Long-term car loans promise low monthly payments. But there are plenty of downsides to borrowing for 72 to 84 months — or six to seven years. Not only will you pay more in interest, you may also pay more in repair costs and may lose money on your next loan.
With average monthly payments reaching $576 in late 2020 — and loan terms reaching nearly 70 months — it’s important to understand how a long-term car loan can have a long-term effect on your budget for years to come.
While a 72-month or 84-month car loan can be convenient to lower your monthly payment, it typically isn’t the most financially sound choice. You’ll pay more in interest over the life of your loan — and you may actually receive a higher interest rate than you would on a shorter term.
Long-term car loans are expensive. Despite the low monthly payment, you’ll end up paying much more overall. For an average new car, that means an interest rate of 4.31% on a loan of $35,000. Here’s how it breaks down.
| Loan term | Total interest | Total cost |
|---|---|---|
| 24 months | $1,592.95 | $36,592.95 |
| 36 months | $2,374.23 | $37,374.23 |
| 48 months | $3,166.31 | $38,166.31 |
| 60 months | $3,969.17 | $38,969.17 |
| 72 months | $4,782.80 | $39,782.80 |
| 84 months | $5,607.17 | $40,607.17 |
While you may be able to find a special deal if you have excellent credit, long-term auto loans tend to have higher interest rates. You can calculate your monthly payment and total interest to see how much more a long-term loan will cost you.
Upside down, underwater and negative equity all mean the same thing: You owe more on your car than it’s worth. This is a high risk, low reward scenario. Even if you keep your car the full six or seven years of your loan term, its value will have significantly depreciated.
When you go to sell your car or trade it in at the dealership, you may not recoup your losses. And if you choose to sell before your loan term is finished, it will cost you more — wrapping your previous loan into a new car loan will lead to high debt.
Low monthly payments seem like a good future bet. But realistically, higher monthly payments and a shorter loan term save you money. Instead of paying an extra $4,000 in interest for a longer loan term, you could put that money into savings.
In the worst case scenario, having a fully paid off car will be more beneficial than a lower monthly payment.
Depreciation takes its toll on new and used cars. You’ll lose money as a car ages and its value decreases. On top of this, your warranty will expire a year or two before you finish making payments. This puts you on the hook for expensive repairs which could sink you further into the red.
If you’re thinking of getting a long-term car loan on a new car or late model year used car to reduce payments, keep this in mind. The money you lose to depreciation can quickly put you upside down on your loan.
In addition to depreciation, older cars have less resale value. Even if your car was originally worth $35,000, it won’t be by the end of six or seven years. You could potentially make up some of what you paid in interest, but you’d stand a better chance of breaking even with a shorter loan term.
The ideal loan term depends on your financial situation — but try to choose a loan with the highest monthly payment your budget can afford. A shorter loan term of four years or less means you won’t pay as much in interest. So while your monthly payments will be higher, you’ll save money in the long run.
There are lenders, usually banks and credit unions, that offer loan terms up to 120 months — 10 years. While this will result in a low monthly payment, rates aren’t competitive. In addition, a vehicle won’t retain its value over a decade. You may end up owing more on your loan than the car is worth, making a 10-year auto loan a poor investment.
A low monthly payment may be the best option to keep your car loan affordable. In that case, there are a few tactics to make the most of a long loan term.
Not sure you want to take on a longer term? Consider one of these alternatives instead:
To see a wide range of loan terms, select your credit score and state.
Getting a long-term car loan can help reduce your monthly payments. But the risks often outweigh the benefits. You should opt for a shorter term if you can afford to pay a little more each month and compare car loans to get the best interest rates.
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