What Car Financing And Loan Options Are Available At Okcarz
Buying a new car is probably one of the most expensive purchases that youll make. Even with a reasonably priced used vehicle, most people wouldnt be able to pay the entire price upfront, and even if you could, there are some advantages to using a loan to finance a new car. Before you can decide if an auto loan to buy a vehicle, it can be helpful to understand how car financing works.
How you finance your vehicle depends on your credit score and your monthly budget. Even if youre approved for a high loan amount, you need to make sure that youll be able to make your monthly payments. If you arent able to make your payments, it can affect your credit score, which will make it harder for you to qualify for other loans.
With an auto loan, you wont have to worry about making a big purchase and draining your accounts, and you can instead spread your payments over a pre-determined amount of time with some interest. Most vehicle loans are between 36 and 72 months, with a minimum payment you have to make every month. If you can pay more every month, that will lessen the time you have to spend paying off of your vehicle.
Leasing Advantages And Disadvantages
Drivers who prefer to lease instead of buy tend to do so for a couple of major reasons. First, they get to drive a newer vehicle that remains under warranty throughout the lease period and, therefore, rarely requires anything more than routine maintenance.
Second, monthly payments for a leased vehicle are normally smaller than those for a purchased vehicle. That’s because lease payments are based on the depreciation in value of the vehicle over the course of the lease period instead of the vehicle’s full value. As a result, drivers can lease a vehicle that is nicer and more expensive than one they could afford to purchase.
There are disadvantages to leases, too. One is that over the course of a lessee’s lifetime, they will likely end up spending more on their vehicles than a buyer. Another disadvantage is that at the end of the lease period, the lessee must turn in the leased vehicle and walk away without any equity in the vehicle.
So, which option is best? That depends on the driver’s unique needs and preferences.
Dealer Financing Vs Private Lender
Investopedia: Is it better to finance through the dealer or elsewhere ?
Morrison: As stated above, it is best to shop around. Every vehicle, scenario, and situation are different. Sometimes dealers can offer financing incentives or manufacturer terms that are better than a private lender. Other times, banks, credit unions, insurance companies, or online lenders can provide better rates.
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What Are Car Loan Terms
Getting a car loan isn’t just about how much you can afford to spend each month. You also need to consider how long you want to make these monthly payments. A car loan term, explains badcredit.org, is how long it will take you to pay back the money you owe to the lender. These terms can run anywhere from three to six years but can be longer or shorter.
The term will always be expressed as a number of months, such as 36 months or 72 months. Car loan terms used to be much shorter, but as the price of new vehicles goes up, the length of auto loan terms also increases. Seeing terms for 60 to 72 months is not uncommon. Having a shorter term on your car loan will mean higher payments, so people often think that a longer term is better. However, Bank of America shares that this is not always true.
According to Bank of America, extending your auto loan lowers your monthly payment, but increases the amount of interest you pay in the long run. This means that a 60-month term could end up costing you hundreds of extra dollars in interest by the time you pay it off in full. Not to mention that, as your vehicle ages, it will have more problems and be worth less money. Keep this in mind when deciding what terms you want for your car loan.
In general, longer loans are riskier for lenders. This will be reflected in the interest rate they charge you. So, getting the shortest possible loan terms is always recommended.
After You Get The Car
If you financed the car, understand
- The creditor has a lien on the cars title until youve paid the contract in full.
- Late or missed payments can have serious consequences. Late fees, repossession, and negative entries on your credit report can make it harder to get credit in the future. Some dealers may put tracking devices on a car, which helps them find the car if they have to repossess it. Ask the dealer if it plans to put a device on your car as part of the sale, what the device will be used for, and what to do if the device sets off an alarm.
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Finalize The Loan Terms
Before you finalize your loan and purchase a vehicle, you may need to negotiate on price and interest rates that work for you. Once you’re comfortable and confident with the deal, you will sign the necessary paperwork, get behind the wheel, and drive home to Amherst behind the wheel of your new car.
Loans Arranged Through A Dealer
Most dealers will make loan arrangements for you with a lender. You can apply for and receive a loan directly in the dealership.
