Fed Raises Rates: Your September Truck Deal Isn’t Moving

September 16th, 2026 by



Auto News › Financing

Quick Answer

The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate 25 basis points on September 16, 2026, its first hike in three years, moving the target range to 3.75%-4.00%. That change affects new market lending. It does not touch the 0% APR for 60 months already locked in this month on the Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 at Wheelers’ Central Wisconsin rooftops, an offer that runs through September 30.

If you’ve been waiting to buy a truck until “rates settle down,” today’s news is not the signal to keep waiting. Here’s what actually happened, and why it doesn’t change what’s parked on our lots in Marshfield and Wisconsin Rapids this month.

The Bottom Line

A Fed rate headline and your out-the-door truck payment are two different stories this month. Treating them as the same thing is the one mistake costing shoppers real money right now, because it talks people out of a 0% deal that has nothing to do with what the Fed just did.

25 bps
September Fed rate hike
Source: Federal Reserve
0%
APR for 60 mo., Silverado & Sierra
Source: GM Financial
$7,200
Interest saved vs. a 6% market loan*
*$45,000 financed, 60 mo.

What did the Fed do today?

The Federal Open Market Committee raised the federal funds rate by a quarter point on September 16, 2026, taking the target range from 3.5%-3.75% up to 3.75%-4.00%. The vote was unanimous, 12-0. It’s the first increase in more than three years, after five straight meetings in 2026 with no change (CNBC, Fox Business).

The Fed’s stated reason is inflation that’s still running above its 2% target, with energy prices doing a lot of the recent damage. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, in his third meeting leading the FOMC, held a press conference the same afternoon to lay out where policy goes from here.

Does this change your Silverado or Sierra deal?

A Fed rate move changes the cost of borrowing across the economy over time. Banks and credit unions adjust their auto loan rates off that baseline, usually with some lag. That’s real, and it affects buyers financing through a bank or credit union at market rates.

It’s a different mechanism from what’s on the lot right now. The 0% APR offers on the Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 aren’t market-rate loans. GM subsidizes them through GM Financial as a promotional rate, set for a fixed calendar window, independent of what the Fed does on any given Wednesday. GM built this month’s incentive program before today’s meeting happened, and it runs through September 30 regardless of what the FOMC decided.

Your rate isn’t 3.75% plus a markup. It’s zero.

What today’s news does mean: incentive programs like this one get set fresh every month, and GM Financial’s cost of money is part of what goes into that decision. We can’t promise what October looks like. We can tell you what’s real right now.

What deals are available in Central Wisconsin this month?

Both offers below apply to well-qualified buyers financing through GM Financial and are good through September 30, 2026, across Wheelers’ Marshfield and Wisconsin Rapids rooftops.

2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

  • 0% APR for 60 months for well-qualified buyers through GM Financial
  • Plus an introductory no-payment period through GM Financial for qualified buyers
  • Check Silverado 1500 availability

2026 GMC Sierra 1500

  • 0% APR for 60 months for well-qualified buyers through GM Financial
  • Plus an introductory no-payment period through GM Financial for qualified buyers
  • Check Sierra 1500 availability

Offers require approved credit through GM Financial for well-qualified buyers and end when you take delivery by September 30, 2026. Not all buyers will qualify. Price excludes tax, title, license, and dealer fees. See dealer for complete details on your specific trim and configuration.

Silverado or Sierra: which should you choose?

Same GM truck architecture, same 0% financing this month. The difference is mostly about which badge and which cabin feel like yours.

Choose the Silverado if… Choose the Sierra if…
Price point You want the more work-truck-forward trim ladder, from WT up You want GMC’s Elevation and Denali trims with more standard tech from the factory
Interior You’re fine with a straightforward, functional cabin You want MultiPro tailgate options and a more upscale interior on comparable trims
Badge Chevy is the brand you grew up with, or the one your crew already runs You want the “Professional Grade” GMC positioning for a business truck
Availability You’re shopping the Marshfield or Wisconsin Rapids Chevy lineup You want GMC specifically, available at Marshfield or Wisconsin Rapids
Our Recommendation

For most Central Wisconsin buyers cross-shopping this month, we recommend the Sierra Elevation for someone who wants more standard tech and a Denali-adjacent interior without stepping up a full trim level, and the Silverado Custom Trail Boss for someone who wants off-road capability without the GMC price premium. Both finance at 0% for 60 months through September 30, so the decision comes down to trim content, not payment.

