Are 72-month car loans bad?
Is a 72-month car loan worth it? 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.
72-Month Car Loan Rates Are Typically High
A high interest rate means you'll end up paying more for the total cost of the car when all is said and done and you've made all your loan payments. Paying more money in interest has no benefit, and some people consider it to be wasted money.
About seven out of 10 people borrow money to buy their cars, and a car loan is one of the largest financial obligations you can have. If you're one of them, you may have a loan that will take you 60 or 72 months to pay off. That's five to six years!
An interest rate under 5% is a great rate for a 72-month auto loan. However, the best loan offers are only available to borrowers who have the best credit scores and payment histories.
- With more time for interest to accrue, you will pay more. ...
- Lenders usually charge higher interest rates for long-term auto loans. ...
- You have a higher risk of developing negative equity. ...
- You could fall into a cycle of negative equity. ...
- Repair and maintenance costs increase with a car's age.
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.
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.
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.
Can you pay off a 72-month car loan early? Yes, you can pay off a 72- or 84-month auto loan early. Since these are long repayment terms, you could save considerable money by covering the interest related to a shorter period of time.
- Refinance with a new lender. Refinancing can be an easy way to pay off your loan faster. ...
- Make biweekly payments. ...
- Round your payments to the nearest hundred. ...
- Opt out of unnecessary add-ons. ...
- Make a large additional payment. ...
- Pay each month.
What is a realistic monthly car payment?
Use your annual income as a starting point to calculate how much car you can afford based on monthly payments. Financial experts recommend spending no more than about 10% to 15% of your monthly take-home pay on an auto loan payment.
| Top Auto Loan Lender | Lowest APR | Term Length |
|---|---|---|
| PenFed Credit Union | 5.24% | 36 to 84 months |
| Auto Approve | 5.24%** | 12 to 84 months |
| Consumers Credit Union | 6.54% | Up to 84 months |
| Auto Credit Express | Varies | Varies |
Just divide 72 by your interest rate, and there you have how long it would take for the loan or investment amount to double. So, 1% would take 72 years to double. 5% takes about 15 years to double. 10% takes 7.2 years to double.
- You can't afford the car. ...
- The interest rate is too high. ...
- You could be stuck with a long term. ...
- You want to build more credit. ...
- You are planning to use your cash reserves to buy the car. ...
- There is a deal on financing.
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.
The Bottom Line
A longer-term car loan will have lower monthly repayments, but it will be much more expensive overall because there is more time for interest to accrue. A shorter-term car loan is more expensive each month but will save borrowers interest costs.
But if you need to finance a vehicle for six or seven years (72 to 84 months) or more, there's a good chance it may be beyond your budget, based on research by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), even though vehicles generally are lasting longer than ever before.
A long-term car loan is often not a good idea because of the added financial risk. While the lower monthly payment on a long-term car loan may be appealing, it is better to save up some additional cash first. This way you can make a larger down payment. Or you can simply select a less expensive car.
Car Loan APRs by Credit Score
Excellent (750 - 850): 2.96 percent for new, 3.68 percent for used. Good (700 - 749): 4.03 percent for new, 5.53 percent for used. Fair (650 - 699): 6.75 percent for new, 10.33 percent for used. Poor (450 - 649): 12.84 percent for new, 20.43 percent for used.
In general, it's recommended to spend no more than 10% to 15% of your monthly take-home income on your car payment, and no more than 20% on your total vehicle expenses, including insurance and registration. Read on to learn how you can determine how much car you can afford based on your financial situation.
What are the disadvantages of paying off a car loan early?
- You may face prepayment penalties.
- Your credit score may temporarily decrease.
- You may have less money for other goals like investing.
Key takeaways
A shorter loan term is better, as it helps minimize borrowing costs and the risk of being upside-down on your loan.
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.
If you have a 60-month, 72-month or even 84-month auto loan, you'll pay quite a bit in interest over the loan term. As long as your loan doesn't have precomputed interest, paying extra can help reduce the total amount of interest you'll pay. You'll pay off your loan faster.
In the short term, paying off your car loan early will impact your credit score — usually by dropping it a few points. Over the long term, it may rise because you've reduced your debt-to-income ratio. Whether to pay off a car loan early depends on your budget, interest rate and other financial goals.
