The traditional “20/4/10 rule” of car buying states that you should make a 20% down payment, have a loan no longer than four years and a total monthly car budget that does not exceed 10% of your take-home pay. But the reality is only 6% of new car shoppers actually followed that advice in March, Edmunds sales data shows.
The average loan term for a new or used car has steadily increased over the last decade and is now about 70 months.
The longer loan terms reflect not only a trend of people seeking a way to offset paying for costlier trucks and SUVs but also inflated prices due to a nationwide vehicle shortage. At today’s car prices, the old rule of thumb is unattainable for most Americans.
“Shrunken inventory continues to wreak havoc on both the new and used vehicle markets,” said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds’ executive director of insights. “Shoppers who can actually get their hands on a vehicle are committing to never-before-seen average payments and loan terms.”
In March, 73.4% of financed loans were for more than 60 months. The most common term was 72 months, followed closely by an 84-month loan.
The trend is worse for used car loans. More than 80% of used car loan terms were for more than 60 months, with 72 months being the most common term.
A longer loan has the carrot on the stick of a more palatable monthly payment but comes with a number of drawbacks.
Higher interest charges
The longer the term, the more interest you will pay on the loan, both in terms of the rate itself and the finance charges over time. Let’s take a look at how the numbers change on two loans that are on opposite ends of the financial spectrum.
The average loan amount for a new car in the first quarter of 2022 was $39,340. If we went with the recommended 48-month term, it would have an average interest rate of 1.9% in March 2022. The finance charges over the life of the loan would be $1,545, giving you a staggering monthly payment of $852. It’s easy to see why someone would opt for a longer loan.
Contrast that with an 84-month auto loan. The monthly payment would drop to $563 with a 5.4% interest rate. It seems like a massive improvement over 48 months – until you see the finance charges: $7,990 over the life of the loan. That’s $6,445 more over the 48-month loan, and yet 34% of new-car buyers are willing, or forced, to make that compromise.
Now let’s say you purchased a lightly used car with a 72-month loan term at the average financed price of $30,830. Your monthly payment would be $559. It seems somewhat reasonable from a monthly payment perspective.
However, interest rates are much higher for used cars, and a rate of 9.2% is fairly common. You’d be paying $9,403 in finance charges.
Negative equity
Many auto loans start in a position of negative equity, meaning you owe more on the loan than the vehicle is worth due to finance charges and the initial depreciation hit of about 20%-25%. The time it takes you to build equity in the car will vary based on the vehicle’s resale value, the loan term and down payment. With a 48-month loan, you’ll break even at about 25 months, while that would take you 40 months on an 84-month loan.
Having negative equity can limit your options if you’re in a money bind or if you get tired of your car before it’s paid off. A buyer will only pay you what the car is worth, not what you still owe on it, so you’ll be stuck paying the balance of the loan.
Avoiding long car loan
Shop for a less expensive vehicle. It might not be what you want to hear, but if the payments are making you wince, there’s a good chance you’re shopping above your budget. Ask yourself: Do you really need a midsize SUV when a compact one will easily handle most tasks?
Consider buying an older used car. Look for something about 6 to 7 years old. Yes, the interest rates are higher for used cars, but since these vehicles cost significantly less, there’s less to finance and the payments will be lower. This approach should help make a lower-term loan more attainable.
Edmunds says
Since 48-month loans are impractical for most people, we recommend a 60-month auto loan if you can manage it. It is a more realistic sweet spot that combines a lower interest rate with a manageable monthly payment, provided you make a solid down payment.
Ronald Montoya is a senior consumer advice editor at Edmunds. Ronald is on Twitter.