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RV auto loans for march 2024

Apply for RV auto loans from companies verified by our specialists. On 18.03.2024 you have access to 3 car loans with a low rate. Increase your chances of getting money — fill out a multi-application with a free credit rating check.
Offers: 3
Updated:
22.05.2023
07:20
Caribou
Refinance
Rating by Finanso®
i

The rating by Finanso® is determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula includes a financial product type as well as tariffs, fees, rewards and other options.

Recommended FinScore™
0
300
650
1000
up to $45,000
Rate
i

Effective interest rate on the product

up to 36%
Term
i

Loan term for the financial product

up to 72 months
Submit One Loan Application Online!
Submit One Loan Application Online!

Use our quick loan matching system with a free credit check!

AUTOPAY
Vehicle Purchase
Rating by Finanso®
i

The rating by Finanso® is determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula includes a financial product type as well as tariffs, fees, rewards and other options.

Recommended FinScore™
0
300
650
1000
$2,500-$100,000
Rate
i

Effective interest rate on the product

from 2.99%
Term
i

Loan term for the financial product

up to 96 months
Auto Approve
Auto Lease Purchase
Rating by Finanso®
i

The rating by Finanso® is determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula includes a financial product type as well as tariffs, fees, rewards and other options.

Recommended FinScore™
0
300
650
1000
$7,500-$150,000
Rate
i

Effective interest rate on the product

from 2.94%
Term
i

Loan term for the financial product

up to 72 months
RV auto loans calculator
sum
USD
USD
10000 $
100000 $
RV loan amount
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RV loan amount

USD
USD
5000 $
2000000 $
Down payment
i

Specify the percentage of the down payment

%
$
5
30
Your RV loan amount
$
RV loan term
i

Specify the desired length of the RV loan

months
days
12
240
Interest rate
i

Choose the interest rate on the loan

1 %
20 %
Type of payments
i

Specify the type of payment for calculating

Car loan online application
Cost of the vehicle:
20000 $
150000 $
Term:
1
10
Car loan online application
car-loan.form.text-protected
car-loan.form.sum
0 $
car-loan.form.period
0 months
car-loan.form.payment
20 500 $
More
Reviews
CreditFresh
4.8
The application process was a breeze, and I received a response within minutes. This straightforward and prompt procedure proved to be a great help to me during a crucial time of need.
Review
JG Wentworth
4.6
The assistance I received was exceptional. My representative handled my case with care and provided all the necessary information...
Review
OneMain Financial
4.4
The loan application process was straightforward, and the representative I interacted with displayed patience, provided informative answers, and was quite pleasant throughout...
Review
My Funding Choices
4.6
The process was swift and straightforward, which was particularly helpful during a time when, despite my reluctance to seek assistance, I genuinely needed help.
Review
Plain Green Loans
2
The interest rate is shockingly high, and it feels like taking advantage of individuals facing financial challenges when unexpected expenses arise...
Review
Advance America
4.6
I have never encountered any issues with this company. They consistently deliver funds on time, and the repayment process is straightforward...
Review

Recreational vehicles serve multipurpose as a combination of a vehicle and a home. They cost large sums, so it is not always possible to purchase an RV straightaway.

To finance a new or used RV, you can consider getting an RV loan. The process of getting this loan may be similar to both getting a car loan and a home mortgage. The maximum loan amount ranges from lender to lender, but gets up to $1 million.

It may seem like a good option to take, but proves difficult to maintain through the years. Before taking an RV loan, you need to evaluate all the consequences and assess if you can qualify for it.

What is an RV loan?

An RV Loan is an installment loan by nature. The loan term for RV loans is typically longer and extends from one to 20 years. RV loans are used for purchasing motorhomes, campers, and travel trailers. The purchase price of these recreational vehicles ranges from $10,000 to $1 million. That's why buyers often resort to refinancing.

You can take a personal loan to purchase an RV. These are unsecured loans ranging from $500 to $100,000. The repayment terms range from one to seven years. So, if the vehicle you are going to purchase doesn't cost a lot, it is a good option to take.

RV loan vs. Car loan

An RV loan is quite similar to a car loan. However, loan terms for RV loans are longer, while the transactions get more complicated. In addition, RV loans can include offers for trailer vehicles without their own engines.

The sum of the loans for recreational vehicles is larger. Auto loan lenders don't offer such lump sums for funding a car.

In addition, the time a borrower plans to use a vehicle matters for borrowing an RV loan. Some lenders may even decline the application depending on the information about the borrower planning to use an RV a part- or full-time. Car loan lenders don't look at such a criterion.

Major types of RV loans

RV loans can be secured and unsecured. While a major number of RV loans offering smaller loan amount are unsecured types, borrowing a larger sum may result if you borrow a secured loan.

