Dade County Federal Credit Union posts auto loan rates by term, and as of loan rates effective September 28, 2026, still shown on November 5, 2026, new autos start at 3.74% APR and used autos at 4.24% APR for 36 months. Those floors include several stacked discounts. Dade County FCU is a Miami-area Florida credit union, and its rates page does not say a CARFAX is required, so the history check is yours to run.
How the posted rates read
The Dade County FCU rates page lists new autos at as low as 3.74% for 36 months, 4.74% for 60, 5.24% for 72 and 5.99% for 84 months, with an 84-month loan needing at least $20,000 and a 96-month option at 6.94% needing $85,000. Used autos run from 4.24% for 36 months to 5.24% for 60, 5.74% for 72 and 6.24% for 78 months, with a $5,000 minimum. The as-low-as rates include 0.25% each for direct deposit and automatic payment, plus 0.25% for financing 85% or less of the vehicle value or for a DAD deal. New means current or prior model year only, so a two-year-old car prices off the used table.
What the page does not spell out
The auto section I reviewed did not publish every underwriting rule on the public rates table. Ask the loan officer for written rules on private-party purchases, out-of-state titles and older cars before you shop around a payment. Our odometer rollback guide is worth a read when a used car's mileage looks too good for its year.
Who Dade County FCU fits
Dade County FCU fits South Florida members who can set up direct deposit and autopay and put some money down. Price the loan without the discounts first so you know your fallback rate. The used grid tops out at 78 months, which is long for an older car; a shorter term limits how far the loan can run ahead of the value. Membership rules are separate from the rate quote.
Does Dade County FCU require a CARFAX?
Credit unions generally care about the title, the value and the lien, and their published pages rarely say a history report is required. They do need a clean, transferable title so they can record their lien, and an older or branded car can change the rate or the loan amount. Our financing a rebuilt title car guide covers why branded titles get harder to finance. Pull a report before you apply, not after, so a surprise brand does not show up at funding.
Checks to run before you sign
- Run the VIN at the NHTSA recall lookup for open campaigns.
- Check title brands through an approved NMVTIS provider.
- Pull a history report and compare mileage readings over time.
- On a private sale, confirm the seller lien is paid off. Our lien release guide walks through that step.
- Get a pre-purchase inspection on anything out of warranty.
Questions to ask the loan officer
- What exact APR and term would I get on this specific car, by VIN and model year?
- Does the rate change for a private-party sale versus a dealer purchase?
- Is there a maximum vehicle age or mileage, and a minimum loan amount?
- How long is a preapproval good for, and does the rate lock with it?
- Will you finance a car with a rebuilt, salvage or out-of-state title?
Dealer sale or private sale
At a dealer, the dealer usually handles the title and sends it to the lender. In a private sale, the credit union often pays the seller or the prior lender directly and then waits for the title to arrive with its lien recorded. That takes longer, so plan for it. Do not hand cash to a private seller before the lender confirms the payoff and the title path. Our private-party CARFAX guide covers what to check on the seller side.
Compare the offer, not just the rate
A low advertised APR only helps if you qualify for it and the term fits your budget. Ask for the exact APR, term, payment and total interest in writing, and compare it with a dealer offer and at least one other lender. The CFPB auto loan tools explain how to read a loan estimate. Decide on add-ons such as GAP coverage on their own merits; our GAP insurance guide covers when it makes sense.
What the report costs
As of early November 2026 a CARFAX bought direct usually costs around $44.99, and AutoCheck sits a little lower. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Our guest price has been about $5.50 a report, about $4.50 for members, and about $6.75 for a CARFAX and AutoCheck bundle. Confirm the price at checkout, since it can change.
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