Auto Loans
LightStream auto loans: rates, rules and who qualifies
LightStream, the online lending brand of Truist Bank, offers loans to buy a new or used car, to buy from a private seller and to refinance an existing car loan.
Instead of arranging financing at the dealership, the money is paid into your own bank account, so you can shop as a cash buyer.
When we checked LightStream's pages on September 28, 2026, new and used car purchase loans were listed at 9.99% to 17.74% APR with AutoPay, and auto refinance loans at 10.24% to 17.99% APR with AutoPay. Rates are 0.50 percentage points higher without AutoPay, and LightStream says the lowest rates require excellent credit.
This is an independent guide. We are not a lender, we do not take applications, and this is not financial advice: LightStream decides whether you are approved and what rate you get. Use this summary to decide whether a LightStream quote is worth comparing with your bank, credit union or dealer offer.
At a glance
- Lender
- LightStream; lending services provided by Truist Bank
- Purchase APR with AutoPay
- 9.99% to 17.74% (checked September 28, 2026)
- Refinance APR with AutoPay
- 10.24% to 17.99% (checked September 28, 2026)
- Loan amounts
- $5,000 to $100,000
- Fees
- No LightStream fees or prepayment penalty; Florida loans add a state documentary stamp tax
What you'll learn
- How LightStream prices a car loan and what the AutoPay discount changes
- Which cars and sellers a LightStream loan can be used for
- What credit profile LightStream says it approves, and how applying affects your credit report
- Which terms to compare before you accept any car loan offer
Who it suits
- Borrowers with good-to-excellent credit who want to buy from any dealer or private seller as a cash buyer
- Drivers who want to refinance a current car loan without limits on the car's age or mileage
- People who are comfortable applying online and choosing their own funding date
Check before you decide
- LightStream says it approves good-to-excellent credit profiles, and a high credit score alone does not guarantee approval.
- Applying triggers a hard credit inquiry with TransUnion or Equifax, and there are no pre-approvals: you find out whether you qualify only by submitting the full online application.
- An approval expires if the money is not transferred to your account within 30 days.
- In Florida, a state documentary stamp tax of slightly more than 0.35% of the loan amount is added to the loan and is not included in the quoted APR.
- Published rates can change without notice; your rate depends on loan purpose, term, amount, credit profile and payment method.
Opens the full guide on this site, with more detail and the sources we used.
Based on 5 sources. How we research our guides