Features
LightStream is a leading provider of unsecured auto loans. It is the personal loan division of SuntTrust Bank, which is the largest bank with headquarters in Georgia ($205 billion in assets). LightStream offers unsecured loans for a variety of purposes, but it provides the lowest rates for auto loans on vehicles purchased from a dealer.
Auto loans for new vehicles are as low as 2.19% APR if you sign up for automatic payments. SunTrust Bank is an accredited business of the BBB and has an A+ rating. Standard & Poor's give it a BBB+ (stable) rating, and Moody's gives it an a3 rating (stable).
How Do LightStream's Auto Loans Work?
LightStream's auto loans provide an easy and fast way to qualify for low rates and prime terms. LightStream's auto loans do not include additional charges, prepayment penalties or origination fees. The entire process can be completed within the same day if you meet LightStream's eligibility criteria.
Lighstream Auto Loans can be used to purchase new cars, used cars, classic cars, and to refinance an existing auto loan. However, rates do change depending on the type of auto loan you choose.
What Are LightStream's Auto Loans Rates?
Rates range from as low as 2.19% APR to 7.54% APR with AutoPay depending on the loan amount, term, credit rating and purpose of the loan.
A loan for a new vehicle has a rate that can range from 2.19% APR to 6.19% APR (with AutoPay).
A used auto purchase from an individual has rates as low as 3.29% APR to 7.39% APR (with AutoPay).
Auto refinance loans have rates as low as 2.49% APR to 7.24% APR (with AutoPay).
Loans with shorter terms and larger amounts tend to have lower rates. The rates mentioned above include a 0.50% APR discount for signing up for automatic payments. If you do not sign up for AutoPay, add 0.50% APR to the rates quoted above. To illustrate, monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 5.79% APR with a term of 3 years would result in 36 monthly payments of $303.27.
How Much Money Can I Borrow from LightStream Auto Loans?
LightStream loan amounts range from $5,000 to $100,000. A 60-month loan of $100,000 with a 9.99% APR would have monthly payments of $2,124 while the same loan with a 1.99% APR would be $1,752 a month. To illustrate the cost, a LightStream loan of $10,000 for a used auto purchase from a dealer at 5.79% APR with a term of 3 years would result in 36 monthly payments of $303.27.
What Is LightStream's Application Process Like?
LightStream's application process is simple and fast to process. Eligible borrowers must have good to excellent credit and sufficient income to cover their current debt and the new loan. The application process only takes minutes to complete, and LightStream confirms the information online, so there is no need for faxing or mailing documents.
How Are LightStream Auto Loans Better than Other Auto Loans?
- LightStream has some of the lowest rates for auto loans (as low as 2.19% APR with autopay).
- There are no origination fees, prepayment penalties or any other hidden charges.
- The loan application process can be completed in one business day. In some cases, you can fund your loan within the same day if you meet the following requirements: (1) review and electronically sign your loan agreement; (2) provide your funding preferences and relevant banking information, and (3) complete the final verification process.
- Rates vary depending on the type of auto loan. This allows LightStream to fine tune rates by risk.
- Loans are unsecured and have fixed rates.
Automatic Payments
Check by mail
Credit/Debit Card
Recent bank statements
Recent pay stubs
Driver license (or other photo ID)
Proof of citizenship/residence
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Reviews
This place sucks. Filled out the form twice, kept telling I was approved, but when I went to check the actual loan, they said my email--which I double checked twice, it's auto fill in--didn't match. I guess I don't match them either, I want a competent lender.
I applied for the $5000 loan to buy a used motorcycle from private seller. I have 706+ Credit Score and can save this amount in 2 pay checks. I just wanted to build my credit history, that's why was looking into loan option. But it effected my credit score with hard inquiry. I'll never use their services again.
Good financial standing, decent income, satisfactory credit? Don't worry, you'll be denied for a $10,000 loan and not given an opportunity to understand why. They can't even respond to inquiries with their correct phone number. Save your time and take your business somewhere else.
My spouse and I applied for a used auto loan and were denied in less than 10 hours without any questions or calls. We have excellent credit, stable jobs, and savings three times the purchase price of the car. It was an automatic hard inquiry so be very careful before applying. Don't even bother if you have a 750 credit score and a good amount of savings. These people seem like a fraud because they make money selling your information to their partners especially when there's a denial. We have been approved elsewhere, but these people are a sham. The 5 star reviews are either fake or paid reviews. I wouldn't recommend it to any of my family or friends. There are many other online lenders that will approve at a great rate and so will credit unions.
I applied online on a Tuesday, got the money direct deposited Thursday afternoon. I had several calls back and forth that week with customer service and had to fax verification items to them. Their staff is courteous and helpful but the constant calls really cut into my work days. Since then they have called and emailed for more verification docs, I emailed and they asked again a month later for the same thing. It is quite aggravating. I have purchased two cars through Capital One - online application, had the blank check within a day, bought the car, set up autopay, done. That is not the case with Lightstream. I bought my car at the end of February. I am still getting calls from Customer Service asking for more verification on the purchase. I sent the Oklahoma title transfer form with the sale price clearly indicated - they want a bill of sale. I didn't get one, didn't need one. Now they want the money back that I haggled down on price. I bought a 72 Nova which now needs a wiring harness, a fuel pump, a new carb etc. Not to mention the $1400 to transfer an out of state title. I don't have that "extra" money, I spent it, I didn't keep all the receipts. Now I'm in a pickle and am stressed out. I feel harrassed and will never EVER use this company again. I have great credit and have the loan set up on autopay, I'm actively paying. I do not default on loans. I don't understand why they can't just let me pay it off and leave me be!!
