6 Reasons Why Your Auto Loan Was Denied and What You Can Do About It (2024)

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6 Reasons Why Your Auto Loan Was Denied and What You Can Do About It? ›

An auto loan application may be denied because of your credit history or current financial situation. But by reaching out to your lender and improving your finances, you can work on building an application that won't be denied for a car loan in the future.

An auto loan application may be denied because of your credit history or current financial situation. But by reaching out to your lender and improving your finances, you can work on building an application that won't be denied for a car loan in the future.

Debt-to-income ratio is high

A major reason lenders reject borrowers is the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) of the borrowers. Simply, a debt-to-income ratio compares one's debt obligations to his/her gross income on a monthly basis. So if you earn $5,000 per month and your debt's monthly payment is $2,000, your DTI is 40%.

It won't matter how good your credit score is if they're not sure of your income. Habitually poor credit history – If your credit reports show you continually pay your bills late, make partial payments, and/or show a number of unpaid bills in your past, you may get denied, especially if you have a poor credit score.

Find out exactly why you were rejected and spend some time analyzing the lender's reason for doing so. You can then use this information to work towards boosting your credit, minimize your existing debt obligations, improve your DTI, add a cosigner or any number of things to improve your chances of success next time.

There are many reasons your application might have been turned down. These include: a history of missed payments or possible fraudulent activity on your file. the lender deciding you wouldn't be able to repay.

Still, you typically need a good credit score of 661 or higher to qualify for an auto loan. About 69% of retail vehicle financing is for borrowers with credit scores of 661 or higher, according to Experian. Meanwhile, low-credit borrowers with scores of 600 or lower accounted for only 14% of auto loans.

Your credit score is too low

Good or excellent credit (a score of 690 or higher) and a history of paying other loans or credit cards on time will help you qualify for a personal loan, while fair or bad credit and a history of missed payments could get your application declined.

If you were denied because of incorrect information in your credit report, get your credit report and dispute the errors that are in it. If you were denied because you have too many credit cards or too much outstanding debt, you can reapply after paying down your balances or closing some accounts.

Use Collateral To Secure The Loan

If your credit score is lower than you need it to be, you could consider a secured loan. The inclusion of collateral makes secured loans easier to get approved for, as it assures the lender they'll get their money back one way or another – even if you default on the loan.

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The bottom line

A strong credit score, a steady source of income and a low debt-to-income ratio could get you a good deal on an auto loan. So, it's worth improving your credit health before you apply. And when you're ready to apply, you should shop around to find the best options for your financial situation.

There isn't one specific score that's required to buy a car because lenders have different standards. However, the vast majority of borrowers have scores of 661 or higher.

If a creditor or lender discriminates against you in violation of the ECOA or FHA, you can complain about the issue to the creditor or a government agency, or you may sue the creditor.

While a denied auto loan doesn't affect your credit score, hard credit pulls could lower your score by five points, even if the associated loan isn't approved. To prevent penalty, make sure to complete all of your credit checks and compare loan options within what is typically a 14-day shopping window.

After being refused a loan, you should not reapply immediately. While there is no fixed amount of time you should wait, giving yourself at least 3 to 6 months before reapplying is essential to avoid harming your credit score.

A borrower with a poor credit history or negative financial situations, such as bankruptcies or repossessions, will have a harder time getting approved for a loan—even with a good co-signer.

In general, you'll need a FICO credit score of at least 600 to qualify for a traditional auto loan. However, the minimum credit score required with vary from lender to lender. As interest rates increase due to inflation, securing a subprime auto loan may be more difficult — but not impossible.