PNC Bank auto loans: 2025 review

Name: PNC Bank auto loans: 2024 review
Item: PNC Bank
Rating: 3.8
Author: Rebecca Betterton

Written by

Rebecca Betterton

Edited by

Gabriela Walsh

Updated on Jun 23, 2025

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At a glance

Find my best rate

with Bankrate

3.8

Bankrate Score

Availability

4.4

Affordability

3.5

Customer Experience

4.6

Transparency

2.5

Full methodology

Bankrate’s take

PNC Bank has over 2,600 branches across the country, which makes it a great choice for those who prefer to apply for a loan in person. It isn't clear about its eligiblity requirements, however, and you will need to live in one of its serviced states to qualify.

Lender Details

Loan amount

$5,000-$100,000

APR from

5.59%-24.29%

Min Credit Score

Not Specified

Funds available in

As soon as one day

Best for in-person shopping

The fully online experience isn’t best for all types of auto loan borrowers. For those who prefer handling their finances in an office setting, working with a bank can be the solution. PNC Bank couples the benefit of a large branch footprint — more than 2,600 branches across the country — with the convenience of online availability.

Types of car loans that PNC Bank offers

PNC Bank is one of the biggest banks in the U.S., with branch offices across the country. The bank offers financing for new and used vehicles along with refinancing and lease buyouts.

The lender doesn’t offer prequalification. You can preview the rates available for your region by entering your loan amount and ZIP code on PNC’s website.

New and used auto loans

Amounts: $5,000-$100,000
Terms: 12-84 months
APR: 5.59%-19.94%

PNC offers new and used auto loans for both dealership purchases and purchases from a private seller. Like most banks, PNC has loan terms up to 84 months. But if you want to use its Check Ready program — and avoid visiting a branch location — you will need to buy through one of the lender’s eligible dealers.

Refinance

Amounts: $5,000-$100,000
Terms: 12-84 months
APR: 5.94% -24.29%

PNC allows you to refinance your auto loan to get a lower rate or change your loan term — or both. It is only available for vehicles less than eight years old and under 80,000 miles, although some exceptions exist.

Lease buyout

Amounts: $5,000-$100,000
Terms: 12-84 months
APR: Not specified

If you have fallen in love with your leased vehicle, you can finance a lease buyout through PNC. Much like buying a new or used car, bringing in outside financing can give you more room to negotiate with your leasing company.

Where PNC Bank auto loans stand out

PNC Total Auto program. PNC Total Auto guides you through the car-purchase experience from car comparison to loan application. It lets you see what other people in your area paid for cars, letting you better estimate the loan amount to apply for.
Automatic payment discount. If you sign up for automatic payments through a PNC account, you will receive 0.25 percent off your APR.
Large branch footprint. If you prefer in-person service, PNC could be a good option. It has more than 2,600 branches in 27 states, plus the District of Columbia. However, if you do not live in one of those states, PNC loans aren’t available.

Where PNC Bank auto loans fall short

High minimum loan amount. PNC’s minimum loan amounts are on the higher side. If you are looking to finance a new or used car through a dealer, you must be willing to spend at least $5,000 — and you must refinance at least $5,000.
Undisclosed eligibility requirements. PNC does not specify its requirements when it comes to income and credit score. This makes it harder to determine whether you will qualify for a loan with the company.
Branch visit required for some loans. If you want to purchase a used car from a private seller, you will need to visit a branch. This means private sale loans are not available if you don’t live in one of the states where PNC operates.

PNC Bank customer resources

PNC has both online and app availability as well as in-person appointments in its banks.

Customer support

Customer care consultants are available at 888-762-2265 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. They also have 24 hour automated account details available via phone.

Digital experience

PNC Bank also has a mobile app available to both iPhone and Android users. In addition to managing your auto loan, you can access your PNC checking account and make deposits through the PNC app.

How this lender compares

PNC Bank versus PenFed

PenFed, a Virginia-based credit union, offers the same range of products to borrowers as PNC Bank with some slightly sweeter deals. PenFed is an excellent option for those financing a large amount of their next vehicle. Loan amounts go up to $150,000 — a much higher maximum than PNC offers. However, PenFed requires a savings account with the credit union in order to secure a loan.

PNC Bank versus U.S. Bank

If working with a longstanding financial institution is a top priority, U.S. Bank is another strong contender offering the same loan products as PNC. U.S. Bank offers borrowers the ability to apply for loan preapproval along with extended loan terms in line with PNC Bank.

Check out our PNC Bank vs. U.S. Bank comparison.

Do you qualify for a PNC Bank auto loan?

PNC does not specify its credit score or income requirements to get an auto loan. It also doesn’t offer prequalification, meaning you’ll have to complete an application and undergo a hard credit check to see whether you qualify.

