Does a 72 month car loan make sense? (2024)

Does a 72 month car loan make sense?

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. You can learn more about car loans here.

Is it smart to finance a car for 72 months?

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.

Is it worth financing a car for 5 years?

A longer loan term means you are more likely to be upside down on the loan at some point in the future. Being upside on an auto loan means you owe more than the car is worth. This is because a larger portion of the monthly payments early in the loan will go toward paying interest rather than the principal owed.

How long is too long to finance a car?

NerdWallet recommends financing new cars for no more than 60 months and used cars for no more than 36 months. These maximums can help you avoid some of the negative outcomes of long-term loans.

Why is a major downside of a 72-month loan?

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.

How long does it take to pay off a $30000 car?

For example, if you have a loan for $30,000 with an 8% interest rate over 48 months, your monthly payment would be $733. Over the life of the loan, you would be paying $5,145 in interest on top of the $30,000 principal loan amount.

Is a $500 car payment too much?

How much should you spend on a car? Whether you're taking out an auto loan or a personal loan to pay for your car, it's a good idea to limit your car payments to between 10% and 15% of your take-home pay. If you take home $4,000 per month, you'd want your car payment to be no more than $400 to $600.

What is considered a high car payment?

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. If that leaves you feeling you can afford only a beat-up jalopy, don't despair.

What is the 20 4 10 rule?

To apply this rule of thumb, budget for the following: A 20% down payment. Repayment terms of four years or less. Spending less than 10% of your monthly income on transportation costs.

What is a good interest rate for a car for 72 months?

What is a good interest rate for a 72-month car loan? An interest rate under 5% is a great rate for a 72-month auto loan.

Why is it better to pay a car loan 2 times a month?

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.

What is the rule of 72 on a car loan?

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.

What is the average car payment in the US?

Car payment statistics

The average monthly car payment for new cars is $726. The average monthly car payment for used cars is $533.

Is 5.9 APR good for a car 72 months?

A 72-month loan for a car is a long-term loan, and long-term loans typically come with higher interest. While long-term loans translate to lower monthly payments, they result in more interest paid over the life of the loan. With that said, an interest rate of around 5% for a 72-month auto loan is considered ideal.

Is 6 years too long to pay off a car?

How long is too long for a car loan? Many experts believe that once an auto loan passes five years (60 months), the benefits of the longer term are outweighed by potential problems, so that means any loan that lasts for more than five years would be a long-term auto loan.

Is it better to pay car in full or monthly?

Paying cash for your car may be your best option if the interest rate you earn on your savings is lower than the after-tax cost of borrowing. However, keep in mind that while you do free up your monthly budget by eliminating a car payment, you may also have depleted your emergency savings to do so.

What happens if I pay an extra $100 a month on my car loan?

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.

What happens if I pay $50 extra on my car loan?

If you do it consistently, you can cut months off the life of the loan. If you borrow $25,000 at a 6% APR for 72 months, the monthly payment is $414.32 per month. If you add $50 per month, you'll shorten the loan term by 9 months and save $633.42 in interest.

Does it make sense to pay off car loan early?

Paying your car loan off early reduces the risk of being upside down on a car loan. If you have a long loan term and your car depreciates in value during that time, you can end up owing more than the car is worth.

What is the 20 3 8 rule?

And that's why we design the policy, the program where you put 20% down, you don't finance more than three years, and it doesn't exceed 8% of your income. That checks all the boxes. to make sure you're not driving around in a clunker.

How much should I spend on a car if I make $40 000?

Financial experts answer this question by using a simple rule of thumb: Car buyers should spend no more than 10% of their take-home pay on a car loan payment and no more than 20% for total car expenses, which also includes things like gas, insurance, repairs and maintenance.

What car can I afford with 70k salary?

How much car can I afford with a 70k salary? Based on the 20/4/20 rule, with an average interest rate, you can afford a $19,000-20,000 car on your $70k salary.

What is the average car payment 2023?

The average car payment for a new vehicle is $726 monthly, according to third-quarter 2023 data from Experian — up 3.6% year over year.

Is $1,000 a month car payment too much?

For large luxury models, $1,000-plus payments are the norm. Even a handful of buyers with subcompact cars have four-figure payments, likely due to having shorter loan terms, poor credit, and still owing money on previous car loans, according to Edmunds analysts.

Is it better to split car payment into two payments?

By paying half of your monthly payment every two weeks, each year your auto loan company will receive the equivalent of 13 monthly payments instead of 12. This simple technique can shave time off your auto loan and could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in interest.

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