RoadLoans car loans review
- Min. Loan Amount
- $5,000
- Max. Loan Amount
- $75,000
- APR
- Up to 30%
Summary
Online financing with no credit requirements but high rates.
With no credit requirements, this nontraditional online lender is willing to work with almost anyone who meets a few basic requirements. But watch out for high interest rates and often hidden loan conditions.
Pros
-
Easy, painless process
-
Strong customer service
-
No credit requirements
-
No fees
-
Multiple types of financing
Cons
-
Limited dealerships supported
-
Rates aren’t transparent
-
Get only one loan at a time
-
Preapproval isn’t a green light
Details
Product details
| Min. Loan Amount | $5,000 |
| Max. Loan Amount | $75,000 |
| APR | Up to 30% |
| Interest Rate Type | Variable |
| Requirements | Be 18+, monthly income of $1,800+, reside in a state where RoadLoans operates and do not have open car loan with RoadLoans, parent company Santander Consumer USA or Chrysler Capital |
First, do I qualify?
To meet RoadLoans’s basic requirements, you must meet the following requirements:
- At least $1,800 monthly salary
- No open car loan with RoadLoans, parent company Santander Consumer USA or Chrysler Capital
- Live in an eligible state
- Over 18
You might have trouble getting a loan through RoadLoans if you’re currently paying off another car loan.
Is there a minimum credit score?
Not that RoadLoans advertises. This lender works with all types of credit, from bad credit to excellent. However, having a low credit score can keep you from getting a competitive deal and might limit how much you can afford to borrow.
What makes RoadLoans car loans unique?
RoadLoans is an online direct-to-consumer lender, which means loans come directly from this provider rather than another financing source. It focuses on customers with poor or no credit, requiring no specific credit score for approval.
Still, RoadLoans pulls your credit report, and you’ll likely end up with higher interest rates if your credit isn’t perfect.
What types of car loans does RoadLoans offer?
With RoadLoans, you can apply for:
- New car loans. Take out a fixed-term loan to buy a new car from a dealership.
- Used car loans. Pay less through a fixed-term loan for a car with a some mileage on it. Used car loans are restricted to vehicles of up to nine years old with up to 120,000 miles.
- Private-party car loans. Get financing to buy a car from a private individual, rather than a dealership. This loan is limited to cars of up to 12 years old with up to 100,000 miles.
- Auto refinancing. Trade in your current car loan for one with stronger rates and terms. Refinancing is available for cars of up to seven years old with up to 105,000 miles.
- Cashback refinancing. Sometimes called cash out refinancing, this two-part process allows you to take out a new loan to pay off your original loan’s balance and receive the difference between your car’s value and your loan amount in cash.
Limits on cashback refinancing
You won’t find cash back refinancing if you live in one of the following states:
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Washington
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
What rates can I expect?
RoadLoans doesn’t disclose the rates it offers on any of its car loans. However, lenders that specialize in bad credit financing typically offer rates on the higher end — especially those that aren’t upfront about the cost of the loan. You can find out if
What are the benefits of getting a car loan through RoadLoans?
- Easy, painless process. Applying online is simple and painless, and RoadLoans sets up your dealership appointment.
- Strong customer service. For support, call a toll-free number or chat live online.
- No credit requirements. You don’t even need a credit score to qualify for a loan — though you might not be able to get the best deal.
- No fees. RoadLoans charges no fees — including late fees.
- Multiple types of financing. Rather than offering the standard new and used car loans you can find with any lender, RoadLoan can help you buy a car from a private individual or get cash back refinancing.
What to watch out for
- Limited dealerships supported. Some borrowers complain they weren’t able to find the car they wanted due to dealership restrictions.
- Rates aren’t transparent. Refusing to give a ballpark on rates can be a red flag. These lenders often don’t want potential borrowers to know how high these rates are.
- Get only one loan at a time. You aren’t eligible if you currently have a car loan with RoadLoans — something it’s not totally forthcoming about online.
- Preapproval isn’t a green light. While always true with any loan, rejection after a preapproval is a top complaints about RoadLoans.
Compare more car loan providers
Are RoadLoans and Santander Consumer USA the same company?
