Quick answer: a credit score is related to auto-loan pricing, but it cannot tell you the APR a lender will approve. Experian's reported Q2 2026 averages below show how rates differed across credit tiers for new and used vehicles. They describe loans in that quarter, not current lender offers, minimum rates or a personal forecast. Compare written offers for the same car, amount financed and term.
Correction: an earlier version of this page displayed ten approximate tier APRs without a reproducible reporting period. The table below replaces those values with figures published by Experian for an identified quarter and score model. The separate cost example remains hypothetical.
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Average auto-loan APR by credit tier: Q2 2026
Experian's published auto-finance table, dated September 10, 2026, labels these as average APRs for loans in the second quarter of 2026 and uses VantageScore 4.0 ranges. It separates new- from used-car loans. Values are reproduced below as data, with the source and period next to them.
| Experian VantageScore 4.0 tier | Score range | New-car average APR | Used-car average APR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super prime | 781–850 | 4.41% | 6.29% |
| Prime | 661–780 | 6.15% | 8.81% |
| Near prime | 601–660 | 9.71% | 13.93% |
| Subprime | 501–600 | 13.52% | 19.10% |
| Deep subprime | 300–500 | 16.11% | 21.62% |
Source: Experian, State of the Automotive Finance Market, Q2 2026; VantageScore 4.0 tiers. Source checked September 28, 2026. The public table does not give a sample count for each cell. A lender may use another score model or different pricing rules, and these observed averages do not establish eligibility.
How to use the table
Published averages describe groups of completed loans; they do not establish an APR that any one borrower is entitled to receive. Check the observation quarter, score model, tier boundaries and new-versus-used definition before comparing any published table with your offer. Vehicle age, loan amount, down payment, term, income, credit history, lender and application date can change a quote.
If your score changes, your quote might change; a score improvement does not guarantee a particular rate. Ask lenders for their actual terms and compare more than one offer. The CFPB's auto-loan shopping guidance identifies credit reports and scores as important factors and recommends comparing financing options.
What a rate difference costs: a hypothetical example
Suppose the same borrower finances $30,000 with fixed monthly payments. These illustrative 6.5% and 14.5% figures are nominal contract interest rates chosen for arithmetic; neither is assigned to a credit tier or presented as a current market quote. The example assumes no fee, add-on, down payment, early payoff or late payment, and that APR equals the contract rate under those assumptions. Interest is rounded to cents each month, regular payments are rounded to cents, and the last payment clears the balance. Actual loans may accrue interest daily.
| Hypothetical choice | Contract rate / term | Regular monthly payment | Final payment | Total interest | Total loan payments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower-rate example | 6.5% / 60 months | $586.98 | $587.29 | $5,219.11 | $35,219.11 |
| Higher-rate example | 14.5% / 60 months | $705.85 | $705.69 | $12,350.84 | $42,350.84 |
| Higher rate, longer term | 14.5% / 72 months | $626.23 | $626.57 | $15,088.90 | $45,088.90 |
At 60 months, the higher-rate example costs $7,131.73 more interest. Extending that 14.5% loan to 72 months lowers its regular payment by $79.62, but adds $2,738.06 in interest compared with the 60-month version. A smaller payment can therefore conceal a larger borrowing cost. Test your own amount, rate and term in the Loanyzer car loan calculator; use lender documents for your actual APR and payment schedule.
Compare offers with the same inputs
- Request written quotes from more than one lender for the same vehicle, cash down, amount financed and term. Note any change in price or rebate tied to a financing choice.
- Compare APR with APR and check the contract interest rate separately. APR includes certain loan charges; it need not equal the rate used to calculate monthly interest. The CFPB explains the auto-loan disclosure fields.
- Read the amount financed, payment schedule, finance charge and total of payments. Ask which fees and optional products are included in the balance, and check whether the vehicle price changes with financing.
- Test a shorter and longer term only after fixing the amount financed. If a quote looks expensive, ask the lender to explain its pricing and compare another written offer instead of treating a tier average as a guaranteed entitlement.
Used-car loans may be priced differently from new-car loans, and promotional new-car financing may have its own eligibility or rebate conditions. Compare the complete vehicle purchase and financing cost; a lower new-car APR does not by itself make the more expensive car the cheaper choice. The CFPB recommends checking loan amount, APR, interest rate and term alongside monthly payment.
