Auto Loan Tips and Scams
Financing Should be a Forethought, Not an Afterthought
When you are shopping for a car one of the most important things to do is educate yourself about car loans. It is very important to realize that a car loan is a product that the dealership is selling you. It's not a favor they are doing for you so that you can drive off the lot. They make profit on the loan and it is in their best interest to charge as high an APR as possible. They can use all kinds of tricks to make you think you are getting a better deal than you are. You can get better loans from other lenders before you even set foot in the dealership.
Key Auto Financing Tips
- Never Shop Based Upon the Monthly Payment
- Dealers can extend the length of your loan in order to get the monthly payments down
- Don't be fooled by the dealer sneaking in a 60 month loan
- Dealers can put overpriced extras into the loan so you don't notice you are being ripped off
- It can make you vulnerable to the "Financing Fell Through Scam" detailed on our scams page
- Avoid getting scammed by comparing the APR of several loan options
- Figure out your budget before shopping so you know what you can afford
- Know your credit score so the dealer can't lie to you to charge you more
- Don't give a cash deposit, you can dispute a credit card charge if there is an issue
Warning About Low APR Car Financing
Few people qualify. Estimates show that as few as 7% of you will qualify for those low or no APR rates we see advertised by car manufacturers. Your best bet is to assume you won't qualify and get quotes from the online lenders I will discuss so you are prepared.
Financing Mistake to Avoid
It is huge mistake trying to buy a new car without checking rates online or knowing if your credit history can support getting approved. A big source of emails I get are from people whose loans fell through at the dealer. This is why it is important to know your credit score before you apply. Remember, the free reports do not include your score.
Question: Jeff, I just got ripped off on my interest rate by the dealer! What do I do now?
Don't email us! Do something about it. Visit Capital One Auto Finance, Up2Drive or myAutoloan.com where you can refinance immediately with lower rates. For more details, visit our auto refinance section.
If you have bad credit and are trying to get a loan, read our chapter for people with bad credit. We give you strategies to increase your credit score and your chances for approval.
Online Auto Loans: Getting the Best Deal
According to the Consumer Federation of America, car buyers are often overcharged by 3% on their loans at the dealership, which can add more than $1,000 over the life of the loan. The best way to avoid this rip-off is to finance online because these companies tend to have the lowest rates, usually beat dealers and there are no application fees. Get approved in minutes. Remember, multiple quotes gets you the best rate.
Advantages Of Online Auto Financing
- Online loan rates are usually lower than car dealers
- Low rate and no application fees
- Lock your financing rate for 60 days
- Apply for a maximum amount in advance so the final price and vehicle won't matter
- Online new car financing avoids headaches, bad credit loan scams and frustration of car dealer financing
- Loan approvals are usually within an hour during business hours
- No hidden fees, points or prepayment penalties
Best Car Loan Sites
Up2Drive (a division of BMW Bank of North America) offers highly competitive rates & superior customer service.
- Up2Drive financing is not available to first time car buyers
- Once approved, Up2Drive will send you a "Drive CheckTM" that works similar to a personal check
- You can negotiate the sale price of a vehicle as if you have cash on hand
- Check today's rates, lock your rate for 30 days
- Never an application fee
Click Here to Visit Up2Drive
myAutoloan.com gets you up to 4 online loan offers in minutes to help you maximize your savings.
- Create your secure myAutoloan.com account & login
- Complete private, secure, confidential myAutoloan.com online application
- Receive up to 4 loan offers in minutes, near instant decisions
- Review your offers, compare & select the best offer for you.
- No fees or obligations!
Auto Credit Express is designed for people with poor credit. Auto Credit Express requires you to have a monthly income of $1,500 or more and be able to obtain auto insurance. If your credit score is below 650 and you get rejected, don't submit applications. Submit one free application to a bad credit loan site like Auto Credit Express.
- They can find you car financing from high risk lenders
- Even if you have a discharged bankruptcy, tax liens or bad credit
- You may pay higher APR
- If your credit score is 550 or above, your chances are good, also you should full time employment
- If you have good credit but get rejected for no car loan history
Don't Get Upside Down on Your Car!
Don't go car shopping if you are upside down on your current loan, just grin and bear it. If you do, some dealers will take advantage of this. Just because your payments are lower and you have a 60 month loan instead of 36 months doesn't mean you are saving money. In fact, you are really paying more because now you are deeper in debt and have more payments to make.
If you can't afford 20% down, then you can't afford the car and you will be upside down.
Keep Your Debt to Income Ratio and Credit Balances Low
It's crucial before you apply for new car financing, to get your credit balances way below 50% of your credit limit or they lower your credit score. Even if you make your payments on time you can still have a low credit score if balances are too high, you applied for credit recently, or have too many open accounts. This surprises many people.
How Your Credit Score Affects Your Loan Rates
It's a very simple formula, lower score equals higher interest rate. Get your credit report instantly online, it's a must for "The Folder." Remember, you can run your own credit all you want without impacting your score. Also, the credit bureaus treat multiple credit inquiries within a 30 day period as a single inquiry in a &shopping window& while you are looking for a car. If your score is < 550, don't apply until you clean up your credit.
What Should Your Credit Score Be For Approval On A New Car Loan?
- If your credit score is above 680, you are a "prime borrower." You should get a low APR loan
- If your credit score is below 680, you are "sub prime." You'll pay higher a interest rate
- Below 550, you can forget about a loan or get a bad credit loan
A car dealer shouldn't know more about your FICO Score than you. Get yours now.
Dealers like to keep it secret from you so they can charge you higher rates. Get your Credit Score so they can't lie and say your score was low and charge higher APR. This happens all the time.
Where to get your credit score: Experian, TrueCredit or Equifax. Is your credit score over 680? If not, time to get to work.
If you want the ultimate in credit monitoring and access to credit scores, Experian's Triple Advantage offers the complete package - credit scores and monitoring from all three credit bureaus. Now is the time to get your credit report and start correcting any inaccuracies that you may find.
Alternative Auto Financing
Credit Unions
Credit unions tend to lend you more money at favorable interest rates than dealers. Your credit union can approve you over the phone in minutes, printing your credit report during the call. I have found the online lenders rates often beat credit unions but you should take the lowest rate you can get.
Equity In Your Home
If you have equity in your home, and can get home equity loan with no fees you can use it to fund your car purchase. You can usually deduct interest from home equity loans from your taxes, effectively reducing your APR. Even if the interest rate is higher the tax savings make up for it.
If you don't know how much you owe your creditors off the top of your head, you have a credit problem.
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