According to Experian data from late 2025, the average credit scores for those who successfully financed a vehicle were: 753. Used Car Loan: 689.
If your credit file is "thin" (less than 6 months old) or nonexistent, you have several options to secure approval: What Credit Score Range is Required to Buy a Car?
There is required to buy a car, as lenders set their own criteria. However, most traditional lenders prefer to see at least 6 to 12 months of established credit history to offer competitive rates.
Roughly 69% of financed cars went to borrowers with a score of 661 or higher . Financing with Short or No Credit History
While you can technically finance a car with zero credit history, it often requires additional steps or leads to significantly higher costs.