A 60-month loan is a car loan with a selected term of 60 months. An auto loan is designed to span five years of payments. A 60-month loan offer allows the borrower to select a lower monthly payment, but the total interest paid over the loan term. These loans can be used for both new and used cars.
When to Consider a 60-month Auto Loan
When a customer is in the market for a new or used car, they should know the benefits of a 60-month auto loan. A 60-month auto loan can be an ideal solution for customers who want a lower monthly payment but desire little or no principal reduction at the end of the term. A 60-month auto loan can also make a lot of sense for customers who intend to keep the vehicle for more than five years.
A customer who purchases a car with a 60-month loan will pay less money in interest over the total loan term. It’s also possible to put up enough money for a down payment that exceeds the current market value of the car, which will allow them to roll the amount they still owe on their current auto loan into a new loan. This can be an effective way to save money on long-term vehicle loans.
Customers struggling financially and must pay out of pocket for their car shouldn’t consider a 60-month auto loan. These customers should consider the repayment terms of an auto loan with a shorter term or even one with a zero down payment. Customers who have good credit and don’t have any difficulty making monthly payments on their current auto loan shouldn’t shy away from a 60-month auto loan either.
Across the nation, plenty of banks and lenders offer 60-month auto loans to customers. Most of these banks or lenders require a customer to be at least 18 years old and have other financial obligations to receive a 60-month car loan.
Are 60 months good for a car loan?
Sixty months on a car loan is often recommended if you want to lower the monthly payments or have the cash to put down. With a 60-month loan, you can choose an interest rate lower than most other loans but still make enough money to cover your monthly payments.
Many people prefer 60-month loans because they will extend the total amount of time they need to repay their debt and help maximize their available monthly budget. While these two things are true, there is another important factor that must also be taken into consideration: interest rate!
Interest rates have dropped over the past few years but vary significantly from lender to lender. A 60-month car loan is an excellent option for customers who want a large down payment on vehicle financing.
What is a good interest rate for a car for 60 months?
It’s difficult to say a good interest rate for 60 months because it varies so much. Rates can vary by 1, 2, or 3 percentage points (3%) depending on the lender and different factors. In general, you want to get the best interest rate possible, as this will help you effectively repay your debt while staying within your budget.
But getting a good interest rate also means you’ll have more car payments over a longer period. So this isn’t ideal for everyone. The difference between 4% and 5% in terms of APR may not seem like much now, but it can mean thousands of dollars in extra interest paid over your loan term. Interest rates are primarily affected by your credit score, income, and the amount of your down payment.
You may also want to determine how often you intend to make payments. Some lenders let you break up your monthly payments between weekly or bi-weekly installments. This can be helpful if you have a lot of expenses at once or receive large sums of money periodically (such as through a bonus or direct deposit).
What are the advantages of a 60-month auto loan?
60-month auto loans also offer certain advantages for both prospective buyers and lenders.
For buyers, 60-month auto loans can allow you to make a large down payment and still make monthly payments within your budget. This can be particularly helpful for people with bad credit or excellent credit that want to get a good interest rate without spending too much money.
For lenders, 60-month auto loans allow you to use an older model car as collateral while still finding a way to make money on the loan they give out. By getting more money from each loan, lenders can make more money overall off of their business. A 60-month loan term can save time and money for customers with perfect credit.
What are the disadvantages of a 60-month auto loan?
There are also some disadvantages to 60-month auto loans that customers should consider carefully:
- For one, 60-month auto loans can make the cost of car ownership in your life greater than the loan itself.
- You could be stuck with a car that breaks down or isn’t safe for you to use for years and years because you borrowed it with a low amount of money and had no way to pay for repairs in the meantime.
- Other factors that affect 60-month auto loans include interest rate, credit score, and down payment.
- For consumers with poor credit, a 60-month loan can be very costly. Interest rates for bad credit are usually higher than those for good credit, and the higher interest rate can add up much more quickly.
What to Look For When Applying for a Long Term Auto Loan?
When applying for a long-term auto loan, you’ll want to understand the factors that affect the loan:
- The lender will look at your income, how much money you make, and how much debt you owe monthly. They’ll also want to know about your current debt situation and what bills you pay regularly.
- Not only this, but lenders will also look at your credit score and whether or not you have any late payments on other accounts. With a good credit score, they’ll probably approve you for a bigger loan amount with lower interest rates than someone with bad credit.
- A down payment is another big factor in getting an auto loan approved.
- Some auto lenders will require a 10% down payment, while others may require 20%. The amount of the down payment can make a big difference in terms of the APR.
- A good down payment makes it more likely to have a higher payment after the down payment is paid off. The higher payment will make the loan more affordable and make up for paying extra interest.
How to apply for a 60-month car loan?
To apply for a 60-month car loan, all you need is the same information you would supply when applying for a shorter-term loan. This includes your credit score, income, salary, and other personal information. Some lenders may ask you to provide additional documentation, such as copies of your bills or other finances, to prove what you say on the application is accurate.
You may also want to consider getting pre-approved for a loan so that you know how much money you will likely get approved for and can make an appointment with the bank or lender willing to give you a loan term of 60 months.
If you borrow from a dealership or used car dealer, they may ask you to sign a contract to buy the car before they approve your loan. This contract is called an installment sales contract, which outlines how much money you’re borrowing when you pay it back and what penalties there are if you default on the loan.
If you’re interested in finding a lender willing to give you a car loan for 60 months, you can find some lenders here or by calling the auto financing department at any bank. You can also check if your state participates in the National Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (NACCCA), where you can call and request information about local lenders that offer this type of loan term.
60-month car loans can save you a lot of time and money if you have bad credit or need a bigger loan. However, it’s important to understand the pros and cons before applying, so you don’t spend too much money on your auto loan.
What are the documents required to apply for a 60-month car loan?
Depending on how the car lender wants to proceed with your application, you may need additional documents for your loan approval. The following documents are among the most important:
- Proof of monthly income – This could include bank statements, paycheck stubs, and other records that show how much you make every month from any source.
- Proof of job or income – It’s easiest to provide a recent paystub, but the lender may also accept other proof of employment, such as a letter from your boss or a W-2 tax form if you are self-employed
- Personal information – You may have to provide information such as the length of time you’ve been working at your current job or provide copies of your driver’s license or state ID card.
- Proof of residence – If you’re using a co-signer for your loan and live in different places, you’ll need to provide proof that both addresses are true.
- Lien clearance letter from the bank/credit union – if you have any existing loans that are being paid off with this new loan, then one person on the loan has to get a letter from their current lender that states they do not have any claims on the car before your loan is approved.
- Insurance Verification – You’ll have to provide proof of insurance for the vehicle you’re buying on your loan. It doesn’t matter whether or not your current vehicle has insurance, or even if it’s already paid off.
- Any other documents required by the lender – you should check with your lender directly to see if they require any other documents before processing your loan.