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Fifth Third Bank auto loans: 2025 review

Updated on June 10, 2025

At a glance

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3.6
Rating: 3.6 stars out of 5
Bankrate Score
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Availability
Rating: 3.6 stars out of 5
3.6
Affordability
Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5
3.8
Customer Experience
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4
Transparency
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
2.5

About Bankrate Score

Bankrate’s take

Fifth Third can be a solid option if you already have an account and want access to a variety of discounts on your rate. However, it isn't clear what you'll need to qualify — and there is no option to prequalify.

Lender Details

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Loan amount

$2,000-$80,000

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APR from

Not Specified

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Min Credit Score

Not Specified

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Funds available in

Same day as closing

Fifth Third is best for multiple discounts for current customers 

Fifth Third gives its customers more opportunities to save than many other lenders, offering both an autopay discount and a relationship discount.

  • Autopay: Receive a 0.25 percent rate discount when you enroll in automatic payments from a Fifth Third checking account 
  • Refinance: Receive a 0.25 percent rate discount when you replace your current auto loan with new Fifth Third auto financing.

You could also be eligible for additional discounts depending on your Fifth Third checking account type. That said, there’s very little transparency on the website regarding these benefits or the terms of its auto loans. Beyond basic loan amounts, you won't know if Fifth Third has competitive rates until you apply — and undergo a hard credit check, since there's no prequalification process.

Before you apply, you should also be aware of previous legal action. In July 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced legal action against Fifth Third due to wrongful auto repossessions. Around 35,000 customers were impacted, and Fifth Third settled, paying $20 million in fines.

Types of car loans that Fifth Third offers

New car loans Used car loans Traditional refinancing
APR Not Specified Not Specified Not Specified
Loan amounts $2,000-$80,000 $2,000-$80,000 $2,000-$80,000
Loan terms 12-75 months 12-75 months 12-75 months

New and used car loans

Fifth Third offers new and used auto loans to those in its serviced area. You can apply for a loan directly through Fifth Third — at a brach, online or by phone. Current customers may also have access to multiple discounts on their auto loan rate, though Fifth Third isn't upfront about the actual range of rates it offers. 

If you already have a dealership in mind, you are able to ask through the dealership if it participates in Fifth Third's auto financing program. Either way, you will have access to terms between 12 and 75 months. 

Car loan refinancing 

If you’re stuck with a high auto rate, consider exploring auto loan refinancing rates through Fifth Third. A bonus: If you refinance a non-Fifth Third loan, you’ll be eligible for an extra rate discount. 

It’s also worth noting that Fifth Third refinances in-house loans for qualified borrowers. This is rare since most lenders only offer refinancing for loans originated by other lenders. Still, like its new and used auto loans, Fifth Third isn't clear about its potential rates. You'll need to submit an application to get an idea of the terms you might qualify for.

Where Fifth Third Bank stands out

  • Variety of discounts available: Becoming a Fifth Third banking customer could help you snag an impressive array of discounts if you set up automatic payments, have a preferred checking account or refinance an auto loan from another company. 
  • Multiple repayment terms: Choose between paying off your loan in as little as 48 months — a rare option for an auto loan. Just remember, longer periods cost you more in interest over time. 
  • Wide range of loan amounts: Fifth Third’s low $2,000 minimum may be handy if you’re buying a used clunker to drive short distances. Alternatively, the $80,000 maximum may be a better fit for a new, more expensive car purchase.

Where Fifth Bank falls short

  • Undisclosed rates: Fifth Third doesn't share its rates online, so if you want a ballpark of what kind of rate you will receive, you will need to apply. 
  • No qualifying information: There is also very little information on eligibility requirements. Fifth Third doesn’t disclose minimum credit score, income or details of what types of vehicles you can finance.
  • No prequalification: You can schedule an appointment to talk to someone about a new loan, but prequalification isn’t an option. This can make it more difficult to gauge your expected rates and terms. 

Fifth Third customer resources

Customer support

You can phone a Fifth Third representative Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The customer service center is closed on Sundays. 

Digital experience

Fifth Third offers a mobile app with 24/7 online access. Customers on the App Store give it a 4.6 out of 5 stars, while customers on Google Play rate Fifth Third slightly higher, with 4.8 out of 5 stars.  You can access your accounts, view transactions, pay bills and find nearby branches. 

How this lender compares

Fifth Third vs. Regions Bank

You can’t borrow less than $5,000 but it advertises rates of just above 6 percent, whereas Fifth Third’s rates are unpublished. Regions is also a better choice for expensive cars, with loan amounts available up to $125,000. That’s $45,000 more than Fifth Third’s maximum loan limit. 

Fifth Third vs. Bank of America

Fifth Third is a better choice if you need term flexibility,long maximum loan term compared to the 60-month cap at Bank of America. If you’re in the market for an older vehicle priced below $7,500, Fifth Third is the clear choice with its $2,000 minimum loan amount. 

