Truist Auto Loans: Secured Loans, LightStream, Rates and Rules

How Truist auto financing works

Depending on your location, Truist offers secured and unsecured auto loans for buying a new car, buying a used car from a dealer or a private seller, and refinancing. The unsecured option is LightStream, which Truist describes as a Truist lending product. We cover LightStream on its own in our separate LightStream auto loans guide.^[1][6]

The key difference is collateral. A secured loan uses your car as collateral, and staying current on payments helps you keep it. An unsecured loan has no collateral, and Truist notes it may therefore carry a higher interest rate.^[3]

Sources^[2][3][4]

Truist also finances cars through dealers. Its page for dealerships describes Truist as an indirect prime auto finance company with dealer relationship managers across the United States.^[7]

Who each loan suits

For secured auto loans, Truist says there is no set credit score requirement, although higher scores are viewed more favorably and can mean lower rates. It also weighs your income, debt-to-income ratio and any down payment you plan to make.^[2][3]

LightStream is stricter. Truist says it requires good-to-excellent credit profiles: several years of credit history across different account types (5 or more years for excellent profiles), savings or investment assets, stable income that covers existing debts plus the new loan, and few or no late payments. A high FICO score does not guarantee approval, and joint applicants are reviewed equally.^[3]

Depending on your credit history, Truist says you may want to consider a cosigner or joint applicant, and a Truist teammate will tell you after you apply whether one is needed.^[1]

• Our view of a likely fit for the secured loan: you live near a Truist branch in one of the listed states, your car is within the age and mileage limits, and you want the lower published rate range.
• Our view of a likely fit for LightStream: strong credit, an older or high-mileage car, or no Truist branch nearby.
• Our view of a weaker fit for both: thin or damaged credit. Get quotes from lenders whose requirements you know you meet.

Rates and terms, as published

These are the ranges Truist published on September 30, 2026, the day we checked. They can change without notice, and your rate depends on your application.^[2][3][4][5]

Sources^[2][3][4][5]

For the secured loan, Truist says the APR can differ with the amount, term and your credit profile, excellent credit is required for the lowest rates, and less than a majority of applicants qualified for the lowest rate. Offers are subject to credit approval under Truist's underwriting guidelines, including debt-to-income and FICO score criteria.^[3]

For LightStream, the AutoPay discount is only available before the loan funds, and rates without AutoPay are 0.50 percentage points higher. Truist says at least 33% of approved applicants who applied for the lowest rate qualified for it, based on data from April 1 to June 30, 2026, and the maximum APR for any LightStream loan is 25.44%.^[3]

Once you are approved, Truist holds the interest rate for 30 days, as long as nothing changes in your application or loan terms.^[2]

Fees and other costs

Neither loan has an origination fee or a prepayment penalty. With the secured loan, late payment and returned payment fees vary by state; LightStream charges no late fees. In both cases you still pay the standard taxes, title and registration fees required by the dealership or your state.^[3]

Truist advises comparing APRs when you compare offers, because the APR reflects both the interest rate and any lender-imposed fees.^[3]

Truist's page for dealerships lists a dealer compensation program allowing a rate spread of up to 2%.^[7]

Our reading: when a dealer arranges the financing, part of the APR you are quoted may be the dealer's compensation. A direct quote from Truist or another lender before you visit gives you a number to compare against.

How applying and funding work

• Check availability: Truist's loan pages ask for your ZIP code to show the loans offered in your area.
• Secured loan: apply in person at a branch, or by phone if you already have a Truist account. You can schedule an appointment with a Truist teammate.
• LightStream loan: apply online.
• Preapproval is not required before you find a vehicle.

Sources^[1][3]

• Income and employment information.
• Your driver's license.
• Verification of the personal details you give, such as your address.
• For a purchase, a copy of the bill of sale or buyer's order.
• For a refinance, a copy of your current registration.

Sources^[1]

Both loans can fund as soon as the same day. For a secured loan, your loan officer tells you which documents will speed up approval. For LightStream, same-day funding by wire is possible on a banking business day if you are approved and finish signing, funding details and final verification before 2:30 p.m. Eastern time. LightStream funding can be scheduled within 30 days of approval and only into a personal bank account.^[3][6]

Truist's private-party loan FAQ notes that the lender runs a hard inquiry when you apply, which may lower your credit score slightly at first.^[4]

Limits and fine print

• Secured used, private-party and refinance loans cover cars up to 20 prior model years and 120,000 miles.
• Branches offering the secured loan are only in AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, IN, KY, MD, MS, NJ, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA and WV.
• The minimum loan amount may vary in some states to comply with state law.
• To refinance an existing Truist secured auto loan, you must first make 6 contractual payments.
• LightStream refinance loans cannot pay off another LightStream loan or be used for cash-out refinancing.
• To refinance, the title must be in your name, and Truist limits how much negative equity it will refinance.
• Advertised rates and terms can change without notice.

Sources^[1][3][4][5]

What to compare it with

Truist points out that with dealership financing you are limited to the lenders the dealership works with, which may mean less competitive rates or terms, while a loan straight from a lender lets you shop around.^[4]

• A credit union or your own bank.
• The automaker's finance company, if it has a promotion on the model you want.
• Your current loan, if a refinance would save only a little over the remaining term.

• What is the APR, is it fixed, and what is the total repaid?
• Is the loan secured by the car, and are there limits on its age or mileage?
• Are there late fees or other fees, and any penalty for paying off early?
• Is the credit check a hard or soft inquiry?