Current car loan interest rates in Canada

Thinking of buying a car? Locking in a great car loan rate is key to lowering your monthly payments and total cost. Whether you have good or bad credit, are shopping for a new or used vehicle, or live in Eastern or Western Canada, compare car loan rates here to get the right financing for your needs.

What’s the average car loan interest rate in Canada?

The average car loan rate is 6.86%, according to Statistics Canada.

The average buyer may pay around 6.7% and 9% interest on their car loan, depending on their credit score, loan amount, loan term, interest rate type and other factors.

Compare current car loan rates in Canada

To get a car loan, you’ll need to be employed for at least 3 months and earn at least $1,500-$2,000 per month. Some lenders accept bad credit, but only borrowers with strong financial profiles qualify for the lowest rates.

Finder Score for car loans

To make comparing even easier, we came up with the Finder Score. Interest rates, fees and features across 20+ car loans are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the loan—simple.

Read the full methodology

What are the best car loan interest rates in Canada?

Check out some of the lowest car loan rates on offer, according to our research on various providers.

Provider	Lowest APR	Car eligibility	Lender type
Loans Canada	0%	Select new models	Loan search platform
CarsFast	3.9%	Select new models	Loan search platform
TD	0%	2025 Dodge Charger Daytona	Bank
Libro	5.95%	Models up to 3 years old	Credit union
NLCU	4.55%	New 2025 models	Credit union
Vancity	5.95%	New or used EV	Credit union

Must read: Best car loans in Canada

What are the current manufacturer car loan rates for new cars?

Car brands such as Ford, Honda and Chevrolet have financing offers you can get through dealerships. These offers typically change every month.

Check out this month’s rate offers for new cars from well-known car brands in Canada.

Model	APR	Loan term
2025 Ford F-150	0%	Up to 72 months
2025 Toyota RAV4	4.99%	36 months
2025 Honda Civic	6.99%	84 months
2025 Nissan Rogue SL	0%	60 months

Offers last verified on June 3, 2025 and expire on June 30, 2025 (where an expiration date is disclosed).

Dive deeper: Latest 0% and low-rate financing deals for new cars

Snapshot: Used car loan rates in Ontario

Used car loan rates vary depending on the vehicle. To give you an idea of what’s available, here’s a snapshot of used car financing offers for certified pre-owned (CPO) cars in Ontario.

Brand	APR	Loan term
Hyundai	From 4.49%	Varies (up to 84 months with some models)
Nissan	From 2.99%	24 months
Mercedes	From 3.99%	Up to 60 months

Offers last verified on June 9, 2025. Offers are on approved credit, vary by region and may have other conditions.

Dive deeper: Car loans in Ontario

Average car loan interest rates in Canada from 2016–2025

According to Statistics Canada, the average car loan interest rate has increased from 3.91% in March 2017 to 6.86% in March 2025—an increase of 2.95 percentage points in 8 years. Car loan interest rates notably rose in 2022 after a series of rate hikes by the Bank of Canada.

Did car loan rates go down in 2024?

Yes. The Bank of Canada cut the overnight rate by 25 basis points on September 4, 2024, by 50 basis points on October 23, 2024 and by another 50 basis points on December 11, 2024.

Will car loan interest rates go down in 2025?

In a March 2025 Finder survey, economists were asked how low the overnight rate will go over the next 12 months. Twenty-seven percent believe the rate will drop to 2.50% by March 2026.

The current overnight rate is 2.75%.

What does this mean for car loan rates in Canada?

If the BoC decides to continue to cut rates some more, you can expect car loan interest rates to go down as well.

Related: Thinking of refinancing? Check out our car loan refinancing guide

Where can I find competitive car loan rates today?

You can often get competitive rates from the following providers:

Dealerships

Dealerships are a strong option for financing for the following reasons:

• They’re partnered with banks and other lenders to help you sift through current offers and find the best rate.
• Dealers give banks lots of business and, in exchange, gain access to lower bank car loan rates.
• Dealers want you to purchase one of their cars, so they have an incentive to present you with an attractive financing offer.

That said, going straight to a dealership doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get the best car loan rate, so it pays to get car loan pre-approval somewhere else first so you can negotiate with the dealer to match it or give you a better rate.

Online loan search platforms

Online loan search platforms like CarsFast and Loans Canada are partnered with hundreds of dealers and lenders and can match you with the best car loans for your situation. You can apply even if your credit score isn’t great, but be prepared for higher interest rates. Compare online car loan options above.

