60 Month Used Car Loans: 2 Pros and Cons (2024)

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Having a 60 month used car loanhas both its pros and cons. The advantage of longer term loans is that you have longer to pay, and get a lower monthly payment. On the other hand, you may be paying less per month, but you will be paying much more than the original principal when compared to a shorter term loan like a 36 or 48 month loan. 60 month car loans are attractive options for those who want to buy a nice used car, but may not have all the money to spend right now. Five years is a long time to pay it off, so if you have a budget, it is definitely something to look for.

Pros:

Monthly Payments

The biggest advantage of 60-month car loans is that you have five years to pay them off. Because of this, your monthly payments will be much lower than if you have a three or four year loan. More time equals more time to pay. The benefit is that you can potentially buy a more expensive car since the payments won't be astronomical. Certified pre-owned used cars are more expensive than regular used car and may be what you have your eye on. If you buy a $10,000 used car, it is easier to pay that off in three years compared to five years. When you are looking at $30,000 plus for a certified pre-owned car, the more time to pay it off may be advantageous and enable you to get a car you never thought you could afford.

Refinancing

When you lock in your five year loan, you can always refinance it in the future. If the interest rates change for the better, it is a great option to refinance. Things could be going bad and you may need more time, so you can also refinance so that you can lower the monthly payments over another extended period of time.

Cons:

Interest

The interest rates on a longer loan are usually a bit more than a shorter loan. As a way to account for the long wait the car loan lender has to go through to get their money back, they charge more in interest. Coupled with that, since the loan is over 60 months, they are going to get 60 months of interest. That is a ton of free money you are sending over to the car loan lender when it could be in your pocket, or being used for other things.

Depreciation

Cars depreciate a lot over their life span. The highest is in the first year, however, used cars still depreciate. If you lock in a five year loan, your car may be worth X now, but in three or four years, your amount remaining on the car might be more than the car's value. You would be throwing money away then. Also, many people don't drive their cars for more than five years, so you may want a change of scenery when it comes to your car.

Overall, there are both positives and negatives when it comes to 60 month used car loans.

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60 Month Used Car Loans: 2 Pros and Cons (2024)

FAQs

60 Month Used Car Loans: 2 Pros and Cons? ›

The advantage of longer term loans is that you have longer to pay, and get a lower monthly payment. On the other hand, you may be paying less per month, but you will be paying much more than the original principal when compared to a shorter term loan like a 36 or 48 month loan.

Is 60 months good for a used car loan? ›

Overall, if you're choosing between the two, a 60-month loan is better because you'll pay off the loan faster with a lower interest rate, and you'd be paying less overall for your car. If you'd like to make more auto loan comparisons, this article on common car loan terms can help.

What would be a disadvantage of accepting a loan with a 60 month pay period? ›

You'll likely have to pay a higher interest rate.

With many personal loan lenders, the length of your loan is one factor determining the interest rate you're charged to borrow money. A longer term is riskier for the lender because there's more of a chance interest rates will change dramatically during that time.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a car loan? ›

Benefits of taking out an auto loan
  • Spreads out the expense. Few drivers can purchase a car with cash. ...
  • Afford a better car. ...
  • You own the car at the end. ...
  • May improve your credit score. ...
  • Monthly payments can be expensive. ...
  • Risk of damaging your finances. ...
  • Your vehicle's value depreciates. ...
  • Stuck with the same car for longer.
Mar 4, 2024

Is a 60 month loan legit? ›

Is 60 Month Loans legit? Yes, 60 Month Loans is a legitimate lender that specializes in no-credit-check loans for people who have fair or bad credit.

What is a good interest rate for a 60 month car loan? ›

Average Interest Rate on a Car Loan by Length of the Loan:

36 Month – 4.21% 48 Month – 4.31% 60 Month – 4.37% 72 Month – 4.45%

How to pay off a 60 month car loan early? ›

Paying off a loan early: five ways to reach your goal
  1. Make a full lump sum payment. Making a full lump sum payment means paying off the entire auto loan at once. ...
  2. Make a partial lump sum payment. ...
  3. Make extra payments each month. ...
  4. Make larger payments each month. ...
  5. Request extra or larger payments to go toward your principal.

What happens if I pay an extra $100 a month on my car loan? ›

Paying extra toward the principal won't lower your monthly car payment. It may save you money in the long run by shortening the loan.

Is it smart to do a 72 month car loan? ›

A 72-month auto loan isn't always the best option. Compared to a 60-month loan, you'll pay interest for another 12 months, which increases the overall cost of borrowing. A 72-month auto loan also puts you more at risk of being upside-down on the loan, which is owing more than your vehicle is worth.

What is the best length of a car loan? ›

NerdWallet recommends financing new cars for no more than 60 months and used cars for no more than 36 months. These maximums can help you avoid some of the negative outcomes of long-term loans.

What are the pros and cons of cars? ›

Cons: Cars do come with inconveniences, such as maintaining registration and finding a place to park. If you own a car and your friends don't, they might want you to give them rides frequently. Pros: Cars are associated with personal freedom for a reason.

What are the disadvantages of a used car answer? ›

Disadvantages of Buying a Used Car
  • A lot of unknowns.
  • More wear and tear.
  • Fewer customization options.
  • Most don't come with warranties.
  • Higher mileage.
  • Possibility of being stuck with a lemon.

What are 2 advantages of selecting a loan from the car dealership? ›

Dealerships often offer longer terms and lower monthly payments. Dealerships can offer personalized deals that you may not get through your banking institution, such as longer loan terms. You can often finance for terms up to 72 months, which means you can negotiate a lower payment that fits your budget.

Does 60monthloans do a hard pull? ›

After you submit your application, we will be performing a set of credit checks to verify your ability to repay the loan. Because of our relationship with Experian, we are able to find out the credit information we need without having to do a hard inquiry on your account.

What is a ghost loan? ›

Ghost loans are the ones that are fake loans documented in the loan books and exist only on paper. The challenges of ghost loans can crash an individual's credit report and erupt into the public domain when people realise that their credit scores have dropped.

How do I know if a loan company is scamming me? ›

There are several ways to check if a loan company is legitimate. First, check out the loan company on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website. Do a quick online search and look up online reviews from independent companies like Trustpilot, if possible.

What is the disadvantage of a longer 60 or 72-month auto loan? ›

Lenders usually charge higher interest rates for long-term auto loans. Because there's more time for a borrower to default on the loan, lenders consider longer-term loans to be a higher risk. To compensate for that risk, they often charge a higher interest rate when you stretch out the loan term.

What is the best length for a car loan? ›

NerdWallet typically recommends keeping auto loans to no more than 60 months for new cars and 36 months for used cars — although that can be a challenge for some people in today's market with high car prices. Ultimately, choosing the best auto loan term depends on balancing cost, affordability and your specific needs.

Is a 60 month lease a good idea? ›

While there are a couple of advantages to a longer term car lease, it's not always a good idea. In fact, the potential dangers usually outweigh the advantages that using a longer car lease may offer. If you choose to lease a vehicle for longer period of time, be aware that getting out of the lease may be difficult.

What is the longest time to finance a used car? ›

You might find that some lenders cap loan terms at 84 months, while others will give you a loan for up to 96 months. Historically, used car loans had 72-month limits. But as used cars gained popularity, it prompted lenders to began offering loans of 84 months and even longer, to meet consumer demand.

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