Can I Use a HELOC to Buy a Car?

Yes, you can buy a car with a home equity line of credit (HELOC). Is it a smart financial move? Maybe. Learn more below.

man receiving car keyus after getting answer to can i use heloc to buy a car

In This Article

The pros and cons of buying a car with a home equity line of credit

Let’s consider the pros and cons of using a home equity line of credit to purchase a vehicle:

Pros

● Lower interest rate
Some homeowners use a HELOC to buy a car because the interest rate can be lower than the interest rate on a traditional auto loan. If you have good credit, you may qualify for a low rate regardless of how you choose to finance the car. However, you may discover that a HELOC offers the lowest interest rate and the lowest monthly payment.

● Increased negotiating power
A HELOC may offer a larger credit limit than an auto loan, allowing you more bargaining power when negotiating the price of the car. If you pay the full price up front, you may also be eligible for a rebate.

● Tax benefits
The interest you pay on a HELOC may be tax deductible if you choose to itemize deductions. There are zero tax perks when you use a car loan. It is recommended, however, that you consult your accountant or tax preparation service as this is subject to change based on current tax laws or your locality.

Cons

● Closing costs
Some HELOCs have closing costs, which can range from 2%-5% of the total line of credit. These costs can be paid out of pocket at closing, either by financing them with proceeds of the HELOC, or by paying them in cash. You may be able to negotiate a no closing costs option.

● Risk of foreclosure
You could be at risk of losing your home. In this scenario, your home acts as collateral for the HELOC. If you’re unable to make the payments, the lender has the option to sell your home to recoup the debt that you owe.

● Less interest, long repayment term
The longer repayment timeline of a HELOC could lower your monthly payments, but the loan could outlive your car. On average, consumers own their cars for 8.4 years, while the average HELOC has a repayment term of up to twenty years. This could result in you still repaying the HELOC for the old car while financing a new one.

Should I use a HELOC to buy a car?

Using a HELOC to purchase a car is a common practice, and you may get a better interest rate on your loan. However, before you make a decision, consider the risks of using your home as collateral and the drawbacks of choosing a longer loan. As a general rule, it’s not a good idea to carry debt any longer than you have to—especially for a car that will quickly depreciate—though it may work best for you depending on your financial situation.

Other Options

If you cannot, or do not want to get a conventional auto loan but also don’t want to put your home up as collateral, consider a home equity loan (not the same as a line of credit), or a low rate personal loan instead.

How do car loans work?

A car loan allows you to borrow money from a dealer or financial institution to buy a car. You agree to pay it back monthly over a set period of time plus any fees and interest you accrue. Your monthly payment depends on the amount of the loan, the term of the loan, and the interest rate. Consider shopping around with different lenders to determine which loan works best.

Getting your car loan approved

Typically, you have to complete a loan application with information about your financial situation to receive a car loan. The approval process usually begins with a pre-qualification that does a soft check on your credit, which shouldn’t affect your credit score. Once you’re pre-approved and decide to proceed with the loan, the lender typically pulls a hard inquiry on your credit, which can cause a dip in your credit score for a short period of time.

Qualifying for a HELOC Loan

While a car loan is based on the amount you need for a specific automobile purchase, a HELOC is based on your home equity and can be used for essentially anything.

When you apply for a HELOC, the lender runs your credit, looks at your financial health, and does due diligence regarding your home’s value before offering the amount you’re eligible for. Get a quick estimate of how much you may be eligible to receive from a HELOC by using Prosper’s HELOC calculator.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROCEDURES FOR OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT.

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

What this means for you: When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents.

Eligibility for a home equity loan or HELOC up to $500,000 depends on the information provided in the home equity application. Loans above $250,000 require an in-home appraisal and title insurance. For HELOCs borrowers must take an initial draw of $50,000 at closing. Subsequent HELOC draws are prohibited during the first 90 days following closing. After the first 90 days following closing, subsequent HELOC draws must be $1,000 or more (not applicable in Texas).

The time it takes to get cash is measured from the time the Lending Partner receives all documents requested from the applicant and assumes the applicant’s stated income, property and title information provided in the loan application matches the requested documents and any supporting information. Spring EQ borrowers get their cash on average in 26 days. The time period calculation to get cash is based on the first 6 months of 2022 loan fundings, assumes the funds are wired, excludes weekends, and excludes the government-mandated disclosure waiting period. The amount of time it takes to get cash will vary depending on the applicant’s respective financial circumstances and the Lending Partner’s current volume of applications.

Spring EQ cannot use a borrower’s home equity funds to pay (in part or in full) Spring EQ non-homestead debt at account opening. For HELOCs in Texas, the minimum draw amount is $4,000. To access HELOC funds, borrower must request convenience checks.

Interest rates may be adjusted based on factors related to the applicant’s credit profile, income and debt ratios, the presence of existing liens against and the location of the subject property, the occupancy status of the subject property, as well as the initial draw amount taken at the time of closing. Speak to a Prosper Agent for details.

Qualified applicants may borrow up to 95% of their primary home’s value (not applicable in Texas) and up to 90% of the value of a second home. Home equity loan applicants may borrow up to 85% of the value of an investment property (not applicable for HELOCs).

All home equity products are underwritten and issued by Spring EQ, LLC, an Equal Housing Lender. NMLS #1464945.

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