Secured loan

Secured RV loans require collateral. Lenders offer RV loans with collateral for more luxurious vehicles, costing large sums of money. The collateral for these loans is typically the vehicle itself. However, interest rates for secured RV loans are lower, so it can be easier to get loan approval.

The major risk for secured vehicle loans is that, in case you fail to pay the loan amount back, the lender can repossess your vehicle.

Unsecured loan

These loans don't require collateral from a borrower. The approval procedure relies on information about credit, income, and other debts. The RV loan interest rates for unsecured loans are higher due to the higher risk for a lender.

Online lenders allow pre-qualified borrowers to assess the loan amount they can get, as well as the minimum credit score and the interest rate they will get for a particular loan amount.

You won't lose the vehicle if you fail to pay the loan back, but there are other consequences like fees and lawsuits.

Pros and cons of RV loans

When you are thinking about financing an RV, there are a lot of things to consider. There are both advantages and disadvantages to borrowing an RV loan.

Pros

  • Borrowers get recreational vehicles even if they don't have money to purchase them immediately.

  • Financing is faster than saving money to purchase an RV.

  • You become an owner of a vehicle immediately while paying for it gradually.

Cons

  • You will overpay the price of your vehicle.

  • Many lenders require down payments.

  • The lender can repossess your RV if you fail to meet the schedule.

How to choose a lender for an RV loan?

Before applying for an RV loan, you need to compare the lenders. There are options to apply for a loan with multiple financial institutions, like a bank or credit union, online lenders, or even dealers.

The loan terms vary depending not only on the state but on the lenders themselves. One financial institution can offer you a loan with a smaller credit score, while the other may require collateral, have penalties, and have high monthly payments.

While doing your research on the lenders offering RV loans, you need to consider the following:

  • Look at the minimum credit scores of the lenders. While some lenders don't have a minimum credit score requirement, others don't approve the application with a credit score lower than a certain number. In addition, lenders state interest rates according to the credit scores of the lenders.

  • Assess the interest rates. It is safe to say every borrower wants to get a loan with a lower interest rate. However, interest varies from lender to lender and can be quite high for personal loans. Stick for the one you can afford to pay back.

  • Consider the loan terms. You need to understand the period you can pay the loan back. The longer your loan is, the more money you will need to pay back as interest. However, for a longer-term loan, the amount of money for monthly payments will probably be lower.

  • Calculate monthly payments. Once you evaluate the terms and interest, you need to assume the amount of money you will pay according to the payment schedule. It is crucial to determine your monthly expenses.

  • Check for the fees and penalties. There are lenders charging fees on early payments, and you need to monitor it. Other fees include an origination fee which requires you to pay money upfront for a lender to cover the cost of application processing, and a late fee accumulating on your account when you fail to meet the payment schedule.

To assess the loan options better, you can pre-qualify for the loans from a few lenders. It doesn't mean you will get an RV loan, but you can choose the best possible loan options.

How to apply for an RV loan?

Once you decide on the lenders suitable for you, you can start the application process.

A loan application is a document a borrower needs to complete to start the lending process. Every lender has its own application. In general, a borrower needs to submit personal information, income, and the purpose of the loan.

The format of an application differs according to the lender. Online lenders can take all the application processes online. Sometimes, a borrower needs to confirm the process on the phone. However, there are credit unions and banks requiring a borrower to fill in the application in person.

Pre-qualification taken by an online lender requires a soft credit check. The moment you start the application process, lenders will take a hard credit check hurting your credit score.

Check your credit score

As RV loan rates depend on a borrower's credit score, you need to check your current score and determine if there are no mistakes in your credit report. A credit score helps a lender to determine creditworthy borrowers and evade the risks of lending. To get a lower interest rate, your score needs to be quite high, over 700 in some cases.

There are lenders specializing in RV financing for bad credit score borrowers. They have no minimum credit score requirements. However, you will get a higher interest rate.

If your credit score is bad or is not high enough to get an RV loan rate acceptable to you for paying back, you can still improve it. The most common option is to get an installment loan or personal loan with lower sums. Once your credit score gets high enough, you can apply for better RV financing.

Down payment

Most RV loans lenders require a borrower to make a down payment of a minimum of 10% of the vehicle purchase price. This down payment can extend up to 20%. Therefore, you need to start saving money for the down payment way before you take a loan. The larger the down payment you make, the less you will need to borrow and the less you will lose on the interest.

Providing a larger down payment may also help you qualify for the loan and get approved if you have a lower credit score. So, you need to choose the RV at a good price. Don't hesitate to haggle on the purchase price because many dealerships markup the prices up to 50%. You can lower the price by 20-30%, depending on the vehicle and the dealer.

Even if you can't get a low percentage rate, you can still reduce the price and save money on a loan. Some dealerships offer free services, like maintenance or upgrades.

Meet the loan requirements

The requirements for RV loans vary depending on the state and the lender. Even so, there are common criteria you should meet.

