Acura Financing: What To Know Before You Buy
If you’re looking for luxury and reliability, an Acura could fit the bill. But as fun as it is to shop for a new car, you also need to think about how you’re going to pay for it.
Acura financing rates vary based on your credit history, the model you choose and in some cases, your ZIP code. To get the best deal, you need to review your Acura finance options. Comparing your quoted car payment to the average might also help.
How do your Acura payments compare to the average?
Use our auto loan calculator to determine how much car you can afford.Depending on where you’re at in your shopping journey, you might know how much your new Acura will cost each month. If so, we can help you understand how your payments compare to other borrowers with similar credit scores.
The following tables represent average monthly Acura payments for new and used models. Find your credit band, and compare your monthly payment to our estimated average.
Please note that these payments are estimates only, and yours may differ based on your down payment amount, how much you finance and other factors. These figures also do not account for registration costs or dealer fees.
You may be surprised to see that some of our hypothetical borrowers with stronger credit have a higher monthly payment than those with lower scores. That’s because data shows that borrowers with higher credit scores chose shorter loan terms.
Learn more about how we calculated average monthly Acura payments.
Estimated average monthly payments for new Acuras
| Model | Starting MSRP | Monthly payment (501-600 credit score) | Monthly payment (601-660 credit score) | Monthly payment (661-780 credit score) | Monthly payment (781-850 credit score) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Acura MDX | $51,500 | $852.44 | $793.88 | $775.20 | $830.17 |
| 2024 Acura Integra | $32,995 | $498.70 | $464.44 | $453.51 | $485.67 |
| 2024 Acura TLX | $46,195 | $751.03 | $699.14 | $682.98 | $731.41 |
| 2024 Acura RDX | $45,700 | $741.57 | $690.62 | $674.38 | $722.20 |
Estimated average monthly payments for used Acuras
| Model | Fair purchase price | Monthly payment (501-600 credit score) | Monthly payment (601-660 credit score) | Monthly payment (661-780 credit score) | Monthly payment (781-850 credit score) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Acura MDX | $17,523 | $324.45 | $280.73 | $251.89 | $251.27 |
| 2018 Acura ILX | $15,732 | $281.12 | $243.25 | $218.26 | $217.71 |
| 2018 Acura TLX | $19,403 | $369.92 | $320.09 | $287.20 | $286.49 |
| 2018 Acura RDX | $19,431 | $370.06 | $320.67 | $287.73 | $287.01 |
Acura finance options
Now that you know how your payments stack up, it’s time to explore financing options. Choosing the right type of financing is important. Unless you refinance, you could be stuck with your lender for years. Below you’ll find some solid options that might help you get the auto loan with the best terms.
Acura Financial Services
Best if...
The model you’re buying or leasing is on sale through the manufacturer.
Major car manufacturers offer their own financing, and Acura is no exception. However, don’t be alarmed when Acura directs you to Honda Financial Services to apply. Honda owns Acura, but Acura Financial Services (AFS) is Acura’s financing brand.
Acura finance rates are specific to ZIP code and dealership. The easiest (and most accurate) way to see what your annual percentage rate (APR) could be is to get a preapproved car loan on Acura’s website. You could also locate an Acura dealer and stop in for a chat.
Aside from competitive Acura financing deals, financing through AFS could give you access to:
Special APR offers
Throughout the year, Acura puts certain models and model years on sale through special APR offers. Deals vary by state, the amount of your down payment and your credit score.
Special lease offers
Acura also sometimes offers special lease deals by reducing monthly payments on specific models. Note that Acura leasing typically requires a minimum down payment, and only well-qualified buyers are eligible.
Rebates
Recent and upcoming college grads can earn a rebate on a finance or lease. Acura also offers rebates on new purchases for eligible active duty military, veterans, military spouses and Gold Star families.
Acura Loyalty Advantage
Acura extends special benefits to current lessees who buy or lease another Acura. One of these benefits could be an Excessive Wear-and-Use or Damage waiver. Acura may also waive your lease turn-in fee or grant you additional miles on your next lease.
Warranties and maintenance programs
Your Acura could come with several warranties — some complementary and some for an additional cost. Two standard warranties include the new vehicle limited warranty and the powertrain limited warranty. The new vehicle limited warranty lasts for four years or 50,000 (whichever comes first).
If any part on your Acura is defective under normal use, this warranty could kick in (limitations apply). The powertrain limited warranty may cover your engine, transmission and drive systems for six years or 70,000 miles.
