Auto Loan Buying Tips
Have you ever felt like you bought an auto and financed it and don't really know if you got the right price or financing arrangements after it was all over? Well, don't feel alone. This is a common experience for many people who make auto purchases.
Guidelines for negotiating the car price can be found elsewhere, but we want to share some helpful tips on getting that vehicle financed at the best rates and terms for you.
The first step is to make sure that you negotiate the car's price separate from the vehicle financing arrangements. Most dealers want to lump it all together because they can hide quite a bit of the actual price of the vehicle in the loan contract, and they will usually just try to meet a monthly payment figure that you can live with rather than disclose all the details about the loan.
So your work actually should begin before you ever visit the dealer lot. Try to determine beforehand what vehicle(s) you are interested in buying and become familiar with the average cost for that vehicle, either online or locally. Then make sure that it will fit your budget. Most financial experts recommend that you shouldn't spend more than 10% of your monthly income on vehicle costs, including the loan, gas, repairs, insurance, etc.
Since you now know the price that you want to pay, you need to find out what the loan will cost, so visit some auto loan websites and/or local banks, and apply for an auto loan. See what rates and terms they offer you. Much of that will be determined by your credit history. If you can get pre-approved for a loan, all the better.
Experts also recommend that you try to put at least 20% of the car price on the loan as a down payment toward the purchase of the vehicle, either in cash or in the trade equity of your current vehicle. Why? Well, so many people are being put into loans these days with longer and longer payback periods and little down payment and the net result is that if they want to trade that car in within the first year or so they find that they actually may owe more on the car than it is even worth. So using sound financial decisions beforehand can prevent this from happening.
Now, using all of this information, the price you are willing to pay for the vehicle you want, the average loan you can get, and the best terms that you can get that will fit within your budget, you are now ready to visit the dealer, find the vehicle you have been thinking about and get the deal that will fit your needs. Remember to negotiate the price of the vehicle without financing first. After you settle on the sales price you can then reveal what finance terms you already have found and see if they can beat it.
Get the particulars in writing too. What is the price for the new vehicle? What is the trade amount for your old vehicle if you have one? If you finance through the dealer, what is the APR, the total amount financed, the total amount paid at the end of the loan, the total number of payments and the monthly payment figure itself? If the dealer will not give this clear, concise information, leave and go somewhere else to buy. If they can compete with your prearranged loan terms, then great. If not, get your auto loan elsewhere.
A word of caution. Keep it to business. It's exciting to buy a new car and it's also easy to get carried away and buy more vehicle than you need or previously wanted just because it looks so good or has so many features that the dealer will try to convince you that you can't live without. Having predetermined what car you want and the price you are willing to pay will keep you safe in these negotiations but only if you stick to your guns and don't give in to being upsold.
Using these strategies keeps you in control of the negotiation process and keeps you informed all along the way so that you can be confident that the vehicle and the auto loan you purchase is indeed the deal that you wanted.
Duane Lipham is a senior editor for
http://www.loans.dlbws.com
which provides free information and resources for auto, personal, mortgage, home equity, and refinance loans.
Auto Loans : Top 5 Tips For The Best Rate
You've got your eye on that shiny new Lexus - okay, maybe it's a Kia, but it's perfect and you want it to be yours, all yours - as soon as possible. At the same time, you certainly don't want to be saddled with paying nearly double the car's value by the time you finish paying off the car loan. Here are five tips to help you get the best possible interest rate on an auto loan to put the car of your dreams in your driveway.
1. Check your credit rating.
If you don't already know what's in your credit report, this is a good time to find out. Before you apply for an auto loan, get a copy of your credit report to find out what surprises may be lurking in it. You may just find out that it contains erroneous information that should be corrected, or that there's something negative on it that can be either explained away or fixed easily with a couple of phone calls or letters. Either way, it always helps to know what the credit reporting agencies are saying about you before you start shopping around for a loan.