When you visit a dealership, dealers can arrange financing for you with:
- a financing division of the manufacturer
- a financial institution, such as a bank or credit union
- an independent finance company, such as one that specializes in providing car financing
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Obtain A Copy Of Your Credit Report
Its always a good idea to get a copy of your credit report before you make a major purchase or financing decision.
You can get a free credit report from TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax or on a website like AnnualCreditReport.com. You can also pay one of the credit bureaus to get your actual accurate credit score.
You will be able to get a free credit report every twelve months from each of the nationwide reporting agencies.
Your credit report will give you an idea of how lenders view you, i.e. how much of a risk do they regard to them? This will give you an indication of the type of interest rates you will be offered.
Is A Down Payment Required To Use An Auto Loan
Car dealerships typically recommend 5-10% down payment for a new car, while financial advisors may suggest up to 20% for a down payment on new cars. Lender requirements often dictate the down payment required, and otherwise, it can be left to your personal investing preferences.
Down payments can be in the form of a trade-in vehicle, cash, check, or debit/credit card. Some maximum payment limits may apply when using a credit card.
A down payment lessens the total amount of money you will need to borrow, consequently leading to lower interest rates and potentially, a shorter lease term. It also makes it simpler to get approved for a loan and offsets depreciation.
Since putting money down can prove your committment and ability to pay to lenders, it can lead to quicker loan approval and lower interest rates. If your credit score is less than 600, a down payment may be required to be eligible for a loan.
It is possible to finance a car with an auto loan, without any money down, however, the lack of down payment can increase your chances of negative equity.
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How Car Financing Works
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If you’ve read How Buying a Car Works, you know the car-sales lingo and the ins and outs of negotiating with a seasoned car salesman. Let’s say you’ve battled for the best deal and finally agreed to a price you can live with — time to breathe a sigh of relief? Not exactly. Did you know that if you finance a new car through the dealership, the finance person is working on commission? That means that the financing deal you get is still up in the air, although they’ll never tell you that. Those things that get added on in the final stages of the deal are often what the dealership makes the most money on. It’s the finance-office person’s job to upsell you on those items AFTER you’ve agreed to a price for the car with the salesman.
In this article, we’ll cover the choices you have for financing, what determines the interest rate you get, and how to determine if you’re really getting the best deal, as well as some scams to watch out for. We’ll even give you a cheat sheet to take with you when car shopping to help you figure out things like whether taking the rebate or getting the zero-percent interest deal is best.
While leasing is good for a lot of situations, it’s a whole other animal, so in this article, we’re focusing on financing. If you know you want to finance your car rather than pay cash, then you need to do your homework and decide how to get the best financing deal.
Auto Loans Vs Personal Loans
Investopedia: How are auto loans different from other types of consumer loans, such as personal loans?
Morrison: An auto loan has collateral, meaning the value of the vehicle is the security for the lender. The lender has protection against default. In other words, if you do not make payments or default on your loan, the bank can seize the underlying asset. In this case, they can take your vehicle.
So, the big difference between auto loans and other consumer loans is that an auto loan is a secured loan that must be used to purchase a vehicle, whereas other personal loans may be used to purchase almost anything and are not secured. For this reason, interest rates on auto loans are typically lower than personal loans because the lender is taking less risk, since they can seize the vehicle to cover the unpaid loan if needed. Car loans are also fixed-period loans. They are paid back over a specific period, such as three, four, or five years. Some consumer loans also have you choose a specific payback period.
Investopedia: Are loans for pre-owned cars different from new car loans, and if so, how?
Morrison: A consumer should shop for an auto loan from different lenders, regardless of if the vehicle is new or pre-owned. The terms of the loan will depend on the price of the vehicle and interest rates available to you.
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Prepare Yourself Financially Before Applying For An Auto Loan
Understanding how to get the best financing for your car is important, but it’s just as important to prepare yourself in other ways. For starters, check your credit score to see where you stand. If it needs work and you have time, consider taking steps to improve your credit before you apply.
Also, work on saving a down payment for the loan. The higher the down payment, the less you have to finance, and the less you’ll pay in interest over the life of the loan.
