Can you afford that car?

See how an auto lender reads your file — your likely rate tier, the estimated payment, whether it fits your income, and the fastest thing to fix. No credit pull.

What auto lenders look for

• Credit tier to APR — rates swing widely by credit (10+ points)
• Payment-to-income — keep the car payment under about 10 to 15% of gross
• Down payment — 20% new / 10% used avoids negative equity
• Pre-approval — credit unions often beat dealer financing

See 2026's best auto-loan rates

More readiness checks

• Know if you're ready — before you apply
• Are you ready to buy a home?
• Which credit cards will approve you?
• Are you on track to retire?
• Do you have enough life insurance?
• All readiness checks

A directional estimate based on the factors approvers typically weigh — not a credit pull, a binding pre-qualification, or financial advice. ClearValue Lending is a financial-decisions platform, not a lender, issuer, insurer, or advisor.