2. If you have good to excellent credit...
...then you may qualify for special incentive financing available through the car dealer. If the car dealer is offering a low, low finance rate, check all the terms and conditions carefully BEFOREHAND online to make sure that you qualify. Most often, that 1% financing rate is reserved for those who have excellent credit and can afford to do a 12 month financing plan. If that's you - then grab the deal. 1-2% financing is a bargain if you can handle the other terms and conditions attached.
3. If you need a longer term than 12 months or have spotty credit...
...arrange your financing yourself before setting foot on the car lot. Check with your usual bank for a new auto loan first, as they may have better interest rates for those who are already established customers, or who carry all their savings, checkings and loan accounts through one bank. It may save you a few percentage points in interest to do business with someone who already knows you.
4. Shop online for the best auto loan available.
At many online credit web sites, you can submit a request for multiple quotes from area finance agencies and lending firms. Simply submit your request for an auto loan quote through an online form, and the web site will submit it to up to four financing firms at once. A representative from each agency will contact you within a few hours to a day or two to discuss your request with you and give you a quote for an interest rate and monthly payment amount that they can offer you. Online shopping for credit makes it easy to compare and pick the best auto loan terms for you.
5. If your credit is bad but you need that car...
...one of your best and most often overlooked options is to find someone to cosign the loan for you. In most cases, when you have a cosigner, you'll get the interest rate that THEY qualify for, which means a lower monthly payment for you.
About the Author
Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the loan information sites
http://www.selectloans.co.uk/
and also
http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk.
Bad Credit Used Car Loans - 3 Tips For Getting An Auto Loan With Poor Credit
Getting a used car loan with bad credit is as easy as getting approved for a loan with good credit. Because automobile loans are collateral-based, many auto loan lenders approve loans to persons with bad credit.
There are pros and cons to obtaining financing with bad credit. A primary disadvantage involves higher interest rates. However, there are ways to avoid paying more for a used vehicle financing. Here are a few tips to help you get approved.
Consider Using a Co-Borrower
Getting approved for an auto loan with bad credit or no credit history is not difficult. In fact, auto loan companies regularly offer financing to persons with low credit scores. Loan interest rates are primarily based on credit score. Obviously, those with excellent credit qualify for very low rates. On the other hand, if you recently filed bankruptcy, have a previous repossession, or bad credit, low rates would be a miracle.
Fortunately, there is an easy way to obtain a low rate auto financing with bad credit. This involves applying for the auto loan with a co-signer or co-borrower. Co-borrowers are beneficial for several reasons. To qualify as a co-borrower, the person chosen must have a strong credit history. Because they become responsible for the car loan if the primary borrower is unable to make payments, using a co-borrower will help buyers acquire a lower rate.
Apply for the Auto Loan with a Down Payment
Another approach for obtaining a lower rate on an auto loan entails applying with a down payment. Down payment amounts vary. A good down payment generally consists of 10%. Still, individuals with extreme credit problems may be unable to obtain a low rate. In this case, having a down payment will lower the amount financed, which could create a more affordable monthly payment.
Gradually Improve Credit Score
Although credit scores will not improve overnight, little things may add a few points. For example, paying bills on time will increase your credit score each month. Furthermore, paying down credit cards will also add a few points. Settling past due and collection accounts is another way to quickly add points to your credit score. If considering financing a used car with bad credit, attempt the previous suggestions. This could make the difference in acquiring an auto rate of 12 percent and 9 percent.
About The Author:
Try using
http://www.abcloanguide.com
for a list of Recommended Poor Credit Auto Loan Companies online. Their recommended companies are reputable and competetive in their rates.
Items covered in this section:
Get the cheap, low interest auto loan that you need. Improve your credit history with auto
loan
on-time payments. Get great deals on auto loans with the best lending institutions
available. Lower the monthly payments on your auto loan. Get a low interest auto loan. Find the
best alternative lending institutions. How to get finance companies to lend you money at the
best possible rates.
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