DriveTime Automotive Group
DriveTime Review 2026
In-house financing with approval decisions made on-site — no third-party lender required.
Who DriveTime is best for
Borrowers with very low FICO (below 580) or recent negative marks who need guaranteed in-house financing.
At a glance
- Minimum FICO accepted
- No minimum stated
- Max APR (reported)
- Varies (typically 20–29%)
- Term lengths
- Up to 72 months
- Loan amount range
- Based on vehicle price
- Co-applicant support
- Not disclosed publicly
In-house financing; DriveTime makes its own approval decisions
In-house rates; higher than prime market
Standard subprime term range
DriveTime sells and finances its own inventory
DriveTime in-house financing terms vary by location; ask on-site
Pros
- +In-house financing — DriveTime is both the dealer and the lender, so approval is independent of third-party lenders
- +On-site approval decisions; no waiting for a bank to review your application
- +Accepts borrowers with very low FICO scores and recent negative credit history
- +Down payment options are flexible — as low as $500 depending on the vehicle
Cons
- −Vehicle selection limited to DriveTime's own inventory (used vehicles only)
- −APRs are consistently in the upper-subprime range; no competitive external financing available
- −The combined dealer/lender structure means less leverage to negotiate either the price or the rate independently
DriveTime requirements
- US residents 18+
- Verifiable monthly income required; amount varies by vehicle and down payment
DriveTime alternatives
Top alternatives worth comparing from Best Auto Loans for Bad Credit 2026.
Capital One
Capital One Auto Navigator
Borrowers who want to know their actual rate before negotiating with a dealer.
MyAutoLoan.com (lender network)
MyAutoLoan
Borrowers who want multiple lender quotes simultaneously to find the lowest rate.
Auto Credit Express (dealer network)
Auto Credit Express
Borrowers with 500–600 FICO who have been turned down elsewhere or have a bankruptcy/repossession on record.
Ready to apply?
Application takes minutes. Pre-qualification (where available) uses a soft credit pull with no impact to your credit score.
Apply at DriveTime Automotive Group→Last verified at the issuer on 2026-08-01
The full lineup
See all picks in Best Auto Loans for Bad Credit 2026
Editorial methodology + complete ranking criteria + side-by-side comparison of all picks.
Read the full guide →Bottom line
DriveTime scores 3.9 / 5 on the ClearValue Rating — a deterministic editorial composite from the product's own published fees, terms, and eligibility. Best for: Borrowers with very low FICO (below 580) or recent negative marks who need guaranteed in-house financing.
◆ How we scored it
The ClearValue Rating, broken down.
- Cost
- 35%
- Fit & approval odds
- 30%
- Speed & terms
- 20%
- Transparency
- 15%
Cost (35%), Fit & approval odds (30%), Speed & terms (20%), Transparency (15%) — scored consistently across every product, independent of compensation. Full methodology →
Frequently asked
Questions about DriveTime
Who is DriveTime best for?+
DriveTime is built for borrowers with very low FICO (below 580) or recent negative credit marks who need in-house financing. Because DriveTime is both the dealer and the lender, its approval decisions are made on-site and are independent of any third-party lender.
What credit score do I need to finance through DriveTime?+
DriveTime lists no minimum FICO. It makes its own in-house approval decisions rather than routing your application to an outside bank, which is why it can work with borrowers who have very low scores or recent credit issues. Verify the current criteria with DriveTime directly.
What APR should I expect from DriveTime?+
Reported DriveTime APRs are typically in the 20–29% range — the upper-subprime tier, higher than the prime market. Your actual rate depends on your credit profile, the vehicle, and your down payment. Because financing is in-house, there is no competing third-party offer within DriveTime; confirm your exact rate before signing.
How does DriveTime's in-house financing work?+
DriveTime sells and finances its own used-vehicle inventory, so it acts as both dealer and lender. Approval decisions are made on-site without waiting for a bank to review your application, and down payments can start as low as $500 depending on the vehicle. Loan amounts are based on the vehicle price, with terms up to 72 months.
What are the drawbacks of financing with DriveTime?+
Vehicle selection is limited to DriveTime's own used inventory, APRs sit consistently in the upper-subprime range, and the combined dealer-lender structure leaves less room to negotiate price or rate independently. ClearValue Lending is a neutral information platform — comparing an outside pre-approval before committing gives you a benchmark.
Related guides
Independent editorial review. ClearValue Lending is a business & personal financing platform — not a lender, broker, or financial advisor. Some links are affiliate links; the issuer may pay a referral commission at no cost to you, which never changes the score. Specific product terms vary; verify with the issuer before applying. See privacy policy.