Our reviewers evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.
Friday, September 29th
LendingClub can get you the money you need to buy a car. Your funds will be structured as a personal loan, not specifically an auto loan, and rates tend to be a little on the high side. But, LendingClub no longer uses a peer-to-peer structure to provide loans, and their recent customer feedback shows that the company is definitely trending upward with respect to overall satisfaction. This is a good option for your auto loan.
OneMain Financial has been around for a century, providing personal loans for a wide range of uses - including auto financing. We appreciate their strong reputation and transparency with respect to their fees and interest rates. However, you'll have to visit a local branch to finalize your auto loan, and that won't be possible if you live in one of the six states where OneMain doesn't have a presence. You might also find their interest rates and minimum/maximum loan requirements to be less attractive than some of our higher-ranked sources of car loans.
You're right if you suspect that the answer to that question is "not necessarily at the dealership". You might initially be lured in by a dealership's attractive 0% financing offers - but unless you've got extremely good credit, you're not going to qualify. And, in the excitement of getting your new (or new-to-you) car, you could wind up with interest rates on your car loan that are even higher than what you'd get elsewhere.
Savvy consumers know that the best way to get truly competitive rates on auto loans is by comparison shopping with online lenders. Even if you're just starting the research process, it only takes a few minutes to find out how much you're qualified to borrow and with what loan terms. With that information in hand, perhaps with a preapproval letter too, you'll be much more confident walking into the dealership and negotiating the best possible deal on the car itself.
Some providers of auto loans specialize in helping customers with less-than-perfect credit. These lenders can work with you to get a loan that you can afford, and they take into account your whole financial picture - not just your low credit score, previous late payments, or a bankruptcy in your past. Of course, if your credit history is excellent, shopping around for your auto loan online will likely turn up dozens of offers to choose from.
It's important to carefully consider several criteria when evaluating different online lenders. These factors include the following:
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best auto loan providers available today. We hope this information helps you get the right financing for your next vehicle purchase or refinance!
Select any 2 Auto Loan Companies to compare them head to head