The timeliness of your repayments will significantly affect your credit score, even years after the loan is paid off.
If you’re still paying off a car loan, lenders will consider these payments when assessing whether you can afford to take on a mortgage.
How does car finance affect my credit score?
Car finance has the same impact on your credit score as any other type of loan.
Your car finance provider will run a credit check to assess whether you can afford this deal, and this will create a short-term dip in your credit score.
However, as you make timely repayments, your credit score increases because you are showing evidence you are a responsible borrower.
If a repayment is late or you default on the loan, your credit score can plummet. It creates a black mark on your credit score for years, which can make it more difficult to be approved for a good mortgage deal.
How does car finance affect my affordability?
As well as assessing your credit report, mortgage lenders will check your recent bank statements to get a solid idea of your regular outgoings.
This is to ensure you can afford to meet your monthly mortgage repayments. If you’re spending £100 a month on car finance repayments, this reduces your spending power in the eyes of lenders. Other regular payments such as car insurance, petrol and maintenance costs will also be considered.
If you can afford to pay the remainder of the debt in full or wait until you’ve paid all your installments, it could benefit your application to do so.
Lenders place a lot of weight on your “debt to income ratio”, so it’s useful to have as little debt as possible when you apply for a mortgage.
How do mortgage lenders feel about car finance debt?
We asked some of the UK’s major mortgage lenders about their policies on mortgage applicants with car finance debt. Here is what they told us:
Provider
What it told us
Compare
Barclays
We will take outstanding car finance into consideration when assessing affordability.
We would take any payments for car finance into account as part of our wider affordability assessment. The monthly payment will be deducted from the customer’s income when ascertaining their net disposable income.
A car finance loan would be treat in the same was as an unsecured loan. The monthly payment of the finance agreement would be included within the affordability assessment.
Tips to increase your chances of mortgage approval
Pay off your loan in full, if possible. Once you’re done making repayments on your car finance loan, it won’t have a negative impact on your mortgage application. If you’re not able to immediately pay off your loan, consider delaying your application until the debt is cleared.
Make all repayments on time. Timely loan repayments will boost your credit score, and your chances of being approved for a mortgage. Late repayments or arrears will significantly reduce your odds of getting a mortgage.
Clear all debts. The lower your “debt to income ratio”, the more likely you’ll be approved for a mortgage.
Close unused credit cards. If you have access to credit from other sources, this could harm your chances of being approved for a mortgage, as it means you have the opportunity to get into additional future debt.
Fix your credit history. An imperfect credit record can unnecessarily harm your chances of being approved for a mortgage, so it’s worth checking for mistakes and amending them.
Consider using specialist mortgage lenders. There are mortgage lenders who specialise in offering deals to applicants with a poor credit score. These companies offer far higher rates than traditional lenders though.
Should I speak to a mortgage advisor?
A mortgage advisor can help you find a mortgage that matches all your requirements. Tell your advisor about all your debts and they will offer advice on the most suitable lenders, as well as how you can structure your application to give you the best chance of being approved. They will also tell which type of mortgage is most suitable according to your circumstances. Find out more about mortgage advisors and how they can help.
Bottom line
Given that car finance is a type of loan, it’s treated as an impacting factor on your credit score when you apply for a mortgage. So long as your repayments are on time and in full, it shouldn’t negatively affect your chances of securing a mortgage. If you’ve had a late payment, your credit score will dip and that can affect the mortgage deal you’re being offered.
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Matthew Boyle is a banking and mortgages publisher at Finder. He has a 7-year history of publishing helpful guides to assist consumers in making better decisions. In his spare time, you will find him walking in the Norfolk countryside admiring the local wildlife. See full bio
Matthew's expertise
Matthew has written 285 Finder guides across topics including:
Helping first-time buyers apply for a mortgage
Comparing bank accounts and highlighting useful features
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