Car Buying Tips & Information

Tips about Financing

Before purchasing your dream car whether new or used, try to assess if the budget can really afford it.

Questions like:
How will it be paid?
Who will be helping to pay for it?
What is the price limit of the car to be bought?
How long will it take to pay off the car?

These should be considered even while planning to buy the car.  The trend nowadays is that people buy the cars by cashing out the down payment, and the balance will be paid by installment.  Others are just lucky enough to have saved the right amount of money that they are able to cash out the total cost of the car, which, by the way, seldom happens anymore.  Never set aside the possibility of paying thousands of dollars when buying from a dealer or a specific car company, where in the end, they charge you more for the interest which takes years to pay off.

Once you have found a way to finance the car you have your eye on, then it's time to start shopping around.  There are credit unions and even local banks that are willing to loan the needed amount to purchase the car with an Annual Percentage Rate of only 1.9 per cent.  However, this may turn out to be a catch, since this will only be happening on the first year.  Without prior notice, these interest rates can increase which is a total inconvenience for those with just a fixed income every year.

It is a big plus if a buyer is a member of a credit union.  Being a member could save you the trouble of spending a whole day in a lender's office because the processing of the loan could only take just a few minutes after filling out the necessary papers for the request.  In a credit union, fifteen to twenty minutes is all that is needed to do the application.  They could even loan up to $25,000.00 within just an hour after signing the papers.

It can save you quite a bit of money by researching prior to making that loan for a car.  Car dealers are really digging out most of the pennies in a buyer's pocket by issuing interest that is sometimes unreasonable. There are two things to consider when thinking of financing a new car:

First, what's the price you are willing to be spend?  More often than not, asking yourself the question: How much of the car price do you intend to buy instead?  Only do so if you know you can afford the car of your choice.  Consider regular monthly expenditures.  The monthly payment for the new car should not get in the way of paying the fixed expenses.  If in case it does, by merely doing the math, then just consider an older car or one that may not be quite as “upscale.”  Just make sure that all is checked and examined to avoid hassle in the future.

Second, is it really important to change cars every two to four years?  Consider cars offered on a lease, if so.  Other dealers and car companies offer the leasing of a car for that amount of time, which you can return but no money will be refunded.  However, there is an allotted amount of distance or mileage that should be covered during those years of lease, but this is negotiable.  On the other hand, if a buyer is not interested in changing cars, it's best not to opt for the cars for lease.

It is safest to get a loan from a credit union or a financial institution instead of a local car salesman; they will definitely try to squeeze your bottom dollar.  Get information from someone you can trust and is expert about financing a car, for they will be able to give you tips to benefit your own interests.  Financing either a new or a second hand car is a lot of sweat, but the determination to get the best car at the best price can be considered a success.

This should be a win, win situation for anyone.  After all it’s your money that is at stake here.  Do your research and it can be a beneficial decision on your part.