Personal loans can pay for just about anything, while auto loans are used specifically to finance a new or used car purchase. Because personal loans are usually unsecured, they often have higher rates than auto loans, which are secured by your vehicle.
Personal loans are best for large, one-time expenses like debt consolidation or home improvement projects. You can use a personal loan to finance a new or used car, but an auto loan is likely the cheaper option.
Personal loan vs. auto loan
| Personal loans | Auto loans | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical loan amount | $1,000-$100,000. | $5,000-$100,000. |
| Typical APR range | 6%-36%. | 5%-28%. |
| Typical repayment term | 2-7 years. | 2-7 years. |
| Secured | Can be, but unsecured is more common. | Yes, by your vehicle. |
| Down payment | No. | May be required. |
| Where to get | Banks, credit unions, online lenders. | Banks, credit unions, online lenders, auto dealerships. |
| Get started |
Is a personal loan better than an auto loan?
For most borrowers, a personal loan is not better than an auto loan because auto loans are typically the cheapest way to finance a new or used car. Auto loans tend to be cheaper because they’re secured by your vehicle. If you don’t make payments, the lender can repossess your car to recoup what you owe.
For example, let’s say you have fair credit (a 630 credit score or higher) and are able to get a 10% annual percentage rate (APR) on a $20,000 auto loan with a repayment term of five years and no down payment.
Your monthly payment would be about $425. You’d pay a total of $5,496 in interest.
The same amount and repayment term could come with a 20% APR on a personal loan, because the funds are unsecured.
A personal loan with a 20% APR and a five-year repayment term would mean monthly payments of about $530, and you’d pay a total of $11,793 in interest.
When to get a personal loan instead of an auto loan
There are a few reasons you might choose a personal loan over an auto loan, such as:
- You don't want to make a down payment on the vehicle, which is a requirement for some auto lenders and dealerships. Personal loans don’t require a down payment, but you may need strong credit and income to qualify for a loan large enough to pay for the vehicle.
- You would rather accept a higher rate to avoid using your car as collateral. Since an auto loan is secured by your vehicle, the lender has a lien on it until you pay off the loan. That means they can take your car if you don’t make payments. It could also make it difficult to sell the car if you haven’t paid off the loan.
- You don’t want to purchase full coverage for your vehicle. Auto loan lenders usually require full insurance coverage — which is usually defined as state-mandated liability insurance plus comprehensive and collision coverage — on your financed vehicle. You can opt out of this requirement if you buy the car using a personal loan.
- You’re purchasing an older or high-mileage vehicle. If you’re trying to buy a car that is over 10 years old or has more than 100,000 miles, it might be difficult to get an auto loan, because lenders tend to have restrictions on the age and mileage of a financed vehicle.
- You’re buying a car from a private party. Though it’s possible to get a private-party auto loan, not all banks offer them. Also, the APRs are usually higher than traditional auto loans.
However, because of the lower interest rates, an auto loan is still the smartest choice for most car shoppers.
» MORE: Best unsecured personal loans
Personal loan vs. auto loan rates and terms
Annual percentage rates on personal loans are typically higher than auto loan rates because the lender takes on more risk by letting you borrow without the leverage of your vehicle.
With an auto loan, the type of vehicle you buy also affects your rate: Loans for used cars often have higher APRs than those for new cars.
With both types of loans, your credit profile, income and existing debts influence the rate you receive. Borrowers with good to excellent credit (690 credit score or higher), steady income and little existing debt qualify for the lowest rates.
Repayment terms on personal loans and auto loans depend on the lender, but both types of loans generally come with repayment options ranging from two to seven years.
Longer repayment terms mean you’ll pay more in interest over the lifetime of the loan. For auto loans, NerdWallet recommends keeping your repayment term at 60 months or lower for a new car and 36 months or lower for a used car.
Personal loan pros and cons
Pros
Can be used for almost anything.
Don’t require a down payment.
Usually aren’t secured by collateral.
Cons
Higher APRs than auto loans.
May have additional costs, like origination fees.
May require a good credit score.
Auto loan pros and cons
Pros
Lower APRs than personal loans.
Often easier to qualify for.
Some dealers offer special financing terms, like rebates or a low APR.
Cons
Your lender has a lien against your vehicle.
Often requires a down payment.
Usually requires you to maintain comprehensive and collision insurance.
May be difficult to qualify for if you’re financing an older or high-mileage vehicle.
Steps to get a personal loan or an auto loan
The steps for getting personal and auto loans are similar and involve the following:
- Check your credit: Knowing your credit score will help you ballpark the rate you may qualify for. Review your credit score and your credit reports for any errors before applying. You can get your credit score for free on NerdWallet or at AnnualCreditReport.com.
- Compare lenders: Before moving forward with a personal loan or auto loan, compare rates, terms and loan features. Calculate monthly payments using a personal loan calculator or an auto loan calculator to determine what you can afford.
- Pre-qualify or get preapproved: Pre-qualifying for a personal loan will let you preview the rate and loan amount you could get without impacting your credit score. Pre-qualification is available through some auto lenders as well. Others offer preapproval, which requires a hard credit pull, but it could result in a rate that’s closer to your final offer.
- Formally apply and finalize your offer: Read your personal or auto loan contract carefully before accepting the offer to be sure you understand the terms.
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