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Mariner Finance: personal installment loans for car buyers

3.8 / 5 · Editorial rating

Personal installment loans that can fund a car purchase. Compare the APR, fees, net proceeds and any vehicle lien before accepting an offer.

About Mariner Finance

A personal installment lender, not a credit union. Mariner markets loans for car purchases, with fixed payments and a soft inquiry to check available offers.

Mariner Finance markets personal installment loans for new and used car purchases and lists auto refinancing. The car purchase and the personal loan are separate transactions. Availability depends on your state, and a vehicle lien may be required for some amounts or rates. Review the offered APR, fees and cash you actually receive before comparing it with a dedicated auto loan.

What to compare

This is a personal loan comparison. A vehicle may still serve as collateral.

Soft-inquiry offers

Checking offers does not affect your credit score.

The site says a hard inquiry follows if you continue and accept an offer, and that it may affect your score.

Fixed-rate installment loans

Payments and rates are fixed over a scheduled period.

Terms run 12 to 72 months with APRs of 15.99% to 35.99%. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rates.

Optional vehicle collateral

A vehicle lien may be needed for the lowest rates or larger amounts.

The vehicle must be no more than ten years old, titled in your name and insured. Loans may also be secured another way, have a co-signer, or be unsecured.

15-day satisfaction guarantee

Finance charges are waived if you repay in full within 15 days.

If you repay the full amount within 15 days with certified funds, Mariner waives all finance charges.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Checking offers uses a soft credit inquiry.
  • Loans start at $1,000, which suits small used-car purchases.
  • Fixed rates and fixed payments over 12 to 72 months.
  • A 15-day window to repay and have finance charges waived.

Cons

  • APRs of 15.99% to 35.99% are much higher than the credit union rates here.
  • Loans may include origination fees, and Mariner's site does not publish the amount.
  • It is a personal loan, not a dedicated vehicle loan, and amounts stop at $25,000.
  • Online loans are limited to $1,500 to $14,000.

Published rates and terms

These are the published ranges for Mariner's personal loans, which the site also markets for car purchases. Checked November 2, 2026.

Mariner Finance plans at a glance

Mariner Finance plans at a glance
PlanAmount / rateWhat is included
Personal loan
from15.99%APR

Published APR range: 15.99% to 35.99%. Your approved rate may differ.

  • 12 to 72 month terms
  • $1,000 to $25,000
  • Soft inquiry to check offers
Online loan
from$1,500

Online amount range: $1,500 to $14,000. State and approval conditions apply.

  • Larger or smaller amounts go through branches
  • Georgia needs over $3,000

Personal loan

from15.99%APR

Published APR range: 15.99% to 35.99%. Your approved rate may differ.

  • 12 to 72 month terms
  • $1,000 to $25,000
  • Soft inquiry to check offers

Online loan

from$1,500

Online amount range: $1,500 to $14,000. State and approval conditions apply.

  • Larger or smaller amounts go through branches
  • Georgia needs over $3,000

Mariner Finance at a glance

Recorded terms · Nov 2, 2026
FactDetail
Product typePersonal installment loan; a vehicle lien may be required for the lowest rates
APR range15.99% to 35.99%
Terms12 to 72 months
AmountsGenerally $1,000 to $25,000; online $1,500 to $14,000
Origination feeMay apply; the amount is not stated
Online loan originatorWebBank, except in California and Maryland, where Mariner Finance, LLC originates
Credit check to see offersSoft inquiry; a hard inquiry follows if you accept an offer
CollateralVehicle not more than ten years old, titled in your name, insured
StatesDepends on state of residence; the pages do not list all states

How it works

  1. Check your offers

    Mariner uses a soft inquiry to see whether a loan offer is available. This does not affect your score.

  2. Review the offer

    Compare the APR, term and any charges beyond interest. The amount financed may not equal your net proceeds.

  3. Decide on collateral

    The lowest rates or larger amounts may need a lien on a vehicle that is no more than ten years old.

  4. Accept and close

    Accepting an offer leads to a hard inquiry. You can close online or at a branch if eligible.

  5. Use the funds for the car

    The loan is a personal loan, so the car purchase is separate from the financing.

What the payments add up to

This illustration compares fixed monthly payments. It is not a loan offer or a personalized quote.

Amount financed
$5,000.00
Rate and termFixed-payment illustration
30.99% · 48 months
Total interest
$3,780.18
Total paid
$8,780.18

$182.92 / month

Illustrative payment

Assumes $5,000.00 financed at 30.99% APR for 48 months, with equal monthly payments. Excludes fees, optional products and payment deferrals. Figures use the published rate recorded on November 2, 2026. Your actual rate and payment may differ.

Is Mariner Finance a good fit?

Does Mariner Finance match your situation?

You do not qualify for a credit union

Maybe

Mariner may offer a loan, but compare the APR and any fees with the credit unions first.

You need a small loan for a used car

Possible

Loans start at $1,000 and can fund a private-party purchase.

You want the lowest rate

Look elsewhere

The lowest APR here is 15.99%, well above the credit union rates in this group.

You want to see offers without a hard pull

Check offers first

Checking offers uses a soft inquiry.

Mariner Finance vs. the alternatives

This review

Mariner Finance

  • 15.99% to 35.99% APR
  • Personal installment loan
  • $1,000 to $25,000
Alternative

SDCCU

  • 4.89% to 6.49% APR as low as
  • Membership required
  • Terms up to 84 months
Alternative

Desert Financial

  • 6.34% APR as low as
  • Arizona coverage
  • No application fee on purchases

Compared on published rates; a credit union requires membership.

Before you sign

Check these before you commit

Where our information comes from

We compare published terms, not personal eligibility or approval. Ratings are editorial estimates on a five-star scale. We did not borrow from these lenders.

Alternatives

America First Credit Union
4.5 / 5 · Editorial rating
Read review
Desert Financial Credit Union
4.4 / 5 · Editorial rating
Read review
SDCCU
4.3 / 5 · Editorial rating
Read review

Frequently asked questions

  1. Is Mariner Finance an auto loan?

    Its used car page describes the product as a personal loan that can fund a car purchase. The lowest rates or larger amounts may need a lien on a vehicle. It is not a dealership financing contract.

  2. Does checking my offers hurt my credit?

    The site says checking offers uses a soft inquiry with no impact on your credit score. Accepting an offer leads to a hard inquiry, which may affect your score.

  3. What APR does Mariner charge?

    The site lists 15.99% to 35.99% APR with terms of 12 to 72 months. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rates or larger amounts.

  4. Which states does Mariner serve?

    Mariner's site does not list all the states it serves. Availability depends on your state of residence, and Georgia loans need to be over $3,000. Call (877) 310-2373 or use the branch locator.