Certified pre-owned vehicles
Acura’s certified pre-owned vehicles include model years 2018-2023. They must also have fewer than 80,000 miles and pass a 182-point inspection. Certified pre-owned vehicles from Acura have a limited powertrain warranty that lasts for seven years or 100,000 miles.
Non-powertrain coverage lasts for two years or 100,000 miles. You’ll also get complimentary roadside assistance for two years or 100,000 miles.
It should be noted that you must be a “well-qualified buyer” to take advantage of the best Acura financing deals. However, Acura doesn’t disclose what credit score is needed to buy a car. This — along with Acura’s location-dependent rates — further solidifies that preapproval may be worth your time.
Bank and credit union auto loans
Best if...
You prefer an in-person loan experience.
If you don’t qualify for manufacturer financing, your bank or credit union could be your next stop. Although a bank car loan may carry a higher APR than manufacturer financing, bank rates are typically lower than online auto loans.
A bank loan might also be a great choice if you’re nervous about applying for a loan online. When you apply in person, your loan officer or bank representative will be there to answer any questions you might have.
And even if your bank is brick and mortar, there’s a chance you can still apply online. For example, there are a few ways to get a PNC Bank auto loan, including online, over the phone and in person.
Additionally, your current financial institution might have special APR discounts for its members. While not guaranteed, it may also be willing to look past rocky credit if you have a longstanding relationship with them.
Online auto loans
Best if...
You want to compare multiple offers or have fair credit.
Online auto loans might be perfect if convenience is your priority. You don’t have to leave the house or make an appointment to get an online auto loan. Applying online also makes it easier to compare multiple offers (which can be essential for finding the lowest rate).
No matter your credit profile, there may be an online lender that can accommodate you. Capital One, for instance, often works with good- and bad-credit borrowers alike. But compared to some manufacturer and bank loans, online auto loans can come with higher APRs and fees.
In-house financing
Best if...
You have bad or no credit and can’t qualify for an auto loan from a more traditional lender.
As a last resort, you could turn to in-house financing. Also called “buy here, pay here,” in-house financing means your dealership itself is providing your loan. Although in-house financing may be appealing if you have bad credit, you should explore other options first. In-house loans carry much higher APRs than other types of financing.
Further, you may be restricted to purchasing an Acura that is older than you’d prefer. Cars available at a buy here, pay here lots tend to be older than the model years sold at traditional dealerships.
How we calculated average monthly Acura payments
To calculate average monthly Acura payments, we found estimated starting MSRPs and fair market values for some of Acura’s most popular models. Then, we subtracted an average down payment from each. According to Edmunds, the average down payment on a new vehicle was $6,907 in Q3 2023. For used vehicles, it was $4,111. The resulting figure represents the total amount our hypothetical borrowers financed.
From there, we used our auto loan calculator to figure out average monthly Acura payments, using average APRs and loan terms as reported by Experian’s State of the Automotive Finance Market Q3 2023. You’ll find this data in the tables below. Please note that loan terms were rounded to the nearest whole number during our calculations.
| Subprime (501-600) | Near prime (601-660) | Prime (661-780) | Superprime (781-850) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average APR | 12.28% | 9.60% | 7.01% | 5.64% |
| Average loan term | 73.54 months | 74.00 months | 69.94 months | 61.90 months |
| Subprime (501-600) | Near prime (601-660) | Prime (661-780) | Superprime (781-850) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average APR | 18.89% | 14.12% | 9.73% | 7.66% |
| Average loan term | 66.25 months | 68.43 months | 68.40 months | 64.77 months |
Frequently asked questions
At times, Acura Financial Services offers 0% financing, but only during promotional sales events. It’s not as likely that the manufacturer will offer interest-free financing when inflation is high. Still, it doesn’t hurt to ask your dealer.
At the time of this writing, well-qualified buyers might see APRs between 2.49% and 3.90% on select 2024 Acuras. However, this also depends on what state you live in and what model you’re buying.
The end of the year (October, November and December) can be an awesome time to snag an Acura financing deal. During this time, most vehicle manufacturers run aggressive specials to move as many cars as it can off the lot. That way, dealers have room in their inventory to add next year’s models.
AFS doesn’t disclose its minimum credit score requirements or their definition of “well-qualified buyer.” Generally, lenders review your credit score, payment history, employment history and debt-to-income ratio to determine your eligibility.
Acura also allows cosigners. Adding a second person to your loan could make Acura more likely to approve you, but only if that person has good credit. Also keep in mind that your cosigner has equal access to your vehicle. Missed payments will also impact their credit score.