That said, Bank of America is a national lender — not just limited to the 11 states Fifth Third has branches in. Bank of America is also clear about the potential rates for your auto loan, which is a big positive when compared against Fifth Third.

Do you qualify for a Fifth Third auto loan?

Although Fifth Third doesn’t specify its requirements for an auto loan, in general, you need good credit, regular income from a stable job and a new vehicle with reasonable mileage. To get the best auto loan rates, you’ll need higher credit scores and a lower debt-to-income ratio. 

Vehicles not eligible for vehicle financing

Fifth Third doesn’t publish any limitations online regarding the age, mileage or type of vehicle that can be financed. If you get preapproved for car financing, make sure you ask the loan officer if they know about vehicle restrictions that might affect your ability to get approved. 

How to get a Fifth Third auto loan

You’ll need to schedule an appointment by phone, virtual meeting or in person at a local branch office. There is no online prequalification option. Fifth Third offers 60-minute and 30-minute application meeting choices. 

Fifth Third doesn’t list what you need for approval, but you should have some basic auto loan documents and details about the car you plan to buy ready to provide to the loan officer. If you’re getting your loan through a dealership, the sales rep will handle this. 

How Bankrate rates this lender

Overall score 3.6
Availability 3.6 Wider range of loan amounts and repayment terms than most banks offer.
Affordability 3.8 Although a solid variety of discounts are available, the lack of APR ranges makes it difficult to gauge what potential rate might be offered.
Customer experience 4.4 A highly rated app is available for Fifth Third banking customers and phone service can be accessed six days a week.
Transparency 2.5 There are few details online about how to get approved for a loan, and prequalification is not an option.

Methodology

Bankrate's trusted auto loans industry expertise

48

years in business

37

lenders reviewed

18

loan features weighed

666

data points collected

The Bankrate team assessed more than 35 auto lenders to find the best. Bankrate considered 18 criteria, such as acceptance criteria, loan amounts and APR range. These scores are broken into four categories.

Editorial disclosure: All reviews are prepared by Bankrate.com staff. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the lender’s website for the most current information.

What customers think

What people across the web are saying about Fifth Third auto loans

Trustpilot reviews are overwhelmingly negative, with many customers citing payment processing problems and customer service issues as the consistent reasons for the low 1.3-star rating. 

Here is what one borrower had to say about their experience:

Ran up interest on auto loan after payoff check was received but not processed

Rating: 1 stars out of 5
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1.0

Had an auto loan that was paid off when the vehicle was traded in. Fifth Third sat on the payoff check for an extra two weeks, which ran up additional interest on the account. Customer service was rude and useless. A "claim" was open to sort it out, but when I called back they said there was no record of it. The money was eventually just taken from another account to satisfy the loan so I lost it because they didn't process the payoff check for three weeks. Never use again.

C C C C, Trustpilot user
Posted on Trustpilot

Another shared a complaint about loan payoff:

Payoff auto loan delayed

Rating: 1 stars out of 5
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1.0

I sent payment to payoff auto loan via certified mail. Interested rate is calculated daily. They are in no hurry to process your payment. When they do, they will steal two days to process your payment instead of backdating it to the date it was received. Agents are untrained and supervisors are unprofessional.

Patrice Edwards Patrice Edwards, Trustpilot user
Posted on Trustpilot

Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate. Please see the issuer’s website for updated terms and conditions.

Community Fifth Third scores

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Fifth Third Bank

Dive into community reviews below and see what others think about Fifth Third Bank.

4 Star Icon
24 ratings
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Score breakdown
5 stars
29%
4 stars
50%
3 stars
13%
2 stars
4%
1 star
4%
Score by category
Overall rating 4 / 5
Fees & closing costs 3.5 / 5
Funding time 4 / 5
Customer service 3.8 / 5
Application process 3.9 / 5
Online portal or mobile app 3.9 / 5
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In July 2024, Bankrate collaborated with a third-party vendor to survey 1.3K loan borrowers nationwide. Bankrate and our vendor collected and summarized borrower responses to five questions on a 5-point scale, three yes/no questions, as well as open-ended reviews of their loan experience. Responses are based on individual borrower’s product details, and therefore cannot be verified for accuracy. User ratings are unedited and have not been reviewed or approved by the associated lenders, nor do these ratings reflect Bankrate’s own expert review of these loan products.

Community Reviews

See what users like you are saying about Fifth Third Bank.
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Describe why you selected this lender
It is a great bank with excellent benefits
Loan purpose
New car loan
Score by category
Fees & closing costs 4 / 5
Funding time 5 / 5
Online portal or mobile app 5 / 5
Customer service 5 / 5
Application process 4 / 5
Describe why you selected this lender
It offered a competitive rate.
Loan purpose
New car loan
Score by category
Fees & closing costs 3 / 5
Funding time 3 / 5
Online portal or mobile app 3 / 5
Customer service 4 / 5
Application process 4 / 5
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