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Can You Pay Santander With a Credit Card?
July 1, 2025
The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.
Quick Answer
No. Santander Consumer USA, which services Santander auto loans, doesn't list credit cards among its payment options and says it won't accept credit cards by mail. You can pay for free from a bank account, or use a debit card or other services for a fee.
This guide covers Santander Consumer USA auto loans. If you have a different Santander account, check that account's payment page for its options.
Should You Pay a Car Loan With a Credit Card?
Even when a workaround exists, the costs usually outweigh the rewards.
Potential Benefits
- Rewards: A third-party service could let you earn points, miles, or cash back on the payment.
- Breathing room: A card might cover a payment if you are briefly short on cash and can pay it off right away.
Costs
- Processing fees: Third-party services charge fees that often cancel out rewards.
- High interest: Carrying a card balance usually costs more than your auto loan rate.
- Cash advance treatment: Some issuers may code these payments as cash advances, with extra fees and immediate interest.
How to Pay Your Santander Auto Loan
Here are the payment options Santander Consumer USA lists, starting with the free ones.
- Auto pay: Set up free automatic payments from your checking or savings account. Your account can't be past due to enroll.
- Online by bank account: Log in to MyAccount and make a free one-time ACH payment.
- By phone: Call the automated system at 888-222-4227 to pay free from a checking or savings account.
- Debit card: Pay online or by phone with a debit card for a $3.28 fee. Debit payments through Apple Pay and Google Pay also cost $3.28.
- PayPal or Venmo: Pay through MyAccount for a $6.75 fee.
- By mail: Send a personal check, cashier's check, or money order payable to Santander Consumer USA, P.O. Box 660633, Dallas, TX 75266-0633. Santander says mailed payments take seven to ten business days to process.
Santander says its third-party payment partners charge these fees and that it keeps no part of them.
Impact on Your Credit Score
Paying your auto loan on time is what matters most for your credit. Keep these factors in mind if you are thinking about a card workaround.
- Credit utilization: Moving a car payment onto a credit card raises your card balance, which can lower your score until you pay it down.
- Payment history: Late payments on either the loan or the card can hurt your credit. Payment history makes up 35% of a FICO Score.
Other Ways to Pay Santander
Cash Through PayNearMe
You can pay with cash at 7-Eleven, CVS Pharmacy, and other participating stores through PayNearMe. Get a payment code in MyAccount, and expect a $3.99 PayNearMe fee.
Western Union and MoneyGram
Santander accepts payments through Western Union, including Quick Collect by phone with a Visa or Mastercard debit card, and through MoneyGram ExpressPayment. Both services may charge a fee.
CheckFreePay
You can also bring cash and the bottom portion of your statement to a CheckFreePay retail location. CheckFreePay may charge a fee.
Earn Rewards on the Rest of Your Spending
Since bank account payments are free, the better move is to earn rewards on everyday purchases instead. Gas, insurance, and maintenance add up fast on the right card.
Our guide to the best 2% cash back credit cards covers simple options, and Kudos Explore lets you compare cards by rewards, fees, and perks.
Kudos is a free browser extension and app that recommends the card in your wallet that earns the most at each store. Kudos Premium can also track your card benefits and auto-activate eligible card-linked offers. You can sign up for free in a few minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the fees for paying Santander Consumer USA?
Bank account payments through auto pay, MyAccount, or the automated phone line are free. Debit card payments cost $3.28, PayPal and Venmo payments cost $6.75, and PayNearMe cash payments cost $3.99.
Can I pay my Santander auto loan with a credit card through PayPal?
Santander lists PayPal and Venmo as payment options for a $6.75 fee, but its payment page doesn't say which funding sources those services allow for this payment. Check at checkout before you rely on it.
How long does a mailed payment take to post?
Santander says mailed payments take seven to ten business days to process, so it recommends another method if your due date is close.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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