First Tech Federal Credit Union doesn't publish a rule about CARFAX reports, title brands or loan-to-value on its auto loan pages, so ask before you sign. What it does publish is a rate grid starting at 4.99% APR for 65 months on both new and used cars, effective Oct. 1, 2026. Membership is mostly tied to where you work or live, and First Tech is now legally part of the same credit union as DCU.
I read First Tech's auto loan, used auto loan and refinance pages, its loan rates table, the membership page and the merger FAQ on Oct 20, 2026. I didn't apply or call. Everything below comes from what's posted publicly. The gaps in that are worth knowing about before you go shopping.
Who can join
Membership leans heavily on employers. You can qualify by working for one of more than 1,700 partner companies (the page names Amazon, Microsoft and Intel), by living, working or worshipping in a participating community, by working for the State of Oregon, or through a participating organization or condo association. Family and household members of members qualify too. The eligibility checker on the membership page is the quickest way to find out.
Rates and terms as of Oct 20, 2026
The rates table shows the same grid for new cars (2025 and newer) and used cars (2016 through 2024 models):
- Up to 65 months: as low as 4.99% APR, loan amounts from $1,000 to $300,000.
- Up to 72 months: as low as 5.49% APR, minimum $5,000.
- Up to 84 months: as low as 6.99% APR, minimum $20,000.
- Refinancing starts as low as 4.99% too. The posted refi example is $22,371 at 7.29% for 84 months, or $15.23 a month per $1,000.
Those are best-case rates. The examples on the same page are higher: a new-car example at 8.32% for 84 months costs $15.75 per $1,000, and the used example at 8.70% costs $15.94 per $1,000. There are no origination, application or prepayment fees, the rate check is a soft pull, and an approval holds for 30 days. First payment is usually due 30 days after funding, and you can defer up to 90 days, which First Tech says may affect your APR.
The used page doesn't quite match the rates table. It describes used loans as for cars 2-10 model years old, which isn't the same as 2016-2024, and its example repeats the new-car $47,404 at 8.32% instead of the used figure shown on the rates table. If your car is near either edge, a 2015 or a 2025, ask which rule applies before you count on a rate.
How that compares
Experian's Q2 2026 report, still the latest when I checked, put the average used-car loan at 11.19% and prime borrowers at 8.81%. My math on $25,000 over 65 months: at 4.99% you'd pay about $440 a month and roughly $3,580 in interest. At 11.19% that becomes about $515 a month and roughly $8,450 in interest. Even at the prime average of 8.81% it's about $6,530 in interest. The floor rate goes to the strongest applications, so get your own quote before comparing.
The DCU merger and why the grid looks familiar
If you've read our DCU auto loan post, the numbers above will look familiar, since DCU posts the same grid. First Tech's merger page and FAQ say the two credit unions combined legally on Jan. 1, 2026, operate as two divisions for now, and expect full integration in 2027. DCU publishes rules First Tech doesn't, including no financing for lemon law buyback or salvage titles and a 130% loan-to-value ceiling. I couldn't find either rule on First Tech's pages, and I wouldn't assume DCU's policy carries over until First Tech tells you so in writing.
What First Tech doesn't post
I found nothing about history reports, branded titles, maximum mileage, private-party purchases or how much it will lend against a car's value. That doesn't mean there are no rules, only that they aren't published. Ask:
- Will you finance a rebuilt, salvage or lemon law buyback title? See our credit union salvage title loan post for how credit unions usually handle those titles.
- What's the maximum loan-to-value, and which guide sets the value?
- Do you lend on private-party sales, and how is the title handled?
- Is there a mileage or age cap beyond the 2016-2024 model years?
- Does the 90-day deferral raise my APR, and by how much?
The add-ons offered are GAP Plus, mechanical repair coverage and Debtsafe payment protection. Read our GAP insurance guide for used cars before saying yes at the closing table.
Check the car before the loan closes
A lender's title rules only protect you if you know what the title says, so run the VIN through NMVTIS and pull a history report before you sign. CarVins is a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, separate from both companies and from First Tech. As of late October 2026 a report was about $5.50 for guests, $4.50 for members, or $6.75 for both, while buying direct costs $39.99 to $44.99. Prices can move, so check checkout.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
Log in to leave a comment.