Exeter Auto Loan
Who Exeter Auto Loan is
Exeter Auto Loan is a free online loan-matching service based in Columbus, Ohio, that connects US drivers with independent lenders offering personal loans of $500 to $5,000 for car expenses.
We started with a simple observation: most car bills arrive without warning. A failed alternator, a cracked windshield, an insurance deductible after a fender-bender or a set of tires before winter can easily cost $400 to $2,500, and few household budgets have that much set aside. Comparing lenders one at a time takes hours and can mean filling out the same form again and again. Exeter Auto Loan lets a driver describe the need once and see whether lenders in our network are willing to make an offer.
To date we have matched about 73,000 customers with lenders, and borrowers rate their experience 4.5 out of 5 on average across 3,650 ratings. Those numbers describe the matching experience, not any particular lender's loan terms.
Our mission
Our mission is to help people keep their cars on the road by making it faster and clearer to compare legitimate personal loan offers for the costs that come with owning a vehicle.
A car is how most Americans get to work, school, medical appointments and the grocery store. When a repair is put off, a small problem often becomes a large one: worn brake pads that cost around $150 to $300 to replace can damage rotors and push the bill past $600. We want drivers to make that decision with clear information, including the honest option of not borrowing at all.
What we are not
Exeter Auto Loan is not a lender, broker of record or financial adviser. We do not make loans, approve applications, set interest rates or decide loan terms; every one of those decisions belongs to the lender.
- We never charge you a fee to submit a request.
- You are never obligated to accept an offer you receive.
- We do not take payments on behalf of lenders and never ask for payment to "unlock" an offer.
- We are independent and are not affiliated with Exeter Finance LLC or any similarly named lender.
How the matching service works
You complete one secure request describing the amount, purpose and basic financial details; we share it with lenders in our network, and any lender interested in working with you presents its own offer and terms.
Submitting a request typically involves a soft credit inquiry, which does not affect credit scores. If you choose an offer and continue with a lender, that lender may run a hard inquiry before final approval. Typical personal-loan APRs run from about 6% to 35.99% depending on credit, income, state and lender, and terms commonly run 6 to 60 months. A step-by-step walkthrough is on our how the matching process works page.
How Exeter Auto Loan is paid
Lenders and partners in our network pay Exeter Auto Loan a fee when we refer a request or when a loan closes; borrowers pay us nothing, and lenders pay nothing extra because you used us.
Compensation can influence which lenders appear in our network and the order in which offers are displayed. It does not influence the rate a lender quotes you, which is based on that lender's own underwriting. Full details are in our advertiser disclosure.
Editorial standards for our guides
Every guide on this site is written to answer a real driver's question with specific numbers, plain language and no pressure to borrow, and each guide is reviewed for accuracy before it is published.
We follow a few rules on every page:
- Estimates are labeled as estimates. Repair prices, APRs and monthly payments vary by region, vehicle and lender, so we present ranges and say so.
- Borrowing is one option, not the only one. Our guides discuss shop payment plans, negotiating a repair quote, insurer payment schedules and emergency savings alongside personal loans.
- Compensation never buys coverage. Lenders cannot pay to change what our articles say.
- Pages are updated. When typical costs or lending practices change, we revise the affected guides.
Who writes our guides
Three editors write and review the guides in our car-cost blog, each covering a specific area: consumer credit, auto repair pricing, and household budgeting and insurance.
- Corinne Ashby, Consumer Credit Editor, covers APRs, credit scores, loan terms and how to compare offers responsibly.
- Theo Brandvold, Auto Repair Cost Analyst, is an ASE-certified former service advisor who explains what repairs cost, how shops build estimates and when a quote looks too high.
- Malik Easterbrook, Personal Finance Writer, focuses on budgeting, insurance premiums and deductibles, and building an emergency fund on a tight income.
What drivers use Exeter Auto Loan for
Drivers most often use our service for auto repairs, car insurance premiums and deductibles, used-car down payments, and tires and brakes, with requests ranging from $500 to $5,000.
| Need | Typical cost range (estimate) |
|---|---|
| Brake pads and rotors, one axle | $250 to $700 |
| Set of four mid-range tires, installed | $500 to $1,000 |
| Alternator or starter replacement | $400 to $1,000 |
| Collision deductible | $500 to $1,000 |
| Used-car down payment | $1,000 to $4,000 |
Other car costs, such as towing, registration renewal or a replacement battery, can also be covered by a personal loan, though for small amounts a lower-cost option may make more sense.
Get in touch with us
Our support team in Columbus answers questions about the matching process, your request and your privacy choices by email at [email protected] or by phone at (888) 344-8428.
Questions about a specific loan offer, payment or approval decision should go directly to the lender that made the offer, because only that lender can see and change your loan account.
