Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
Personal loan rates fell last week. This means if you’re looking to finance a home remodeling project, vehicle or unexpected bills, you can still snag a reasonable rate, as long as you’re a qualified applicant.
From July 11 to July 15, the average fixed interest rate on a three-year personal loan was 11.19% for borrowers with a credit score of 720 or higher who prequalified on Credible.com’s personal loan marketplace. That’s down 0.00% from the previous week, according to Credible.com. The average rate on a five-year personal loan remained steady last week from 13.58% to 13.58%.
However, the actual rate you receive depends on your creditworthiness and what’s available through your preferred lender. Well-qualified borrowers may be able to find rates significantly lower than the average.
Related: Best Personal Loans
How to Compare Personal Loan Rates
If you’re out to get the best rate, be sure to look for lenders who offer a personal loan prequalification process. While many lenders post their rates online, this only gives you a range of what they offer, not an exact rate based on the qualifications you meet. However, when you prequalify for a personal loan, a lender will run a soft credit check to prescreen you, which has no impact on your credit score.
Based on this information, the lender will give you a snapshot of the terms you could qualify for, including loan rates, terms and limits. You can prequalify at multiple lenders and compare the terms to find the best loan for your specific situation.
However, prequalification doesn’t guarantee approval. Once you find an offer you like, you will still need to submit a formal application and provide additional documentation to the lender. When you apply, a lender will typically run a hard credit check, which will ding your credit score between one and five points.
Related: 5 Personal Loan Requirements To Know Before Applying
Calculate Your Personal Loan Payments
Once you have an idea of your personal loan interest rate, you can calculate your monthly payments. You will need to enter your loan’s interest rate, amount and term. This will help you determine how much you’ll owe monthly and how much you’ll pay in interest over the life of your loan.
For example, let’s say you have a personal loan with a $5,000 loan amount, 11.19% fixed interest rate and a term of 36 months. The Forbes Advisor personal loan calculator shows your monthly payment would be approximately $164 and you’d pay approximately $909 in interest over the life of the loan. Overall, you would owe $5,909, which includes both principal and interest.
Average Personal Loan Interest Rates by Credit Score
Here are the average estimated interest rates for personal loans based on VantageScore risk tiers, according to Experian. Please note that interest rates are determined and set by lenders. The rates provided are estimations.
How to Receive More Favorable Interest Rates
Personal loan interest rates are based on a number of factors, including your overall creditworthiness, credit score, income and debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. Two quick ways to help you receive more favorable rates include paying down existing debt to help lower your DTI and improving your credit score.
Rod Griffin, senior director of consumer education and advocacy at Experian, recommends “checking your credit report and scores three to six months before you apply for a personal loan,” as this will give you enough time to make any necessary improvements.
While qualification requirements differ across lenders, a minimum credit score of 720 will typically yield you the best terms. If your score falls below this marker, and you’re on a quest for the lowest rate possible, you can take action to improve your score. Try strategies like lowering your credit utilization ratio, removing errors from your credit report and paying your bills early or on time.
