Looking to finance a Tesla? While you can get a car loan through Tesla’s website, it’s possible that you could find a better deal if you seek financing from a bank or credit union.

Tesla: the king of electric vehicles. It’s a sleek head-turner that’s basically a high-tech gadget on wheels. Everyone seems to have an opinion about Teslas, but the general consensus is that they’re really fun to drive—and can even drive themselves!

The options for financing a vehicle are so plentiful that it can be hard to know what the right choice is. To find the best deal, car insurance comparison app and licensed broker Jerry is giving you a breakdown on how to get a car loan for your Tesla.

How to get a Tesla car loan

Maybe you’re considering the immensely popular Model 3 or the larger Model Y. Either way, getting a car loan for your Tesla isn’t overly complicated. You’ll want to check your credit score, compare rates and loan terms from no less than three different lenders, and get preapproved for a loan.

Check your credit

Before you begin loan hunting, it’s crucial to know what your credit score looks like. Your credit score has a major impact on the terms and interest rate of your car loan. In general, anything over 660 is viewed as a good credit score for a loan.

If you have a credit score that’s below 660, you may still be able to qualify for a car loan for your Tesla if you finance it through their website. Tesla Lending may approve you for a loan if you can prove that you’re able to make payments. Proof of income or a co-applicant are both great ways to demonstrate financial reliability.

Let’s take a look at the table below to see the average APR and monthly payment amounts for different Tesla models based on your credit score. Keep in mind that Tesla currently only offers loans for models 3, S, X, and Y or used Teslas. Financing outside of these parameters would require going through a third-party lender.

Credit Rating

Car Make	Average Annual Interest Rate	Average Monthly Payment
TESLA	8.86	$365

MORE: How to get a cosigner for a bad credit car loan

Compare lenders

Now that you’ve seen the kinds of loans you could qualify for, you’ll need to choose a lender. A car loan is available to you through Tesla’s financier, through a credit union, or through your bank. Be aware that if you are placing a car order on Tesla’s website and financing your purchase, your vehicle can only be delivered to specific states.

Make sure you compare offers from at least three lenders before you make a final decision. Here are some qualities of a good car loan:

Short loan term: 60 months or less
Low annual percentage rate (APR): 4.93 percent or lower
Manageable monthly payment: No more than 10 to 15 percent of your monthly income

It’s not just about the numbers! Take customer service into consideration. A lender with low payments and a high rate of approval might not be the best option if they have poor customer reviews or you have trouble getting into contact with a representative.

Get preapproved

If you’re able to get preapproved for a car loan this gives you the opportunity to negotiate better loan terms when you actually sign the agreement. In order to get preapproved, start by filling out a loan application. You’ll need to include the following information:

Social Security Number
Proof of employment
Copy of your driver’s license or a valid photo ID
Income documentation (paystubs, etc.)

Key Takeaway: To get a loan for a Tesla, check your credit score, compare rates from lenders, and look into getting preapproved. Remember—Tesla’s financing and purchasing processes are both done online.

Average loan term for a Tesla car loan

Currently, the most common loan term in the United States is 72 months or six years. This is not an ideal length if you’re hoping to pay your loan off quickly. As a general rule, if you can manage higher monthly payments, loan terms that are 60 months or less are best because you pay less interest.

Tesla is unique in that the loan terms they offer are restrictive compared to other car companies. Not only is financing not available in every state, but it’s also not available for all Tesla models. Also, there are certain models, like the Model X, for which 60 months or 72 months are the only loan terms offered by Tesla Lending.

If these terms aren’t sitting well with you, Tesla allows you to secure financing through a third-party lender—like a bank or credit union.

To get a better idea of what your monthly payment and interest rate might be, check out the table below.

Credit Rating

Loan Terms	Average Annual Interest Rate	Average Monthly Payment
24	11.7	$701
36	9.1	$474
48	8.53	$366
60	8.46	$304
72	8.78	$266

MORE: Should you get a 72-month car loan?

Finding a Tesla car loan in your state

Your car loan payments and interest rates differ depending on what state you live in. Having a local lender is helpful because they understand the financial climate where you live and may be able to offer you the lowest APR your credit score will allow.

Take a look at what you could pay for a Tesla car loan in your state.

Credit Rating	Average Annual Interest Rate	Average Monthly Payment
Fair	17.46	$423
Good	8.88	$364
Very Good	5.19	$341
Excellent	3.91	$333

MORE: What is APR and how is it calculated?

Tesla car loans: new vs. used

As mentioned, car loans are only available for new Tesla models 3, S, X, and Y or used models if you’re financing your purchase through Tesla Lending.

Interested in a car loan for a used or older model Tesla? It’s probably a good idea to consult a bank or credit union. The APR will be higher for a used car loan, but the total sum will likely be smaller.

If you’re curious about how a car’s age affects a loan, the table below shows how your monthly payment and APR could be broken down based on the model year of your Tesla.

State

Car Year	Average Annual Interest Rate	Average Monthly Payment
2021	7.97	$308
2020	8.4	$312
2019	8.6	$312
2018	8.4	$310
2017	8.61	$312
2016	8.76	$313
2015	8.97	$315
2014	8.94	$383
2013	9.02	$384
2012	9.92	$515
2011	9.92	$515
2010	9.92	$515

MORE: 7 things to look for when buying a used car

How to calculate the costs for a Tesla loan

Now that you know your monthly payment and APR will depend on your credit rating, loan term, loan amount, and location, you can use Jerry’s car loan calculator to see what you could pay with a Tesla car loan.

State

Credit Rating

Loan Terms

Loan Amount

Average Annual Interest Rate	Average Monthly Payment
8.86	$365

Save money on Tesla insurance with Jerry

However you go about financing your Tesla, avoid paying too much for car insurance by consulting expert insurance broker and super app Jerry.

Jerry fits right in your pocket and is available 24/7. Plus, it’s so easy to use! All you need to do is answer a few basic questions about yourself and your Tesla and in under a minute you’ll be scrolling through a comprehensive list of competitive quotes from 50+ top insurance companies.

You won’t need to fill out any boring forms or wait on hold with insurance agents. Jerry takes care of that for you. Not only that, once you decide to switch policies Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy!

Your Tesla was a big investment, so you’ll want to keep it protected with the right coverage and maximize savings at the same time. The average Jerry user saves about $887 a year on car insurance.