, you can either go through the dealership with Infiniti Finance or go with traditional financing through your bank or a credit union. The dealership may offer better terms, but the other options may offer better support in the long run.

As the luxury brand of Nissan, Infiniti is known for high-end vehicles with style and grace. With higher starting MSRPs, though, buying an Infiniti means financing for most drivers—and for that, you’ll need a solid

car loan

Searching for the best loan is just like shopping for the best

car insurance

rate…and with so many financing options, it can be tough to decide which route to take. That’s why we’ve boiled down the process into seven easy steps so you can drive off into the sunset with your new Infiniti ASAP—and hopefully with favorable loan terms!

MORE:

How to save on Infiniti car insurance costs

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* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

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* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

How to get an Infiniti car loan

Maybe you’ve been eye-balling the brand-new 2023

Infiniti QX60 SUV

or glancing at that pre-owned

Infiniti Q50

every time you drive past the car lot, but now it’s time to take action. Financing an Infiniti is generally a straightforward process—as long as you know what to expect.

Here are the steps to finding an Infiniti auto loan that works for you.

1. Check your credit score

One of the biggest determining factors in the loan terms you’re offered is your credit score. Since all lenders

check your credit score

and history before approving you for a loan, making sure your credit report is in order should be the first thing you do in the car-buying process.

Your credit score (as well as your income) will determine how much you can borrow and what interest rate you’ll be paying. For most lenders, a credit score above 660 is needed for decent loan terms (more on that later), but Infiniti Financing Auto Loan will consider applicants with a credit score of at least 650.

If your credit score is below that, you’re not out of luck. Some lenders will still provide auto loans to customers who are trying to buy a car with bad credit—just be ready to pay a higher interest rate. If your credit score is poor, you may be able to get a cosigner for your loan to bring down your interest.

MORE:

How to get a car loan as a first-time buyer

2. Compare terms from lenders

When deciding who to borrow from, you’ve got a few options to sort through. You can get a car loan from a credit union, your bank, or through Infiniti Financial Services at your Infiniti dealership.

To make sure you’re making the best financial move, it’s a good idea to compare loan terms from at least three different lenders. Do some research to see which lenders may offer you the best deals before you apply for pre-approval. You’ll want to search for the following :

A shorter loan term: 60 months or less

A low

APR

: less than 5%

Reasonable monthly car payments: no more than 10 to 15% of your monthly income

If you’re considering borrowing with Infiniti Financial, be sure to note that they don’t offer car loans longer than 60 months—which may save you some interest money in the long run. They also don’t have a minimum annual income eligibility requirement, but they only consider borrowers who are employed.

If you’re financing through another lender, make sure to note if they have any exclusions or restrictions. Some lenders won’t approve loans for certain types of cars or manufacturers, and other lenders only fund cars purchased through approved dealerships.

3. Get pre-approved

Once you have a good idea of which lenders may work better for you, it’s time to apply for pre-approval. These applications will require the following information:

Social Security number

Employment proof

Driver’s license or other photo ID

Income documents (paystubs, tax returns, etc.)

While pre-approval applications do hard credit checks, they’ll also provide you with the most accurate idea of how much you can expect to pay in interest. In most cases, you can apply online with the lenders you’ve chosen—including Infiniti Financial Services. Getting loan terms from several lenders will give you more power to negotiate at the dealership, too.

Pro Tip: Always check out the customer ratings for any lender you’re considering. Even if a lender has the best rates, it may not be worth it if they’re unreliable or difficult to deal with.

MORE:

What is a good interest rate on a car?

4. Establish your budget

The preapproval offers you get will tell you the maximum amount you can borrow—but that doesn’t mean you should spend that much on your car. Make sure you factor in other costs on top of the car’s sticker price, like your down payment, the trade-in value of your old car, and your state’s car sales tax.

You’ll also want to consider the monthly payment to make sure you can swing your loan payments. If the preapproval offer’s monthly payment estimate feels unrealistic for your budget, remember that you can borrow less than what you’re approved for.

5. Decide on your Infiniti model

Now that you have your budget sorted out, you know a ballpark number of what kind of prices you can consider at the car lot—and whether a new or used Infiniti is in your future.

If you’re considering a used Infiniti, make sure to note that Infiniti Financial Services only provides loans for new or certified pre-owned Infinitis that are five model years old or newer. For models older than that, you can find car financing through a bank or credit union. Used cars generally come with higher APRs than new vehicles—but your overall payment is likely to be much more affordable.

MORE:

What is a car loan-to-value ratio?

6. Consider the dealer’s loan offer

When you’ve taken a few

test drives

and found the Infiniti of your dreams, it’s time to talk finances with the dealer. Even if you’ve decided on a lender, you could earn a sweeter interest rate at the dealership—especially with a few preapprovals in your pocket to negotiate with.

Car salespeople and dealership finance departments are always looking for ways to get your business, so applying for an Infiniti Financing Auto Loan may unlock some favorable loan terms for you, including lower interest rates and monthly payments.

Infiniti Financial will often approve or deny your application within one hour and provide funds for your car loan within one business day. Before applying for an Infiniti Financial loan, be sure to note you’ll need the following documentation:

Recent pay stubs

Driver's license

Proof of citizenship or residence permit

7. Seal the deal

If the Infiniti dealership offers irresistible loan terms, you may want to check the fine print before signing on the dotted line. It’s not unlike car dealerships to slip in additional terms to your contract, so be on the lookout for:

Extra hidden fees

Extended loan terms, which lead to a higher APR

Sneaky add-ons, like unnecessary or expensive

gap insurance

No matter which lender you go with, it’s crucial to always make your payments on time. If your credit score improves or you get a better job in the future, you can always try to refinance your car to get better loan terms, too.

Find out if you can reduce your monthly car payments in minutes

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Check your rate

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

MORE:

Are Infinitis expensive to maintain?

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