Banks and credit unions

Another option is to head straight to a bank or credit union. While financial institutions do not have an incentive to sell you a car, they may still offer competitive interest rates.

Which bank has the best car loan rates in Canada?

The best bank car loan rates in Canada are from banks that offer financing through dealerships, which include RBC, TD, CIBC and Scotiabank. Since dealerships provide banks with large volumes of credit applications, banks give them access to the lowest rates in exchange.

You can also get an idea of your bank car loan rate by using the RBC My Auto Affordability Tool. Finding out your rate offer through this tool won’t impact your credit score.

TD car loan interest rates at a glance

Check out the latest special offers available through TD:

Model	APR	Loan term
2025 Alfa Romeo Giulia	From 1.15%	36-96 months
2025 Chevrolet Malibu	From 7.99%	24-96 months
2025 Dodge Charger Daytona	From 0%	36-96 months
2024 Fiat 500e	From 0%	36-96 months
2025 Kia Soul	From 7.99%	24-96 months

Offers last verified on June 9, 2025. Offers are based on approved credit.

Related: Buying used? Here are the best used car sites in Canada

What is a good interest rate on a car loan in Canada?

While fluctuations in the prime rate will influence the interest rate on an auto loan, lenders also use a variety of other factors to set their interest rates, including the borrower’s credit score, loan term, loan amount and the current competitive landscape.

As a result, a good interest rate on a car loan in Canada is a rate that is equal to or near the current national average car loan rate of 6.86%.

New cars

If you have good credit, then car loan rates for new cars are typically 0% - 7.5% depending on the make and model.

Used cars

Car loan rates for used cars in Canada are typically higher and currently fall between 8% - 10%.

Bad credit

Car loan interest rates for people with bad credit are higher because lenders take on more risk. Bad credit auto loan rates are typically between 12.9% – 29.99%.

Must read: Best bad credit auto loans in Canada

How car loan interest rates are calculated

Most borrowers focus on the prime rate, but lenders use a range of factors to set their rates, with risk assessment and market conditions being among the most important factors.

In general, each lender uses five criteria to set their rates.

Knowing how or why car loan interest rates change helps borrowers negotiate with lenders to try to secure lower interest rates. Even in a volatile economic environment, borrowers with a strong credit score and secure financial situation should negotiate.

How your financial situation affects your car loan rate

There are seven main factors that lenders use to assess your application and determine what rate to offer.

Factor	Description
Credit score	Higher credit scores = lower rates
Loan term	Shorter loan terms = less interest paid
Type of car	New vehicle / preferred make or model = lower rates
Income	Stable income = lower rates
Debt	Lower debt ratio = lower rates
Type of loan	A fixed-rate loan is typically offered with a higher interest rate

• Credit score. Those with higher scores generally have access to lower car loan rates, so improving your credit history is an important part of getting a low interest rate on your car loan.
• Loan term. Car loan terms can range from 12 - 96 months. The loan term impacts the interest rate you’re offered and the total cost of the loan. In general, shorter loan terms correspond with lower car loan interest rates. That’s because lenders see longer loan terms as riskier. Even if a lender does offer you a lower interest rate on a longer loan term, you won’t necessarily save money since you’ll pay more interest over time.
• Type of vehicle. Your vehicle’s make and model can also play a role in rates, especially if you’re buying a used car. Since it’s possible that your car will be used as collateral to secure the loan, lenders often charge higher interest for cars that are of poor quality and more likely to break down.
• Income and debt ratios. Lenders consider your income and debt-to-income ratio because these reflect your ability to pay back the loan. You have a greater chance of being approved and getting lower interest rates if your income is higher.
• Type of interest rate. Banks and credit unions can offer fixed and variable interest rates on a car loan. Generally, variable-rate car loans have lower starting rates than fixed-rate car loans.

Example: Impact of credit score on car financing

The following example illustrates how your credit score will influence the rate a lender will offer you and how this impacts the total cost of buying a car. To illustrate, we assume the purchase is for a new vehicle with a purchase price of $48,000 and a loan term of 5 years. These calculations also factor in 13% provincial sales tax and a 20% down payment (of $9,600).

Credit rating	Credit score	Interest rate	Monthly payment	Total interest paid
Excellent	760 to 900	5.39%	$850	$6,385
Very good	725 to 759	5.99%	$863	$7,129
Good	660 to 724	6.20%	$867	$7,390
Fair	560 to 659	9.90%	$946	$12,136
Poor	300 to 559	14.99%	$1,062	$19,065

Note: The information above is for illustrative purposes only and does not take into account all of the factors lenders consider when evaluating a loan application. Actual lenders may charge different interest rates.

