Have you been asking yourself how to find the best rate for a personal loan, or typed “what is a good APR for a loan?” into the search bar recently? If the answer is yes, remember: Each person’s financial situation is different.
There may be plenty of benefits to a particular loan, apart from the interest rate, that make it the best option for you. In other words, sometimes a loan with a lower rate isn’t the best solution for you if it comes with fees and/or penalties.
That said, it’s good to know the factors that go into calculating your rate, so you can find the loan that best meets your current needs and will help you reach future financial goals, too.
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What factors affect personal loan rates?
Credit History
Credit history is usually a primary factor in determining the annual percentage rate (APR) on a personal loan.
Generally speaking, your credit score is based on how reliably you’ve borrowed money and repaid it in the past. Important data points include:
- Your payment history (including missed or late payments)
- How much debt you have
- The age of your oldest loan or credit card
- The number of open accounts and how you use them
Knowing your credit score (e.g., do you have fair, good, or excellent credit?) could explain why you might qualify for a higher or lower rate on a personal loan. For that reason, it makes sense to review your credit report before applying, so you aren’t surprised.
Income
Generally speaking, a higher income could help you qualify for a lower interest rate on a personal loan. But for Discover Personal Loans and other lenders, income isn’t the only factor.
As they say, it’s not what you make, it’s what you save. So even a relatively high income might not carry as much weight if you also have a lot of debt or expenses in relation to that income. This is known as your debt-to-income ratio; lenders prefer this number to be as small as possible.
That said, you must have an annual household income of at least $25,000 to qualify for a Discover personal loan.
Length of loan term and rates
If you want to find out what a good APR might be on a personal loan, that makes perfect sense. But it’s important to understand that your interest rate isn’t the only thing that determines how much you’ll pay in the long run. Repayment terms matter, too.
For example, let’s say you want to borrow $15,000 for some home improvements, and you estimate that your credit is good.
If you get approved for a $15,000 loan at 12.99% APR for a term of 72 months, you’ll pay just $301 per month.
Our lowest rates are available to consumers with the best credit. But many factors are used to determine your rate, such as your credit history, application information, and the term you select.
Remember, our personal loan calculator will give you an estimate; we can’t guarantee the applicability or accuracy to your specific circumstance. But the point is, the longer you take to pay back a loan, the more you’ll pay in interest overall. So, your rate isn’t the only thing to focus on when taking out a personal loan.
What steps can I take to get a good interest rate on a personal loan?
There are several things you can do to find the best personal loan rates for your financial situation, including:
- Maintain a good credit history
- Have sufficient income to repay the loan
- Choose the shortest repayment term you can manage
- Find a lender that allows you to check your interest rate and monthly payment before applying, without affecting your credit score
- Compare online lenders
Just note that if you qualify for a loan, you could get a rate anywhere within the range that the lender offers. In addition, each lender has its own underwriting criteria.
Finally, remember to consider other loan features that could serve you well, such as no origination fees or prepayment penalties, which are both benefits of borrowing with Discover Personal Loans.
Can I preview my interest rate online?
Some online lenders offer tools that let you preview your rate and monthly payment before you apply. Discover Personal Loans has a feature that lets you Check Your Rate with no impact to your credit score. That way, you can get a better idea of the total cost of the personal loan, without submitting a full application.
If you find your interest rate is higher than you expected, you can always come back and check again after you’ve had time to improve your credit health. Or you could look into other factors that might be affecting your interest rate.
How do I compare lenders and rates?
You might be able to compare personal loan APR ranges from various lenders with a simple internet search.
Also consider the reputation of the lender, whether you have a preexisting relationship with them, and whether you’ll be able to rely on their customer service team to answer all your questions.
If you’re more comfortable sitting down with someone in person, a local bank or credit union might be a good fit. But you can definitely get the same level of personal attention online, as well. When you apply for a Discover personal loan, for example, you can talk with a U.S.-based loan specialist who will explain your options and help you complete your application.
Rates are important, but borrowing money is a serious commitment, and you want to have confidence that the lender you choose will see you through from the beginning to the end of the life of the loan.
What else affects the cost of borrowing, beyond the interest rate?
As you search for the right lender and rate, don’t forget about additional costs, such as origination fees and prepayment penalties. These fees can chip away at other cost-saving benefits, and are typically taken out of your total loan amount.
For example, if you apply for a $15,000 loan with a 4% origination fee deducted from the loan amount, you’ll only receive $14,400. That’s because $600 in origination fees—4% of the loan—will stay with the lender.
So, be sure to focus on the total cost of borrowing, instead of making a decision based on the lowest interest rate. With Discover Personal Loans, you’ll pay no fees as long as you make your payments on time.
Interested in taking out a personal loan? Our personal loan calculator makes it easy to estimate monthly payments based on loan amount and credit scoreEstimate Payments