Military car loans: Drive away with a deal

When it comes to buying a car, U.S. military members have an advantage. Many lenders offer special military auto loans that work just like regular auto loans but with better loan terms.

If you’re serving in the military or retired from service, there is a good chance you can qualify for a military car loan with a competitive rate.

6 benefits of military car loans

Military car loans are better than conventional car loans in several ways:

1. Easier to get approved: Military car loans are generally available even to service members with credit scores lower than the cutoff for regular car loans. The approval process is usually faster as well.
2. Lower interest rates: Lenders usually offer reduced interest rates on military car loans, such as a discount of 0.25 percent to 0.50 percent off their standard rates. A lower rate could save you a great deal of money in interest payments over the length of the loan.
3. No prepayment penalty: Lenders are not allowed to charge a prepayment penalty on their loans if you or your spouse are on active duty. However, retired or former military members may still face a prepayment penalty if the lender charges it.
4. Lower down payment: You can often pay less upfront for military auto loans, and some programs offer no-money-down loans. That makes it easier to save up enough for a purchase, though a smaller down payment may mean paying more in interest since you will carry a larger balance.
5. Legal protections: The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) provides active-duty service members protections for installment contracts, like auto loans. These protections include prohibiting creditors from repossessing a vehicle for breach of contract without a court order. The SCRA also limits the interest rates charged on auto loans that were opened prior to joining the service.
6. Overseas shipping: Lenders may be more willing to agree to overseas shipping if you are going through a Permanent Change of Station (PCS). And some lenders that specialize in working with military members and their families, like USAA, have streamlined processes to help make overseas shipping easier.

Best military auto loans

Several lenders offer discounts for active duty military members or those retired from service. However, USAA and Navy Federal are two credit unions that specialize in working with military members.

Drawbacks of military auto loans

The same risks that apply to all auto loans apply to military auto loans — most importantly, the risk that you might not be able to make your payments. Defaulting on your loan could hurt your credit score and make it more difficult to borrow money in the future.

The ease with which military members can get a car loan makes it even more important to be cautious. Your loan may be less costly because of your military status, but the other costs of owning a car — maintenance, insurance, parking fees and fuel — likely won’t be cheaper.

How to qualify for a military car loan

Each lender has its own set of qualification criteria. However, you’ll generally need the following to be eligible for a military car loan:

• Proof of your military status, such as your active-duty military ID or discharge papers if you are a retired service member.
• Your contact information, including a local address for the location where you are currently stationed.
• Contact information for family members who can handle matters related to your loan if you are deployed overseas.

The bottom line

Military car loans have benefits, including lower interest rates, lower down payment requirements and federal protections. But even with the extra protections offered by the Military Lending Act (MLA), the same risks of borrowing apply.

For this reason, you should still shop around when you’re ready to apply for an auto loan to ensure you get the best rates for your needs.

Consider checking military credit unions like Navy Federal and USAA because they offer auto loans with competitive terms to current and retired service members.