Best Motorcycle Loans in 2025
Before hitting the road, compare motorcycle loan rates to find the best deal
- Top lenders for motorcycle loans offer rates starting at 6.70% for borrowers with excellent credit.
- There are two main types of motorcycle loans. Secured loans use your bike as collateral. Unsecured loans don’t require collateral but often have higher rates. This article focuses on unsecured loans.
- To get the best motorcycle loan rates, you should have a 670+ credit score, choose a shorter loan term and compare multiple prequalified offers.
| Lender | User rating | Best for | Starting APR | Term | Amount | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Excellent credit motorcycle loans | 6.49% | 24 to 144 months |
$5k – $100k |
Motorcycle loans at a glance
Best for: Motorcycle loans for excellent credit — LightStream
- Starting APR
- 6.49%
- Some of the lowest starting APRs around
- No fees whatsoever
- Also offers motorcycle refinancing (as long as you’re not refinancing a LightStream loan)
- Will beat competitors’ rates for eligible applicants
- Can’t check rates without taking a ding to your credit
- Must have good to excellent credit
- Can’t change your due date
LightStream could be a solid option if you’ve got good to excellent credit. LightStream already has low rates, but if you get a better offer from a competitor, LightStream may beat it by 0.10 percentage points (stipulations apply).
You can’t prequalify for a motorcycle loan with LightStream . You have to submit a formal application to check rates. This process requires a hard credit pull, which will probably knock about five points off of your score. Most lenders let you shop with no impact to your credit.
LightStream doesn’t specify its exact credit score requirements, but you must have good to excellent credit to qualify. Most of the applicants that LightStream approves have the following in common:
- Credit history: At least five years of on-time payments under a variety of accounts (credit cards, auto loans, etc.)
- Income: Stable income and can handle paying their current debt obligations
- Assets: Savings, whether in a bank account, investment account or retirement account
How does motorcycle financing work?
Motorcycle financing lets you break up the cost of your bike into monthly payments. This way, you won’t have to pay for the full cost upfront. Depending on the type of motorcycle loan you get, you might not have to make a down payment, either.
Your motorcycle loan will come with interest and, in some cases, fees. Interest is worked into your monthly payment. The longer it takes for you to pay off your motorcycle, the more total interest you’ll pay.
There are two different types of motorcycle loans: secured and unsecured. Manufacturer loans, dealer loans and bank or credit union loans are usually secured. These loans use the bike as collateral. Secured motorcycle loans usually come with lower rates and can be easier to qualify for.
Personal loans (like the loans listed on this page) are typically unsecured. These loans come as a lump sum of cash to you. Then, you’ll use your loan funds to buy your motorcycle, gear or practically anything else.
Personal loan vs. secured motorcycle loan
A personal loan doesn’t use your motorcycle as collateral. Missing payments will tank your credit score, but your lender can’t repossess the bike.
Secured motorcycle loans do use the motorcycle as collateral. That means your bike can get repossessed. Below are a few other factors to consider.
Personal loan
- No down payment
- Less paperwork
- May require better credit
- Rates can be higher
Secured motorcycle loan
- Down payment often required
- More complicated loan process
- Can be easier to qualify for
- Lower interest rates and potential for special financing
Where to get a secured motorcycle loan
We’ve listed the best unsecured motorcycle loans on this page, but if you want a secured motorcycle loan, consider these options:
Manufacturer motorcycle loans
Best for: Buying a brand-new motorcycle
Motorcycle manufacturers like Kawasaki and Harley-Davidson often offer special financing, cash rebates or other incentives on loans for new bikes. These deals change throughout the year, so check the manufacturer’s website directly to see what’s available.
Bank motorcycle loans
Best for: People who can get a deal through their current bank
Some banks offer secured motorcycle loans, but they might refer to them by a different name, like a powersport loan, or lump them in with RV loans. Check with your bank to see if they have secured motorcycle loans. Bank loans tend to come with low rates and few fees.
Credit union motorcycle loan
Best for: Deal hunters
Per law, federal credit unions can’t charge APRs higher than 18%. This is a lot lower than the typical 35.99% you’ll see with many online lenders. Membership is required to get a loan from a credit union. You may need to meet membership requirements to be eligible, like working for a particular employer.