Finally, check your budget to make sure you can afford the monthly payment. The last thing you want is to drive off the lot in a car that will cause you more distress than joy.
How Healthy Does Your Credit Need To Be To Finance A Car
There isnt one universal minimum credit score you need tohave in order to finance a car. Each lender sets its own minimum credit scoresand weighs factors such as the type of car youre buying or your incomedifferently. Some lenders may be willing to work with people who havebankruptcies or recent repossessions in their credit history, for example.
Still, the average credit score was 718 for new-car loans and 662 for used-car loans in the third quarter of 2019, according to Experians State of the Automotive Finance Market report. The report also shows that only 38% of all car loans were made to people with credit scores below 660.
Its generally a good idea to take some time to build your credit before applying for car financing if youre able to wait. If your credit scores are low, you may receive fewer offers than someone with good credit. And if youre approved for a loan, youll likely get a higher interest rate than someone with a better credit score.
People with credit scores over 780 paid an average interestrate of 4.01% on their new-car loans, while those with credit scores of 500 orless paid an average rate of 14.3%, according to Experians report. This couldtranslate to a major difference in how much interest you pay over the life ofyour loan.
Lets say you got a five-year $20,000 car loan. Heres how your credit could affect how much you pay in interest.
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Does My Car Loan Disappear If I Trade In My Car
Your car loan doesn’t disappear if you trade in your car. However, the trade-in value of your car becomes credit towards your loan. This credit might cover the whole balance. If it doesn’t, your dealer will roll over your loan, combining the deficit with the amount owing on your new car. Consolidating what you owe into a single new loan helps you manage your payments better.
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Is It Worth It To Refinance My Car
It all depends on your situation and what kind of deal you can get through refinancing. Heres a quick example of how it can save you money.
Lets say your original loan is for $20,000 and your current lender has you paying 8% interest on a 60-month loan. Your monthly payment is $415, and youll pay $4,910 in interest over your five-year loan term.
Now, lets say youre 18 months into your loan and you have about $15,000 left. Youve improved your credit score since you first got the loan, and one lender offers you a 48-month term with a 4% interest rate.
With this new loan, your monthly payment would be $339, and youd pay just $1,257 in interest. If you hold onto your current one, though, your payment is still $415, and you have $3,661 left in interest on the loan.
Of course, there are fees involved with refinancing. But saving more than $2,000 in interest will far outweigh whatever fees youll pay in the process.
The lender will need to do a hard pull of your credit, which can reduce your score although by a small amount.
In other words, refinancing your car loan is a no-brainer if you can score a lower payment and interest rate. And keep in mind that you can refinance as many times as you want. So, if your credit score improves again, you can refinance again.
Review And Sign The Final Documents
Once weve got everything ready and youre approved, well invite you to review your final loan terms and electronically sign your promissory note, at which point we conduct a hard credit check. Generally, a hard credit check has a very small impact on your credit. According to FICO, after one year it wont impact your credit at all, and in two years the mark will fall off entirely. After you sign your promissory note, well do one last round of checks to verify your vehicle and insurance details, and have you sign the documents needed to place Upstart, or an Upstart-powered lender, as the lienholder on your title.
We can often also do this electronically. However, the laws vary and in some states, we may need you to sign a physical copy of the titling documents. If thats the case, well mail you the forms along with a prepaid envelope to return them. Some states also require you to have the form notarized, and if your state does, well let you know and provide instructions on how to complete this step. Well be sure to communicate any deadlines to you. Please stick to them! If we dont hear back from you, well unfortunately need to cancel your loan to avoid mix-ups with your existing lender or the DMV.
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How Does Refinancing A Car Loan Through Upstart Work
Youre not alone if paying off your auto loan seems like more of a burden than you bargained for. The good news is that youre not necessarily stuck with that loan. It is possible to refinance to get a lower payment, a lower interest rate, or even both.
Refinancing your car loan can save you a lot of money in the long run. For example, borrowers on the Upstart platform save an average of $912 per year on their auto loan¹, and thats not chump change.
If youve never given refinancing any thought, its a lot simpler than you might think. Well walk you through exactly how refinancing your car loan through Upstart works so you know what to expect.
