5 Best Motorcycle Loans of 2022
Motorcycle loans include unsecured personal loans from online lenders and secured loans from some banks, credit unions and motorcycle manufacturers.
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If you can’t buy a motorcycle with cash, a loan may be your next-best option. Some motorcycle manufacturers offer low-interest financing, which is worth considering if you qualify. An unsecured or secured loan from an online lender, bank or credit union is another option.
Understanding the differences between motorcycle loans — and comparing offers from multiple lenders — can help you find the lowest rate and the best loan for you.
» COMPARE: Find a personal loan near you
If you can’t buy a motorcycle with cash, a loan may be your next-best option. Some motorcycle manufacturers offer low-interest financing, which is worth considering if you qualify. An unsecured or secured loan from an online lender, bank or credit union is another option.
Understanding the differences between motorcycle loans — and comparing offers from multiple lenders — can help you find the lowest rate and the best loan for you.
» COMPARE: Find a personal loan near you
Best Motorcycle Loans
Lender | NerdWallet Rating | Est. APR | Loan amount | Min. credit score | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() SoFi Get rate on SoFi's website | Best for Motorcycle loans with low rates | 6.99- | $5,000- | 680 | Get rate on SoFi's website |
Upstart Get rate on Upstart's website | Best for Motorcycle loans for bad credit | 5.40- | $1,000- | None | Get rate on Upstart's website |
LightStream Get rate on LightStream's website | Best for Unsecured motorcycle loans | 4.99- | $5,000- | 660 | Get rate on LightStream's website |
![]() USAA Personal Loan See my rates on NerdWallet's secure website | Best for Motorcycle loans for military members | 7.24- | $2,500- | None | See my rates on NerdWallet's secure website |
![]() First Tech Credit Union Personal Loan See my rates on NerdWallet's secure website | Best for Motorcycle loans from a credit union | 6.70- | $500- | 660 | See my rates on NerdWallet's secure website |
Our pick for
Motorcycle loans with low rates
Our pick for
Motorcycle loans for bad credit
Our pick for
Unsecured motorcycle loans
Our pick for
Motorcycle loans for military members

on NerdWallet's secure website
USAA Personal Loan

Est. APR
7.24-Loan amount
$2,500-Min. credit score
Noneon NerdWallet's secure website
Our pick for
Motorcycle loans from a credit union

on NerdWallet's secure website
First Tech Credit Union Personal Loan

Est. APR
6.70-Loan amount
$500-Min. credit score
660on NerdWallet's secure website
Unsecured vs. secured motorcycle loans
Unsecured loans take into account your creditworthiness rather than requiring you to pledge the bike as collateral. This means the lender can’t take your motorcycle if you fail to make payments. These loans are more commonly offered by online lenders, which usually let you pre-qualify for a loan to see the amount, rate and term you may qualify for without impacting your credit score.
Secured loans tend to have lower interest rates because the lender takes on less risk by having your motorcycle as collateral. You’ll find secured loans more often at banks and credit unions; some large banks offer unsecured loans for motorcycle financing.
Secured loans may require — or have an optional — down payment. A down payment reduces the loan amount and the interest you’ll pay on the loan. Unsecured loans don’t require down payments.
Motorcycle manufacturer financing
Some motorcycle manufacturers offer financing at lower rates than rates on unsecured or secured motorcycle loans. Harley Davidson, for example, offers financing options for its bikes at local dealers. According to the company, rates start at 3.99% over seven years for new motorcycles.
How to compare motorcycle loans
Here are the key features to compare between motorcycle loans.
Lender requirements: Most lenders look at your credit score and debt-to-income ratio to determine whether to lend to you and at what rate. Some lenders require good or excellent credit, while others will lend to bad-credit borrowers. Requirements on a secured loan may be softer than on an unsecured loan.
Annual percentage rates: A loan’s APR is its interest rate plus any fees, like an origination fee. APRs on most unsecured personal loans fall between 6% and 36%; starting rates on secured motorcycle loans may be lower. The loan with the lowest rate is often the best choice.
Repayment terms: Most unsecured loans have repayment terms between two and seven years, but some lenders have more limited options. Upstart loans have three- or five-year repayment terms, for example. A longer repayment term means you’ll have lower monthly payments; a shorter one means you’ll pay less in overall interest. Use a personal loan calculator to estimate your rate and monthly payment based on your credit score.
Other loan features: If you have multiple loan offers at affordable rates, a loan's unique features can help break the tie. Some lenders offer next-day funding, access to your credit score or a mobile app to manage your loan. These features shouldn’t trump the offer with the lowest rate, but they can help make the process of getting and repaying your loan more convenient.
Motorcycle loan frequently asked questions
Where can I get a motorcycle loan?
Motorcycle loans are offered through some motorcycle manufacturers, banks, credit unions and online lenders. Compare offers from multiple lenders to find the lowest rate.
How do I get a motorcycle loan?
Getting a motorcycle loan starts with comparing multiple loan offers. You'll then submit an application, typically with documentation like W-2s and pay stubs. The application will trigger a hard credit pull. Once approved, you'll typically receive the loan within one to five business days.
What credit score do you need to get a motorcycle loan?
Minimum credit score requirements vary among lenders, but the higher your credit score, the more likely you'll be approved for a low interest rate. Borrowers with good to excellent credit scores (690 or higher FICO) receive the lowest rates, though some lenders offer bad-credit loans.
What are repayment terms on motorcycle loans?
Motorcycle loans typically have repayment terms between one and seven years. A longer term means lower monthly payments, but more interest.
What are motorcycle loan rates?
Rates on personal loans from online lenders range from 6% to 36%, while unsecured bank loans can have rates between 7% and 25%. Federal credit unions cap interest rates at 18%.
You can see what rate you qualify for on an unsecured personal loan by pre-qualifying. Doing so with NerdWallet lets you see potential rates and terms from multiple online lenders and doesn’t affect your credit score.
Last updated on April 29, 2021
Methodology
NerdWallet’s review process evaluates and rates personal loan products from more than 35 financial institutions. We collect over 45 data points from each lender, interview company representatives and compare the lender with others that seek the same customer or offer a similar personal loan product. NerdWallet writers and editors conduct a full fact check and update annually, but also make updates throughout the year as necessary.
Our star ratings award points to lenders that offer consumer-friendly features, including: soft credit checks to pre-qualify, competitive interest rates and no fees, transparency of rates and terms, flexible payment options, fast funding times, accessible customer service, reporting of payments to credit bureaus and financial education. We also consider regulatory actions filed by agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. We weigh these factors based on our assessment of which are the most important to consumers and how meaningfully they impact consumers’ experiences.
This methodology applies only to lenders that cap interest rates at 36%, the maximum rate most financial experts and consumer advocates agree is the acceptable limit for a loan to be affordable. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for our star ratings. Read more about our ratings methodologies for personal loans and our editorial guidelines.
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Best Motorcycle Loans of 2022
- SoFi: Best for Motorcycle loans with low rates
- Upstart: Best for Motorcycle loans for bad credit
- LightStream: Best for Unsecured motorcycle loans
- USAA Personal Loan: Best for Motorcycle loans for military members
- First Tech Credit Union Personal Loan: Best for Motorcycle loans from a credit union