Both trucks share GM’s truck platform, so towing and payload numbers land close between comparable configurations. If you’re cross-shopping the two, the honest answer is that most buyers pick based on badge loyalty and trim preference, not a meaningful capability gap.

From the Wheelers Lot

“Every time the Fed makes a move like this, our phones ring with the same question: does this change my deal? It usually doesn’t, and this month it doesn’t. The financing on these two trucks was locked before the FOMC met, and it stays locked through the end of the month. If a rate headline is what’s been holding you back, the actual number on your paperwork this week is zero.”

Branden Bodendorfer, Director of Marketing at Wheelers Family Auto Group

Take This With You

Before You Finance This Month

A short checklist to walk in prepared, whether you’re deciding on a Silverado or a Sierra.

  • Pull your credit report so you know where you stand on “well-qualified” before you sit down with F&I
  • Know your trade-in value going in, even if you’re not trading (ask us to value it either way)
  • Decide cab style, bed length, and must-have tech before you shop trims, not after
  • Ask for the out-the-door price in writing, including tax, title, license, and dealer fees
  • Confirm you can take delivery by September 30 if you want this month’s 0% APR locked in

Common questions about September’s truck financing

Does the Fed rate hike raise the price of the Silverado or Sierra I’m looking at?

No. Sticker price and the advertised 0% APR financing are unaffected by today’s Fed decision. The financing rate is a GM Financial promotional program, not a market-rate loan tied to the Fed funds rate.

What is 0% APR for 60 months actually worth?

On a $45,000 loan, financing at even a modest 6% market rate over 60 months adds roughly $7,200 in interest. At 0%, that entire amount goes toward paying down principal instead.

Will next month’s incentives still include 0% APR?

We don’t know yet. GM sets incentive programs monthly, and this one is confirmed only through September 30, 2026.

Does the rate hike affect my trade-in value?

Not directly, and not immediately. Trade values move with used-vehicle market demand more than with Fed policy, and that shift happens over months, not overnight.

Do I need excellent credit to qualify for 0% APR?

GM Financial reserves its best promotional rates for well-qualified buyers, which typically means strong credit. Buyers who don’t qualify for 0% may still qualify for other current offers or standard financing. Talk to our finance team about your specific situation.

What’s the difference between this promotional rate and a bank auto loan rate?

A bank or credit union loan is priced off current market rates, which move with the Fed over time. GM Financial’s promotional rate is subsidized by GM for a fixed window and doesn’t move with the Fed mid-program.

A Few More Quick Answers

Does the 0% offer apply to used trucks too?
No, this GM Financial promotional rate is for new 2026 Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 units only.
Can I combine 0% APR with a lease instead?
No, 0% APR is a purchase-financing offer; lease deals run on separate GM Financial terms.
Does the no-payment introductory period stack with the 0% APR?
Yes, qualified buyers can get both this month, but the exact deferral length varies by brand, so confirm it with our finance team for your specific deal.
Is this rate available to out-of-state buyers?
Reach out to our team directly. Regional GM Financial offers can vary by ZIP code, so we’ll confirm eligibility before you make the drive.
What happens if I can’t take delivery before September 30?
You’d move to whatever GM Financial offer is active in October, which may or may not include 0% APR.

Ready to Look?

Wheelers has Silverado and Sierra inventory ready in Marshfield and Wisconsin Rapids. No pressure, no commission, just answers.

Check Silverado 1500 Availability
Check Sierra 1500 Availability
See All New Vehicle Specials

About the Author

Branden Bodendorfer

Director of Marketing — Wheelers Family Auto Group

Branden Bodendorfer is the Director of Marketing at Wheelers Family Auto Group, a family-owned Chevrolet and GMC dealer group serving Central Wisconsin since 1964. He writes about new and used vehicles, GM technology, truck and towing capability, and what Wheelers customers actually ask about on the lot.

Posted in Auto News