How Do Banks Make Money on 0% Interest on Car Loans?

Technically, banks do not offer zero-percent financing. In fact, the low rate is usually an incentive offered by the manufacturer in lieu of rebates, or money off the vehicle's MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price). The cash discount you could have received goes to the lender to buy down the rate instead.

Buying Down the Rate

The amount a bank might make in profit for a vehicle purchase depends on the borrower's credit and the overall cost of the loan. Zero-percent financing is usually offered for a particular model and price with good to excellent credit required. In order to achieve zero-percent financing, the manufacturer of the new vehicle pays the cost of interest charges to the lending bank. The bank is usually a preferred new-car lender, or the manufacturer's bank, so some rate of discount for the manufacturer exists.

The Price Difference

Zero-percent financing is offered in lieu of cash back, or rebates. Often, the rebate savings and the cost to buy down the rate from the bank are the same. To fully gauge the overall cost of a loan and how much it may cost the manufacturer to buy down the rate, use an auto loan calculator, such as the one offered by Edmunds.com. Input your vehicle's selling price along with a standard rate to determine the amount paid back over the loan term. It is likely that the optional rebate offers the same discount.

Who Makes the Profit

Dealers make the most profit when the manufacturer offers zero percent or rebates. Manufacturers reimburse dealerships for any rebates or rate incentives. Many customers choose the rebate or zero percent instead of negotiating vehicle pricing. If a customer does not negotiate with the dealer to reduce the car's selling price, the dealer makes full profit on the vehicle's sale. The same goes for rebate discounts. Zero-percent offers also increase business for dealerships.

Smaller Dealer Rate Offers

Smaller dealers do not commonly offer zero-percent financing. The ones that do must have enough profit in a vehicle's price to cover the cost of buying down the rate. Check the value of the vehicle before you purchase it; prices are likely marked up. Buy-here, pay-here lots that offer zero-percent financing may make the most profit of all. Vehicles at this type of lot are cheaper, so the dealer likely requires that you provide half of the vehicle's price as a down payment. Because prices are not competitive at a buy-here, pay-here lot because of buyer credit issues, the dealer may make as much as 100-percent profit from its zero-percent offer. Buy-here, pay-here lots extend their own financing.