
Can you use a personal loan to buy a car?
Learn when it may make sense to use a personal loan to buy a car.
Kellye Guinan is a Bankrate editor. She joined the team in 2024 with seven years of experience already under her belt covering everything from auto loans to debt consolidation. Her journey started the same as most people, with little knowledge of the finance world outside budgeting basics.
Kellye helps others navigate auto and personal loans. At her core, she believes people deserve to make the most of their money and feel confident managing their finances, so she strives to write about personal finance in ways everyone can understand. Her goal is to break down the most complex aspects of personal finance into manageable tips paired with expert advice.
In her free time, she loves studying languages and reading an absurd amount of books. You can often find her around Chattanooga drinking bubble tea and lounging by the river. And yes, she will talk your ear off about the importance of smart budgeting — even when she’s not working.
No one is born with an innate knowledge of finance, but everyone can learn it if they have access to the right tools. She wants to ensure the advice, articles and comparisons she works on are factual without being bogged down by jargon. When we approach difficult topics with empathy and understanding, we succeed.
Westlake Financial has partnerships with many dealerships, but Autopay offers more loan options.
An auto loan hardship program can help you when your budget is tight.
A lender may not let you remove a car loan co-signer without refinancing.
A big car down payment can reduce the interest you pay over time.
There’s no best car for everyone, but there is a best one for you.
Refinancing will affect your credit — but it doesn’t have to be negative.
A car loan rate shouldn’t exceed your state’s usury rate. Find out what you can do if it does.
Consider whether you’d like lower monthly payments or cash toward the down payment.