Example: Impact of loan term on car financing

The length of your loan term directly impacts how much interest you’ll pay. The example below shows calculations for the same loan amount ($48,000) and interest rate (7.5%) at different loan terms.

Loan amount	Interest rate	Loan term	Monthly payment	Total interest paid
$26,000	7.5%	2 years	$2,159.98	$3,839.53
$26,000	7.5%	3 years	$1,493.10	$5,751.54
$26,000	7.5%	4 years	$1,160.59	$7,708.19
$26,000	7.5%	5 years	$961.82	$9,709.29
$26,000	7.5%	6 years	$829.93	$11,754.63

Note: The information above is for illustrative purposes only and does not take into account all of the factors lenders consider when evaluating a loan application. Actual lenders may charge different interest rates.

This example shows that longer loan terms mean lower monthly payments, but you pay more interest overall. When negotiating with a dealer, it pays to negotiate the total car price rather than your monthly payment to avoid unfavourable terms.

Car loan payment calculator

Use this calculator to find out how much you might pay per month based on varying loan amounts, loan terms and interest rates.

Top factors for Canadians when getting a car loan

In the Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey January 2024, Canadians were asked what their top three factors were when shopping for a car loan. The top three answers related to cost, with “interest rate” as number one.

7 tips to score the best deal

Finding the best rates in Canada involves doing research and comparing lenders. The following tips can help you find a low interest rate on your next car loan—and save you thousands of dollars in the long run.

• 1. Know your credit score

  Before you start comparing car loan interest rates in Canada, understand your credit score and how it impacts your finances. If you have a history of missed payments, many credit lines open or a high debt-to-income ratio (i.e. your monthly debt payments are more than 40% of your monthly income), then your application will look less favourable to lenders.

  You can get a copy of your credit report from credit reporting agencies or look up your credit score here.

• 2. Compare rates from different lenders

  Some lenders allow you to pre-qualify without impacting your credit, so you know what rates you’re eligible for. If that’s the case, you can apply to multiple lenders without damaging your credit score. This makes it easier to compare rates and find a loan that’s suitable for your needs.

  Compare car loan options

• 3. Get pre-approved before visiting the car dealership

  When you compare your options ahead of time, you’ll have an idea of the rates you’re eligible for. This means you’ll have a solid number to negotiate a lower APR when you visit a dealership that offers financing. If you prefer not to deal with the stress of negotiating with a dealership, you can buy a car online.

• 4. Focus on the overall cost

  Many buyers visit the dealership with an idea of their monthly car payment. While this is great for your budget, it can lead to salespeople inflating the price of your car, usually by offering you a longer loan term—which means you’ll be paying more in interest. Your focus should be on the overall cost of the vehicle, that is, the sale price as well as the total amount of money you’ll have paid throughout the entire term of your loan. Once you have this number, it’s much easier to determine what term length is best so you can handle monthly repayments.

• 5. Be willing to negotiate

  If you decide to visit a car dealership without knowing what rates you’re eligible for, you’ll need to negotiate your interest and the price of the car. No matter how good your credit score is, you likely won’t be offered the lowest interest rate right off the bat. Dealerships are hoping you don’t question your rate, so come prepared knowing your credit score and the average rates currently offered on the market.

• 6. Don't jump on the first deal

  After researching, price shopping and comparing lenders, it might be tempting to take the first good interest rate that comes your way. Stay patient. Since your interest rate isn’t the only thing that impacts the final price of your car, spend the time determining how term length and vehicle cost affect your budget. Most lenders will offer you a few days to consider your options. You won’t be wasting time if you decide to take a moment to get your thoughts in order, and you might save a lot of money in doing so.

• 7. Check the fine print

  Like most loans, car loan contracts are notorious for having difficult-to-understand terminology. You should know how interest is calculated on your loan and any potential fees you might have to pay. You’ll also want to confirm that your loan isn’t conditional when you visit a dealer. Conditional means “subject to change.” In other words, your loan isn’t finalized when you drive off the lot. Your terms could change, which could leave you with a worse interest rate on a loan you thought you had a good deal on.

Bottom line

To get the best car loan interest rates in Canada, you’ll need to have an excellent credit score, enough income to easily manage your loan repayments and a vehicle that is viewed favourably by lenders. Getting a low interest rate allows you to save money over the course of your car loan and ultimately lowers the total price you pay for your car. Compare car loans now.

If you already have a car loan with a high interest rate and think you could qualify for a lower one, you might want to consider auto loan refinancing.