What is the minimum down payment on a car?

Conventional wisdom has long held that 20 percent is the magic down payment number when you're buying a new car. But the vast majority of people are making far smaller down payments. An Edmunds analysis of new- and used-car purchases in 2017 showed that the average car down payment was about 12 percent. read more

Lenders may require more money down on a new car than a used car to offset its quicker depreciation. Typically, an initial payment of 20 percent or more of the purchase price is wise. This works out to $6,000 down on a $30,000 vehicle, resulting in a financed amount of $24,000. read more

Conventional wisdom has long held that 20 percent is the magic down payment number when you're buying a new car. But the vast majority of people are making far smaller down payments. An Edmunds analysis of new- and used-car purchases in 2017 showed that the average car down payment was about 12 percent. read more

How much you put down as a down payment can have big financial consequences. Here's what you need to know. read more

Regardless, this is where having a large down payment for your car comes in handy. The more cash you have on hand, the more leverage you might have in your negotiations with the dealership. When you have 20%, 30%, or 40% saved up, you might be able to negotiate a lower sales price or better terms for your loan. read more