Motorcycle Loans

A motorcycle loan is a form of consumer credit used to purchase a motorcycle. Typically the interest rate charged on a loan for a motorcycle is based on the credit applicant’s past credit history and debt-to-income ratio. Loans associated with motorcycles are normally harder to get approved for than an automotive loan and have a bit less favorable terms and interest rates than a standard automotive loan.

Motorcycle loans became popular in the early 1980s as the rising price of motorcycles forced consumers to begin financing the purchase of a motorcycle, and large lenders began providing motorcycle dealers with easier sources for loans. Fixed-rate installment loans were the main type of loan offered by motorcycle lenders; however, as lenders and manufacturers got more creative in the 1990s, private label credit card loans became popular. Today, motorcycle loans are easily available through a variety of sources including dealers, national and local banks, credit unions and motorcycle manufacturers.