RoadLoans is a subsidiary of Santander Consumer USA, the bank that originates and services its auto loans. You can learn more about Santander Consumer USA with our review.
RoadLoans reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | No |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | C |
| BBB customer reviews | |
| Trustpilot Score | 4.5 out of 5 stars, based on 1,393 customer reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 16 October 2020 |
RoadLoans gets mixed online reviews a of July 2019. Nearly 3,000 Trustpilot users rate it an 8 out of 10, with only 73% of them calling it “Excellent.” Reviewers praised the provider for its speed and customer service but also complain about high rates.
RoadLoans isn’t listed with the Better Business Bureau, but its parent company Santander Consumer USA is. It only scores 1 out of 5 stars and has nearly 2,000 customer complaints filed against it, Complains range from payments not going through to repossessed cars after missing a few payments.
Read our guide on finding the right car loan
Is RoadLoans legit?
Yes. It’s parent company Santander gets an A rating from the BBB. It’s also been around for over 30 years — a sign that it hasn’t ruffled any regulator’s feathers.
However there are some red flags that indicate you might not be getting the best deal out there. It doesn’t advertise interest rates, which is usually the sign of an expensive product. Its mostly poor customer reviews also don’t bring much confidence.
How do I apply?
You can apply online or over the phone by calling 888-276-7202. Before applying, make sure you meet RoadLoans’s eligibility requirements.
If you’re confident you qualify, go through your finances to figure out how much you can afford to spend, considering monthly payments, total loan cost and a down payment.Once you’ve arranged your finances, you’re ready to apply. Here’s how to get started online:
- Go to RoadLoans. Select a loan type, enter your ZIP code and click Apply Now.
- Complete the credit application for your loan type and click Apply Securely.
- You’ll hear whether you prequalify in minutes. RoadLoans provides an offer that expires in 30 days and a list of dealerships near you.
- Research dealerships and cars to find one that’s offering the closest thing to what you’re looking for. After you’ve made a decision, let RoadLoans know so that it can set up an appointment for you with the dealership.
- Go to the dealership, pick a car, negotiate and close the deal. Make sure to read all paperwork carefully before signing anything.
- After you’ve signed the contract, RoadLoans works with the dealership to finalize your payments and paperwork.
What documents do I need to apply?
Depending on your loan, RoadLoans could ask for:
- Your driver’s license. Make sure it’s current, if you’ve moved recently.
- Income verification. You might need to provide a recent pay stub to confirm you’re making as much as you say you are.
- Proof of car insurance. Your car insurance card is typically enough for a car loan.
I got a car loan through RoadLoans. Now what?
Now it’s time to start making repayments. You can pay online, by phone, by mail or through MoneyGram and Western Union. Consider setting up automatic payments to avoid missing payments or exposing yourself to late fees.
Stay on top of your finances, get your payments in on time and you should be fine. If you can afford to pay your loan off early, you might want to do so to save on unnecessary interest — but make sure you carefully read all paperwork before signing anything. If you have any questions, reach out to customer service at 888-222-4227.
Bottom line
Those who need a car loan but have poor credit might not want to write off RoadLoans immediately. If you do decide to borrow from them, be careful when reading contracts and other documents. Ask as many questions as necessary, and try to get the answers in writing.
Even if you have poor credit, you still have options. Consider other car loan options before deciding on a lender to make sure you have what you need at the best terms you’re eligible for.
Frequently asked questions
Car loan ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
We rate car loan providers on a scale of 1 to 5 stars based on factors like transparency, costs and customer experience. We don’t take into account elements like eligibility criteria, state availability or payment frequency — we save that for our reviews.
Read the full methodology of how we rate car loan providers to get a better picture of what goes into each star rating.
RoadLoans Car Loans is not currently available on Finder
Have you considered LightStream Auto Loans?
Quick car loans from $5,000 to $100,000 with competitive rates for borrowers with strong credit.
- Same-day funding
- Up to 100% financing
- No restrictions to age or mileage
- Secured and unsecured options
- Competitive rates
Your reviews
Anna Finder
Editor
Hi there, looking for more information? Ask us a question.
You are about to post a question on finder.com:
- Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
- finder.com is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
- We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
- Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked
Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our finder.com Terms of Use and Privacy and Cookies Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.