
Auto Loan Pre-Approval: How to Get Pre-Approved Before You Buy
Getting pre-approved for an auto loan before you visit the dealership is one of the smartest moves you can make as a car buyer. Pre-approval
PrimeRates provides access to personalized loan offers through our simple and quick pre-qualification application. Once you’re pre-qualified, you can select the best offer for you and finalize the loan application with the lender.
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Simple pre-qual application in less than 1 minute.
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Choose the offer that best fits your needs.
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Finalize your loan offer, get approved, and receive funds.
Home improvement projects can range from a few thousand dollars for a bathroom refresh to $50,000+ for a major kitchen remodel or home addition. Personal loans are one of the fastest and simplest ways to finance renovations — no home equity required, no appraisal, and funds available in as little as one day.
Compare the best lenders for home improvement personal loans below.
| Lender | APR range | Loan range | Min. credit | Funding |
| LightStream | 7.49% – 25.49% | $5,000 – $100,000 | 660 | Same day |
| SoFi | 7.99% – 29.99% | $5,000 – $100,000 | 680 | Same day |
| Upgrade | 6.94% – 35.97% | $1,000 – $50,000 | 580 | 1 day |
| Best Egg | 8.99% – 35.99% | $2,000 – $50,000 | 640 | 1 day |
| Marcus | 6.99% – 24.99% | $3,500 – $40,000 | 660 | 3 days |
| Prosper | 6.99% – 35.99% | $2,000 – $50,000 | 600 | 3 days |
Personal loans offer several advantages over other home improvement financing options. Unlike home equity loans or HELOCs, personal loans are unsecured — you do not need to put your home up as collateral. There is no appraisal required, no closing costs, and funding is much faster. You receive a lump sum and repay in fixed monthly installments over 2 to 7 years.
Home equity loans and HELOCs typically offer lower interest rates because they are secured by your home. However, they require an appraisal, take weeks to close, involve closing costs, and put your home at risk if you cannot repay. Personal loans are unsecured, fund in days, have no closing costs, and carry no risk to your property. For projects under $50,000, a personal loan is often the better choice.
Kitchen remodel: $15,000–$50,000. Bathroom remodel: $6,000–$25,000. Roof replacement: $5,000–$15,000. New windows: $3,000–$10,000. HVAC system: $5,000–$12,000. Deck or patio: $4,000–$12,000. Basement finishing: $10,000–$30,000. Home addition: $20,000–$75,000.
Upgrade accepts scores from 580. Most lenders require 640-680 for the best rates. For large projects ($25,000+), lenders like SoFi and LightStream prefer 680+ for approval.
SoFi and LightStream offer up to $100,000. Most other lenders cap at $50,000. For projects over $100,000, a home equity loan or HELOC may be necessary.
Yes. Upgrade accepts scores from 580, and Upstart uses AI-based underwriting that considers factors beyond credit score. Expect higher APRs (20-36%) with lower scores.
LightStream and SoFi offer same-day funding. Upgrade and Best Egg fund the next business day. This is significantly faster than home equity products which take 2-6 weeks.
LightStream offers specific home improvement loan rates that may be lower than general-purpose rates. Most other lenders do not restrict how you use the funds and do not require project documentation.
LightStream offers dedicated home improvement loan rates, same-day funding, no fees, and a Rate Beat program. Best for borrowers with good credit.
SoFi offers large loans up to $100,000 with no origination, prepayment, or late fees. Includes unemployment protection.
Upgrade accepts lower credit scores and offers next-day funding for smaller renovation projects.
Marcus offers completely fee-free loans with an on-time payment reward that lets you defer a payment after 12 on-time payments.
Best Egg has funded over $24 billion in loans with a fast, simple application and next-day funding.

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