You may use its loans to finance only vehicles with a model year of 2017 or newer. Borrowers using the Check Ready Loan must work with a manufacturer or one of the lender’s eligible dealers.

How to apply for a loan with PNC Bank

Applying for a new or used vehicle from a dealership using PNC’s Check Ready loan is the easiest option. The application can be filled out entirely online, and if you are approved, a check can be mailed to you overnight. Receiving your funding via check is rare. Many lenders offer funding directly to your bank account. So, if you don’t want the hassle of paying by check, consider shopping for auto loans elsewhere.

But the process is more complex for PNC’s other loans. If you opt for a non-franchise dealer — one that isn’t associated with a car manufacturer — or want to buy from a private party, you will need to visit a branch to apply. If you are approved, you can have the check mailed directly to the lender or pick up the check at your local branch.

For refinancing, you can apply online, by phone or at a branch. Once you close on the loan, PNC will send a check to your creditor to pay off your current loan.

- Personal details, like your address, income and employer
- Vehicle information
- Photo ID, such as a driver’s license or U.S. passport
- 30-day payoff amount if you are refinancing
- Personal details about your co-applicant if you’re submitting a joint application

Features and additional perks

One stand-out feature that the Bank offers is the PNC Total Auto program, powered by TrueCar. This service can expedite the process of finding your perfect vehicle as you can explore your ZIP code to compare prices and receive funding overnight.

Borrowers who arrange for automatic payments with a PNC checking account will benefit from a 0.25 percent discount on their rate.

Fees and penalties

PNC does not disclose specific fees that borrowers can expect. The lender doesn’t charge a prepayment penalty for its Check ready auto loan or its traditional auto loan. Look out for any additional costs when signing off on your loan agreement.

How Bankrate rates this lender

Overall score	3.8
Availability	4.4	While PNC offers good maximum loan amounts, its minimum loan amounts are slightly higher than those of competitors. And they’re only available in 27 states plus the District of Columbia.
Affordability	3.5	PNC offers an autopay discount, but its website no longer lists its entire APR range. Its creditworthiness criteria are not specified, so you’ll need to apply to discover whether you’re eligible.
Customer experience	4.6	PNC stands out for its quick funding timeline and wide range of customer service hours.
Transparency	2.5	PNC does not offer prequalification, but you can still preview rates for your region.

Methodology

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.

Availability: Loan amounts, repayment options, dealership requirements and state availability all contribute to this category. Lenders that serve customers nationwide with flexible loan amounts rank higher.
Affordability: This section houses APR ranges, acceptance criteria, fees and discounts. Lenders with the lowest rates, fewer fees and most generous acceptance criteria receive higher scores.
Customer experience: Our team looked at how easy it is for customers to apply for and manage their loans. Criteria include how long you have to shop, customer service hours, whether there’s an app and autopay availability.
Transparency: This includes prequalification and disclosure of rates and fees. We favored lenders that make it easy for customers to preview possible costs.

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 PNC Bank

PNC Bank does not receive many great reviews via Trustpilot. Reviews for PNC Bank are largely one or two stars out of five. Reviewers comment on the difficulty reaching customer service and the lack of follow-through from their PNC banking staff.

This review echoes the sentiments of many other reviewers:

Absolutely the Worst Banking Experience – Longtime Customer Leaving for Good

1.0

"After being loyal customers of PNC Bank for many years, this year we’ve decided enough is enough — we are closing all our accounts and will never bank with PNC again.

This is hands down the worst banking experience we’ve ever had. From start to finish, the level of incompetence, lack of accountability, and total absence of customer care has been shocking. When a dispute arose, PNC was not only the cause of the issue by filing everything incorrectly, but they also refused to take responsibility. They took money out of our accounts without resolution, and despite repeatedly being told the dispute was filed wrong, they offered zero help and told us there was nothing they could do.

Not once did a banker return our calls or follow up — not a single ounce of guidance, ownership, or concern from anyone at this institution. It became so bad we had to work directly with the other party to resolve the issue ourselves — something PNC should have handled from the beginning.

Customer service is a joke. No follow-through, no attention to detail, and no idea what they're doing. Every representative gave us different answers, and not one of them followed up. It felt like no one at PNC actually knows how to do their job, or worse, they just don’t care.

We are utterly disgusted with how we were treated, and we strongly urge others to reconsider banking with PNC. If you value your time, your money, and basic human decency — look elsewhere.

We will never bank with PNC again. Ever."

Alexandra Garcia, Trustpilot user

Posted on Trustpilot

While there are many negative reviews, there are a few positive reviews for PNC Bank. These customers comment on positive banking experiences with great customer service.

Community PNC Bank Scores

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