The expert named ways to increase the chances of car loan approval.

Despite the reduction in car loan rates, it is becoming more difficult for Russians to get them. In the first quarter of 2026, the average car loan rate was 24.5% per annum, having decreased by 0.9 percentage points (percentage points) by the fourth quarter of 2025 and by 3.3 percentage points year-on-year. However, even against the background of cheaper loans, the requirements for borrowers are getting tougher, the head of expert analytics at the Banks financial marketplace told Izvestia on April 27.<url>" by Inna Soldatenkova, who explained how to increase the chances of car loan approval.

According to the expert, banks have become more cautious because last year more people started delaying loan payments, and the banks themselves now take into account mainly only official income — because of this, fewer borrowers receive approval. For the car market, this means a narrowing of demand — some of the buyers who were counting on a loan do not pass scoring or receive approval on less favorable terms.

"In order to increase the chances of approval, it is first important to prepare for the transaction in advance: if possible, reduce the current debt burden, accumulate a higher initial payment and choose a car taking into account the requirements of the bank. The parameters of the car itself directly affect the decision: loans for new cars and cars purchased from authorized dealers are more often approved. In the case of used cars, especially when buying from a private individual, the requirements can be tougher, even to the point of rejection or renegotiation of the terms already in the transaction process," explained Soldatenkova.

It is also important to prepare the documents: check your credit history in advance, make sure that there are no technical delays and that income data is up-to-date. If there have been delays in the past for objective reasons, for example, due to job loss or long-term treatment, then it is better to document this (income statements, dismissal, sick leave) and attach it to the application. In some cases, banks take such circumstances into account and can mitigate the decision.

In addition, you should not focus only on the advertising rate. The total cost of the loan is formed taking into account insurance products, commissions and additional services, and it determines the actual overpayment. Before buying, it makes sense to request a full calculation and compare several offers. This avoids a situation where an initially "profitable" loan becomes significantly more expensive during the transaction.

"Finally, it is worth paying attention to the terms of insurance. A hard hat is often a factor in reducing the rate, but it also increases the total cost of owning a car. It is important to calculate which is more profitable in the long run: a low rate with insurance or a high rate without it. To increase the chance, you can also use technological financial marketplaces," the specialist added.

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Earlier, on April 23, it was reported that in March of this year, the average amount of car loans issued amounted to 1.49 million rubles. Compared to the first month of spring last year, this figure increased by 22.3%. Demand for car loans decreased due to increased recycling and low risk appetite on the part of banks, which place high demands on borrowers.