First, you need to be of a certain age. In most states, the age you can borrow at is 18, in others, it is 19. The second major requirement is being a US citizen and a resident of a state you are trying to get a loan. Then, there is a set of requirements associated with your financial situation and credit history.

To prove your identity, you can provide different forms of government-issued identification papers:

  • Passport,

  • Birth certificate,

  • Driver’s license,

  • Other state-issued IDs,

  • Certificate of citizenship, or

  • Military ID.

Credit score

The borrower's credit score is a crucial factor for a lender to determine creditworthiness. Credit scores vary from 300 to 850. They are determined by credit history and other existing debts.

Meeting your loan schedule or paying the loan early helps to improve your credit score. So, you can take a lower loan amount and pay it off before getting an RV loan.

You also need to consider that a hard check of your credit reports will lower your credit score by some points. To avoid that, you need to fill in the applications in a short time. This way, a credit check will look like one report.

Income

You will need to provide the documentation to back up your income statement. The papers you will provide typically are tax returns, bank statements, or bank deposits. In addition, you will need to provide your employment history.

The forms of income verification are:

  • Paystubs,

  • Returns,

  • W-2s and 1099s forms,

  • Bank statements, and

  • Employer contact information.

Debt-to-income ratio

DTI is a portion of a gross monthly income of a borrower that goes towards the debt service. It is expressed as a percentage and is used to determine the borrower's ability to repay the loan. Falling under the DTI being less than 36% is good, however, some lenders require DTI to be up to 50%.

Origination fee

The fee for processing your application is between 1% and 8%. Not all lenders issue this type of fee, though you can encounter it quite frequently. The percentage depends on the credit score and the loan amount.

Ways to repay an RV loan

As soon as you get approved for the loan and sign a loan agreement, you need to meet the payment schedule. If you fail to make payments on time, you will probably get fees or even have your vehicle repossessed. On the contrary, making accurate payments will help you improve your credit and save money.

If your lender doesn't issue an early payment fee, you can opt for making additional payments. These may be tax refunds, work bonuses, or other finances. Taking one extra payment a year will shorten the loan and the interest.

You can turn to bi-weekly payments instead of a monthly payment schedule. This will save you money on interest and even shorten your loan terms.

Refinancing

If your credit got better over the time of your loan, you could consider refinancing it. This way, you will apply for a new loan. This loan you will use to make the payments towards the existing one. You will probably pay your current loan sooner and for lesser interest.

The other reason to consider refinancing is to extend your loan term. Some borrowers want their loan to be longer. For example, if your existing loan is seven years, you can look for a longer payback period. Refinancing with a ten-year period will allow you to get lower monthly payments. This way, you will enjoy lower monthly expenses.

The lenders that offer RV loans often provide refinancing, so you can apply for this service with the same lender. It may cost you a small fee, but it can help you reduce the monthly payments and pay the loan back more efficiently.

Alternatives for RV loans

There are other options you can opt for if you aren't sure about RV loans but still need to finance a vehicle.

Home equity loan

In case you cannot qualify for a loan, or the RV lenders offer you a high RV loan rates, you can take a home equity loan.

This type of loan allows you to borrow money using your house's value. The loan terms range between five and 30 years. You need to build up equity, a difference between the appraised value of the house and the remaining balance of a mortgage. Most lenders require it to be 15-20%.

Interest rates for home equity loans are 3% to 7%, which sometimes is lower than loans for RVs. There is a higher risk of taking this loan, though, because if you default on it, the lender can repossess your house.

401(k) loan

This type of loan allows you to borrow from your retirement savings. You can take the money from 401(k) if you have money on it with your employer to purchase an RV. This loan requires you to pay back to your own savings account instead of paying the interest to a lender.

You can borrow up to $50,000, or 50% of your current savings amount, within a one-year period.

There are major drawbacks to this option, as the money won't be invested in a stock market anymore, and you can miss potential returns. Moreover, leaving your job before you pay off the loan will cause you to pay earlier or even immediately, depending on a lender. Otherwise, you will be subjected to taxes and penalties.

FAQ

What are typical RV loan terms?

Typically, RV loans terms range between 10 and 15 years. However, a lot of financial institutions can extend the loan up to 20 years.

Is it hard to get financed for an RV?

Getting a loan for RV can prove more difficult than borrowing a car loan. Depending on the loan term and amount, qualifying for this type of loan can be similar to getting a home mortgage.

What is a good credit score for an RV loan?

The lowest credit score for RV financing in most cases is 650. Though, to qualify for the loan, you need to get a score of 700 and higher. The score is an indicator of your credit worthiness for a lender and will determine the loan terms.

Which FICO score is used for RV loans?

Many lenders require a FICO score of 660 and 700. Yet, it is still possible to get a loan with a lower score but with a higher APR.

Does Bank of America do RV loans?

Bank of America provides RV loans directly through RV dealerships. You cannot apply online or purchase an RV outside a selected dealer.