Buy here, pay here lots tend to have the worst terms of all motorcycle loans. Although these loans are easier to get, they come with sky-high rates, fees and in some cases, a GPS tracker.
For most people, a motorcycle isn’t a necessity. Save up and buy a cheaper bike in cash or improve your credit score and skip the buy here, pay here trap.
Compare motorcycle loans with LendingTree
You’d shop around for flights. Why not your motorcycle loan? LendingTree makes it easy. Fill out one form and get lenders from the country’s largest network to compete for your business.
Tell us what you need
Take two minutes to tell us who you are and how much money you need for your vehicle — we’ll take care of the rest. It’s free, simple and secure.
Shop your offers
We’ll send you offers from up to five trusted lenders. Compare your offers side by side to see which one will save you the most money.
Get your money
Finalize your loan with your lender. Depending on the offer you choose, you could see money in your account as soon as 24 hours.
How to get a motorcycle loan with bad credit
Getting a motorcycle loan with bad credit isn’t impossible, but the monthly payments may be out of your budget. These tips can help you get approved for a more affordable loan.
Pay off debt
Lenders look at your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) when you apply for a motorcycle loan. If your DTI ratio is higher than 35%, consider paying some outstanding debts before applying for more.
Add a co-borrower or cosigner
Taking out a joint loan with a creditworthy family member or friend could land you a loan with lower rates. Late payments will affect their credit score as much as yours. Your co-borrower will also have equal access to the loan, though a cosigner will not.
Consider a secured loan
Offering up your motorcycle as collateral on a secured loan may help you get approved. You’ll typically find these loans with banks and credit unions.
Choose a shorter loan term
Motorcycle loans with longer loan terms usually have higher interest rates. In the lender’s eyes, if your loan is open, you have a chance of falling behind. Since longer loan terms are higher risk, lenders charge higher rates. Consider a loan term of 36 months or less. Keep in mind, you may have a higher monthly payment as a result.
Frequently asked questions
Getting a motorcycle loan could be a good idea as long as you know how much your bike will cost over time.
Use our personal loan calculator to see how much interest you might pay on a motorcycle loan. Also, be sure that you aren’t ignoring other priorities like creating an emergency fund or getting out of debt.
LightStream has the lowest motorcycle loan rates at the time of this writing, according to our research. Its starting APR is 6.49% (with autopay), as of this writing. LightStream states that at least 26% of its approved applicants qualify for its lowest rate based on the most recent data available.
Remember, qualifying for a lender’s starting APR typically requires an excellent credit score and strong credit history, among other factors.
To get the most affordable motorcycle loan, you’ll want a credit score of at least 670. This is where fair credit ends and good credit begins.
However, every lender sets its own credit minimum. Upstart accepts scores as low as 300. Even so, getting a motorcycle loan with bad credit may be a bad idea. Rates are high, and motorcycles are usually a want and not a must-have.
If your credit score could use some work, consider using LendingTree Spring for personalized tips, credit updates and customer loan and credit card offers.
Our methodology : How we chose the best motorcycle loans
We reviewed more than 40 lenders that offer personal loans to determine the overall best six lenders by these metrics. According to our systematic rating and review process, the best personal loans come from , LightStream , , , and .
Accessibility. We look for lenders with fewer barriers to approval and award points for lower credit requirements, nationwide access, fast funding and simple applications.
Rates and terms. We prioritize lenders that offer low starting rates, minimal fees, flexible terms and APR discount opportunities.
Repayment experience. We choose lenders with strong reputations, convenient self-service tools, responsive support and borrower-friendly perks.
Why trust our methodology?
Our writers and editors dig through the facts, contact lenders directly and even go through the application process ourselves if it helps better explain what you can expect. As a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠, I’m committed to breaking down complex financial details so people can make confident, informed decisions with their money.
Jessica’s experience in editing and financial education helps shape LendingTree articles that are clear, accurate and truly useful to readers. Her certification means our recommendations are built on a foundation of consumer-first financial knowledge — not just numbers.