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Personal Loans

Scooter Financing: Where to Find a Moped or Scooter Loan

Updated Jun 27, 2023   |   8-min read

Scooters are a popular mode of transportation. They’re easy on the environment, simple to stow, faster than walking, and often much more affordable than a car.

Depending on the model, your new scooter could cost between $1,000 and $6,000. If you can’t pay for it all at once, scooter financing can help you cover your costs.

In this guide, you can compare scooter loans and find answers to common financing questions.

In this guide:

Online scooter loans

Compare Scooter Loans

LightStream logo

  • Fixed-rate loans starting at 3.49%* APR with autopay and excellent credit
  • Funds available as soon as the same day
  • Minimum credit score of 660
Upgrade Personal Loans Logo

  • Fixed rates beginning at 7.99% APR
  • You can check rates without hurting your credit score
  • Quick funding
Upstart logo

  • Rates are typically between 8.41% and 35.99% APR1
  • Get funds as fast as one business day
  • A minimum credit score of 600 in most states

One way to finance a scooter is with a personal loan. These are often unsecured loans, require no down payment, offer low interest rates compared to credit cards—especially if you have good credit—and borrowers can use a personal loan for just about anything.

To help you find the right scooter financing, we compiled a list of lenders offering loans you can use for scooters and mopeds.

LightStream

  • Rates (APR): 7.99% – 25.49%
  • Loan Amounts: $5,000 – $100,000
  • Credit Score: 660+

LightStream offers loans to customers with good to excellent credit. With a high minimum loan amount, borrowers should only consider this lender if their scooter will cost more than $5,000. The lender will beat competitors’ interest rates by 0.10 percentage points.**

  • Credit score category: Excellent, good
  • Soft credit pull to check rates: Not available
  • Deposit time: As soon as the same day
  • Origination fee: 0%
  • Late fee: None
  • Discounts: 0.50% interest rate reduction for enrolling in autopay
  • Repayment terms: 24 – 144 months depending on the loan purpose***

Upgrade

  • Rates (APR): 8.49% – 35.99%
  • Loan Amounts: $1,000 – $50,000
  • Credit Score: 580+

Upgrade is a great option for borrowers with fair credit. Low loan amount minimums mean you can use this loan for scooters at lower costs.

  • Credit score category: Fair, bad
  • Soft credit pull to check rates: Yes
  • Deposit time: As soon as the next day
  • Origination fee: 2.9% – 8%
  • Late fee: $10
  • Repayment terms: 36 or 60 months

Upstart

  • Rates (APR): 6.12% – 35.99%
  • Loan Amounts: $1,000 – $50,000
  • Credit Score: 580+

Upstart is an online lending platform that partners with banks to provide personal loans that can be used for almost anything. Upstart’s lending model considers education, employment, and other variables when determining eligibility.3 This model leads to 27% more approvals and 16% lower rates than traditional models.4

  • Credit score category: Fair, bad
  • Soft credit pull to check rates: Yes
  • Deposit time: As fast as one business day
  • Origination fee: 0% – 8%
  • Late fee: $15 or 5% of payment
  • Repayment terms: 36 or 60 months

To compare more options, you can check out our guide to the best personal loans.

What about moped dealer financing?

Another way to finance your scooter or moped is through the dealership. Much like automobile dealers, scooter and moped dealers often work with a third-party lender to offer financing to customers.

Though dealer financing is convenient, you should shop around and note personal loan rates and terms. Outside lenders might offer lower rates and more flexible repayment terms than the dealer.

Pros & cons of dealer financing

Pros

  • The added convenience of doing everything in one place.

  • You may be able to take advantage of special financing offers (e.g., 0% APR for a promotional period).

  • Financing is typically available for the cost of the scooter or moped with no need to worry about loan amount minimums.

Cons

  • Interest rates may not be the lowest available, especially for borrowers with good credit.

  • You might be limited to the dealer’s lender of choice.

  • Loans may carry higher origination fees compared with personal loans.

Things to consider before buying or financing a scooter

Before you buy a scooter, ask yourself these questions.

Recap of scooter financing options

LenderLoan AmountsMinimum Credit Score
LightStream$5,000$100,000660
Upgrade$1,000 – $35,000620
Upstart$1,000$50,0002600

*Your loan terms, including APR, may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term length, and your credit profile. Excellent credit is required to qualify for lowest rates. Rate is quoted with AutoPay discount. AutoPay discount is only available prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay are 0.50% points higher. Subject to credit approval. Conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice.

**LightStream will offer a rate .10 percentage points lower than the rate offered on any competing lender’s unsecured loan provided that you were approved for that lower rate (with the same loan terms offered by LightStream) no later than 2 p.m. Eastern time two business days prior to loan funding. The Rate Beat Program excludes secured or collateralized loan offers from any lender, and the competitive offer must be available to any customer with a similar credit profile. Terms are subject to change at any time.

If you believe you have been approved by another lender for a lower qualifying rate, contact LightStream customer service. We will work with you to determine your Rate Beat eligibility and obtain the necessary documentation.

***Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 5.95% APR with a term of three years would result in 36 monthly payments of $303.99.

1The full range of available rates varies by state. The average 3-year loan offered across all lenders using the Upstart platform will have an APR of 21.97% and 36 monthly payments of $35 per $1,000 borrowed. For example, the total cost of a $10,000 loan would be $12,646 including a $626 origination fee. APR is calculated based on 3-year rates offered in the last 1 month. There is no down payment and no prepayment penalty. Your APR will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application.

2Your loan amount will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application. Not all applicants will qualify for the full amount. Loans are not available in West Virginia or Iowa. The minimum loan amount in MA is $7,000. The minimum loan amount in Ohio is $6,000. The minimum loan amount in NM is $5100. The minimum loan amount in GA is $3,100.

3Although educational information is collected as part of Upstart’s rate check process, neither Upstart nor its bank partners have a minimum educational attainment requirement in order to be eligible for a loan.

4Approval numbers compare the 2020 loan approval rate by the Upstart model and a hypothetical traditional credit decision model. The APR calculation compares the two models based on the average APR offered to borrowers up to the same approval rate. The hypothetical traditional model used in Upstart’s analyses was developed in connection with the CFPB No Action Letter access-to-credit testing program, is trained on Upstart platform data, uses logistic regression and considers traditional application and credit file variables.