Mercedes Financing: What To Know Before You Buy

Looking to splash out on a Mercedes-Benz but stressed over how to afford it? Many financing options are available to help you drive off the dealer lot in your luxury ride, whether your heart is set on a new convertible, sedan or SUV.

To help bring your new ride home, we’ve evaluated some of the most common ways to get Mercedes-Benz financing.

How do your Mercedes payments compare to the average?

Use our auto loan calculator to determine how much car you can afford.

The payments shown below serve as a guide to give you an idea of what you might pay each month depending on your credit score. Bear in mind that the terms of your auto loan will vary based on a host of factors including your payment history and income.

Your loan term, interest rate and down payment also affect how much you will owe each month. Car loans with longer terms tend to have lower monthly payments. However, you could end up with higher monthly payments if you have a higher interest rate due to a lower credit score.

Also, keep in mind that you may need to borrow more than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) to cover additional expenses, such as extended warranty costs and estimated taxes and fees.

Looking at the hypothetical payments presented below, you may wonder why some buyers with solid credit scores have higher monthly payments. That’s because many higher-credit borrowers finance their cars over shorter terms, which tends to increase their monthly payments.

Learn more about how we calculated average monthly Mercedes payments.

Estimated average monthly payments for new Mercedes

Estimated average monthly payments for used Mercedes

Mercedes finance options

Shopping around for an auto loan may not top your list of fun things to do. However, the money you may save with better terms and rates can make it worth your time.

 Mercedes-Benz Financial Services

Best for...

Shoppers who need a larger auto loan.

Qualifying buyers may obtain a loan directly from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. Keep in mind, your annual percentage rate (APR) will vary based on where you live, as well as the year and model of the Mercedes you want to buy.

Before visiting your local dealership, you can apply for preapproval online to see the terms the manufacturer is willing to offer. Note that though the minimum credit score isn’t publicly listed, you may have trouble getting a loan if your credit score is below 650.

Here are some of the reasons to consider financing through Mercedes-Benz:

Certified pre-owned vehicles

Every Mercedes-Benz vehicle that qualifies under the manufacturer’s certified pre-owned (CPO) program must be less than six years old and must pass a 165-point inspection. Every CPO comes with a 12-month limited warranty, which kicks in after the car’s original 4-year/50,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty expires.

Larger loan amounts

Luxury and higher price tags tend to go hand-in-hand. Traditional banks and online lenders may limit how much you can borrow to buy the Mercedes-Benz you’re coveting. That means you might need to make a larger down payment or pick a less expensive model.

Warranties and maintenance plans

Every new Mercedes-Benz vehicle comes with a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty. Want additional security for your investment? A Mercedes-Benz extended warranty lets you extend your coverage by up to three years or up to 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

An extended warranty offers peace of mind because it covers repairs for potential mechanical breakdowns or equipment failures. The extended coverage begins when the original warranty coverage ends, so you won’t drive without protection.

Plus, when you purchase a new Mercedes-Benz, you can add the optional prepaid maintenance plan to help cover routine maintenance costs, such as oil changes and filter replacements.

 Bank and credit union auto loans

Best for...

Shoppers who belong to a bank or credit union.

It’s worth checking with your local bank or credit union before financing a car, as they tend to offer competitive rates and terms.

Banks may offer discounted rates to account holders, and most let you apply online for an auto loan. Certain banks such as Chase Bank let you prequalify online, so you can check your financing options without triggering a hard inquiry on your credit report.

Remember that banks typically require high credit scores before granting a loan, so qualifying for financing could be tough if your credit score is low.

Credit unions typically offer more flexible financing options. If you are a credit union member, you could get lower rates than you would at a bank. Navy Federal Credit Union members, for example, can get discounted rates and longer repayment terms.

 Online auto loans

Best for...

Shoppers who want to compare terms.

You can find a variety of financing options through online lenders. Most lenders let you get prequalified online without doing a hard credit pull, so you can compare different offers to see if one fits you. This way, you can rest assured that your credit score won’t drop as you shop around and compare offers.

 In-house financing

Best for...

Shoppers with bad credit.

In-house financing directly through your auto dealer may be an attractive choice when you can’t get a car loan from a traditional lender. Though it may be easier to get approved for a loan — some dealerships don’t even check your credit — in-house financing typically comes with exorbitant rates and dealership fees. Note that your car could be disabled or repossessed if you fall behind on your payments.

How we calculated average monthly Mercedes payments

To calculate average monthly Mercedes-Benz payments, we found the estimated starting MSRPs and the fair purchase price for some of the manufacturer’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 $6,682 in Q1 2024. For used vehicles, it was $4,133. The resulting figure represents the total amount our hypothetical borrowers financed.

From there, we used our auto loan calculator to figure out average monthly Mercedes payments, using average APRs and loan terms as reported by Experian’s State of the Automotive Finance Market Q1 2024. You’ll find this data in the tables below. Please note that loan terms were rounded to the nearest whole number during our calculations.