Applied with Lightstream and another bank 785+ credit scores. Received other bank approval within 1hr. Took 3 days for Lightstream. Still we choose to use them as our other accounts are with SunTrust. Since loan inception we've been harangued with a endless list of requests for info that they they should have requested on initiation. Can't recommend them. Attention to detail is not their strong point.
WARNING - LIGHTSTREAM IS HORRIBLE! Don't even bother applying to a company with so many negative reviews from people with outstanding credit! There is no personal experience - no "real person" to speak with, it's automated with very tight standards, even I don't understand! I have 800+ Credit / 100k income / Zero Credit Card Debt / More Money in the Bank than the auto loan I applied for, and was still denied!! (my credit union approved me in 30 minutes). My guess is they looked at three home loans on my credit report - not recognizing that two of the homes are rental properties generating positive income and just calculated my debt-to-income was out of wack... crazy that they don't ask for details - just a rude "your denied". This company is losing lots and lots of great business just by their "quick and easy" approach. I knew there was no way I'd get denied, so I was suckered into applying by their low advertised rates - don't you be a sucker too! Any credit union on the planet will give you a loan at low rates and you don't have to be a member to apply! I used Security Service Credit Union.
Super fast sign up process, particularly if you can easily pull up online accounts as needed for requested info such as mortgage payments/balance, acct holdings, and so on. Received approval via email in less than 2 hours without any additional paperwork. Completed the finalization process and received the money next day (accepted the loan/finalized late in the day). Got a 1.99% on a non-secured loan for $17k. That said, I have excellent credit (820s) and could have paid outright but didn't want to spend a sizable chunk of the emergency fund. Most of the complaints are about not being approved. The process itself and how Lightstream manages itself (all online) have been excellent in my opinion.
The process was extremely easy and professional. I filled out an application at about 2:00pm on a Sunday evening and was approved for the loan at about 5:15pm that same day. Accepted the great interest rate and was eligible for the funds the very next day. I couldn't believe I was actually getting the loan without any hassle until the funds were deposited into my account. Truly amazing fast and efficient experience. I would recommend Lightstream to anyone with good credit to apply.
DO NOT use this company. They have very misleading information and promises on their website. Their customer service is terrible. They provided my with inaccurate information. They ignored multiple emails and questions that I sent to them. I begged them for a phone number or for someone to contact me once the emails went ignored but they continued to respond with generic email responses. DO NOT TRUST this company with your information. No rate is worth the frustration and stress they will cause you. I will find a trustworthy company who listens and cares about their customers than ever deal with them again.
When I bought my first car a few years ago, I had no idea about interest rates or what was a good rate compared to what wasn't. As I've built my credit score, I decided I could get a lower rate. I refinanced through LS and they have been great. I am so happy with my experience.
It is frustrating when you are told one thing, but in reality, it is not the truth. I was told I could make multiple payments within one month and not be charged interest (to pay down the loan faster) but I was charged interest anyway. Supposedly, you have to pay both payments on the same day. I was not aware of this..
I was actually referred to Lightstream through an online lending site. I refinanced and got a lower apr, almost half than what my previous loan had. Also, it only took a few hours for everything to be done. I'm ecstatic to finally have lower monthly payments so I can finally start saving up!
I recently got a car loan from lightstream, even with a "fair" credit score, my interest rate was lower than it would have been at my bank. I did notice that the FICO credit score is the only one they seemed to look at. the loan processing was fairly simple and it was approved quickly.
I was funded for a car loan the next day! I applied one night, did the phone interview the next day, and was approved and funded later that night. What a great process! This is exactly what I needed. I would recommend Lightstream more than any other lending company!
I was approved for a car loan through Light Stream at a lower rate than any other lenders I'd looked at. Obviously, this is important because I can't be paying off interest for the rest of my life. The application was beyond easy and I was approved the next day. Couldn't be more satisfied.
I recently applied for a loan through LightStream when buying out my Mazda auto lease. The application process was pretty straightforward. Not the most amazing or innovative application process but quick and easy enough. They had a couple follow up questions so I had to call them to confirm a few things. I was sent an approval via email the same day I did that. So the whole process took about 24 hours if I remember correctly. I was approved for a rate of 2.79%. Mazda's financing office had told me the lowest they could go was 3.5%. So I forwarded the offer to my contact there and suddenly Mazda was able to go down to 2.69% for 60 months via a Chase loan. So I just took the loan through Mazda for convenience sake. If Mazda had not undercut them, I definitely would have moved forward with LightStream. They are a great online alternative to some of the traditional channels for loans.
Lightstream made a major error that is now costing me a huge headache. I was working with another financial institution to consolidate all of my debts, including the car loan I had through Lightstream. They messed up and now I am trying to figure it all out. What a nightmare.
I needed to refinance my auto loan (through a different lender) and Lightstream made it simple to do. I applied and within a two days everything was done. Talk about fast service! I am so impressed with how quickly everything was processed. I didn't expect it, but it was a pleasant surprise.
I love how straightforward LightStream is. They didn't try to beat around the bush or do anything like that when I tried to refinance with them. They deposited the money I needed into my account within a few days so I could pay off my original car loan. I would definitely recommend them.
Lightstream was so convenient to use! I needed to get a car as quickly as possible when mine broke down, but couldn't bear to pay insane interest rates. They managed to deliver on this! I got a great rate on my loan and had everything done within a few days. How awesome is that!
I am a little frustrated with Light Stream. They were extremely simple to apply with. I feel like an idiot could get a loan through them. I requested to make principle only payments, but there must have been some sort of communication issue, because after two months I noticed that I was still being charged and paying for interest.
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