to work around them.
Used car APRs by FICO (2026)
Used rates run ~1–3 points higher than new at every tier. Average: 781+ → 6.4%, 661–780 → 8.1%, 601–660 → 10.8%, 501–600 → 14.7%, below 500 → 17.2%+.
The vehicle-age penalty
Most lenders won't finance vehicles over 10 years old or over 100,000 miles. Some won't finance over 7/80k. Lenders that DO finance older vehicles charge a premium — typically 1.5–2.5 points above their published rates.
Down payment requirements
Used cars almost always require down payments. Standard: 10% with 700+ FICO, 15–20% with 600–700, 25%+ below 600. A larger down payment doesn't lower your rate much but does help approval.
Where to shop
Credit unions (PenFed, Navy Federal) are aggressive on used-car rates if you qualify. Online aggregators (Autopay, MyAutoLoan) are best for soft-pull shopping. Dealer financing on used cars is almost always the worst rate.
Frequently asked questions
Will a lender finance a private-party used car?
Yes — LightStream, PenFed, and Capital One Auto Navigator all do. The lender wires the seller directly. The seller needs to provide a clean title and (in most states) a signed bill of sale.
What's the max term for used cars?
Usually 72 months, but 84-month terms are increasingly available for newer used cars (under 4 years old).
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