reviews

Consumers Credit Union auto loans: 2025 review

Written by
Rebecca Betterton
Edited by
Kellye Guinan
Updated on January 7, 2024

At a glance

Consumers Credit Union: Bankrate 2025 Award Winner For First-In-Class Customer Service

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4.3
Bankrate Score
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Availability
4.2
Affordability
4.0
Customer Experience
4.6
Transparency
4.5

About Bankrate Score

Full methodology

Bankrate’s take

Although membership is required, Consumers Credit Union offers access to TrueCar, an online car-buying service, in-person service and the ability to prequalify before submitting a full application. Borrowers can also lower their rate by taking advantage of the 0.25% discount for setting up autopay.

Lender Details

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Loan amount

Not Specified

Rates Icon

APR from

Starting at 4.99%

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Funds available in

Not Specified

Consumers Credit Union is best for online car buyers

By getting a new or used car loan with Consumers Credit Union (CCU), you can take advantage of its online car-buying service. The program, enabled by TrueCar, allows you to shop by ZIP code and find the right vehicle and secure financing all in one place. On top of this, buyers benefit from a slight discount when using this service.

Types of car loans that Consumers Credit Union offers

Consumers Credit Union offers auto loans for new and used vehicles and an auto refinance option.

New auto loans Used auto loans Refinance auto loans
APR Starting at 5.49% Starting at 6.18% Not specified
Loan amounts Not specified Not specified Not specified
Loan terms 0-84 months 0-84 months 0-84 months

New and used auto loans

Financing for a new or used vehicle through CCU can be done online or in person. If you choose to shop through the available car-buying service, you can benefit from additional savings. Prequalification is available even if you choose not to use the car-buying service.

Auto loan refinancing 

Refinancing an auto loan is a great way to save money on your monthly payment and walk away with a better loan. You can also choose a shorter loan term than you currently have to pay your outstanding balance off faster. Specifics regarding the refinance process can be found by contacting a loan professional with CCU.

Where Consumers Credit Union stands out

  • Autopay discount: You can get 0.25 percent off of your annual percentage rate (APR) by signing up for automatic payments. 
  • TrueCar buying service: The partnered car-buying service helps you access additional savings while shopping for your new vehicle. 
  • Prequalification: Drivers can use the online prequalification tool to check financing figures without affecting their credit scores.   

Where Consumers Credit Union falls short

  • Undisclosed loan amounts: CCU does not disclose loan amounts for new, used or refinance loans.  
  • Membership requirements: You must be a member of CCU to be approved for an auto loan, although this is a common requirement for many credit unions.
  • Higher rates for older cars: Vehicle model years from 2016 or earlier will have a higher minimum APR than newer models.

Consumers Credit Union customer support

CCU offers assistance to customers Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT. Along with help available over the phone, questions can be answered via live chat on the website.

Customer support

Consumers Credit Union is Bankrate's pick for best-in-class customer service. It offers customer assistance over the phone 24/7 and via chat function Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT. Otherwise, the credit union has an in-depth FAQ section that covers a range of topics. It also lists direct phone numbers for departments to make it easier to get the support you need.

Digital experience

Consumers Credit Union has a fairly basic online presence. Borrowers can easily view all rates directly from the homepage, which is great for effective loan comparison. TrueCar helps CCU stand out online as shoppers can check out potential rides all from the convenience of online.

How this lender compares

While the customer service and range of products make CCU stand out, it is wise to compare auto loan rates before making your final decision.

Consumers Credit Union vs. Skyla Credit Union

Another membership-based credit union lender option, Skyla Credit Union boasts a large funding range. Its loans go up to $150,000, great for borrowers who are looking to finance a more expensive vehicle. Both credit unions offer similar starting rates, but Skyla's starts slightly lower.

Consumers Credit Union vs. PenFed

PenFed offers borrowers looking to work with a credit union another great option. One standout feature is the ability to prequalify. With prequalification, you can compare multiple lenders without a credit score hit before signing off on the best for your needs. PenFed and CCU also both work with an online car-buying service with some slightly higher incentives and discounts.

Do you qualify for a Consumers Credit Union auto loan?

CCU only serves credit union members. Membership applications can be handled online and require only a $5.00 fee that CCU will reimburse you for. To apply, you must be 18 years or older and have a valid U.S. government ID.

Outside of the membership, CCU does not disclose any specific requirements. However, the best rates are generally given to drivers with a strong credit history, as credit is used as the primary measure for approval with CCU.   

You will also need to submit some basic personal information, including: 

  • Social Security number.
  • Date of birth.
  • Contact information and address.
  • Employment and income information.

How to get a Consumers Credit Union auto loan

The loan application process can be accomplished fully online, at one of the CCU branches or over the phone. The process takes five steps.

  1. Submit the application: Fill out the application either online or over the phone. You will need to provide your Social Security number and basic contact information. This step does not include a hard credit pull.
  2. Discuss details: You will be contacted by a CCU representative who will share available rates and terms. If you accept the terms and proceed with the full application, you will undergo a hard credit check, which will temporarily drop your credit score by a few points.
  3. Shop for your vehicle: You now can begin your shopping with an idea of your expected monthly payments. The best rates are offered to drivers that utilize the Consumers Car Buying Service. If you’re refinancing, you’ll need to provide information about your current loan.
  4. Complete documentation: After choosing a vehicle you will send the purchase agreement to CCU via email or fax. Then you must sign off on the documents online or at a CCU branch.
  5. Funds sent to the dealership: Finally, CCU will send the loan check directly to the dealer or you can pick it up yourself.

How Bankrate rates Consumers Credit Union

Overall score 4.3
Availability 4.2 Although loan amounts are not disclosed, CCU offers three auto loan products in all 50 states.
Affordability 4.0 CCU has a reasonably low starting APR and a number of ways to save money on its auto products.
Customer experience 4.6 CCU has an easy-to-navigate website and offers six days a week of customer service with a range of hours.
Transparency 4.5 CCU allows borrowers to get prequalified without a hard credit check but doesn't list all of its loan information online.

Methodology

Bankrate's trusted auto loans industry expertise

Read our full methodology

48

years in business

26

lenders reviewed

20

loan features weighed

520

data points collected

The Bankrate team uses a 20-point system to evaluate auto loan lenders across four main categories.

Editorial disclosure: All reviews are prepared by Bankrate.com staff. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the lender’s website for the most current information.

What customers think

What people across the web are saying about Consumers Credit Union

Consumers Credit Union has very few reviews on Trustpilot, but the under 20 reviews that it does have are fairly poor, with a score of 1.8 out of 5 stars. Many reviews reference high interest rates and overdraft fees. Others say that the site is hard to navigate.  That said, not all reviews seem to be related to Consumers Credit Union — one reviewer wrote about Consumers Cooperative, which is a different business.

As with any lender, carefully consider your options and research reviews on your own before you agree to finance.

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