Finance Center

If you're like most consumers, who don't have enough savings to buy a new vehicle outright, you'll most likely need an auto loan to pay for your car purchase. When financing a vehicle, the first thing you need to do is make a cash down payment. As with buying a home, you'll have a lower monthly payment if you opt for a higher down payment. Experts recommend that you put down at least 10% of the price of the vehicle. Therefore, if your desired car costs $25,000, you should make a down payment of at least $2,500.

Next, you have to apply for financing with an auto loan provider, which can be a bank, credit union, alternative lender, or dealership. When reviewing your loan application, a lender will look at your credit score and income to determine your eligibility and interest rate. If you're approved, you need to pay monthly installments plus interest to your loan provider until the end of your loan term. 

The repayment period is up to you. It can range from two to seven years, but most car buyers choose a five- or six-year loan. If you can pay off your loan earlier, you may want to do so to reduce your overall interest cost. However, bear in mind that some lenders charge a penalty fee for early repayment. 

As long as you have an outstanding balance on your car loan, your lender is technically the owner of the vehicle. When your loan is fully repaid, you'll receive a "pink slip," which is the title of your car. Only then will you become the legal owner of your vehicle. It's important to note that your lender has the right to repossess the car if you fail to make your monthly payments. As such, you should be careful to keep your loan obligations manageable. If you're unsure whether you want to lease or buy a car, it's an important part to the car buying process before you start test drives and talking numbers.

Why It's Best to Finance a Car Through a Dealership

Nowadays, more and more car buyers are showing a preference for dealership financing. From a hassle-free financing process to promotional incentives, a dealership offers many benefits over a traditional loan provider such as a bank or finance company. Below is a list of compelling reasons why you should finance your vehicle purchase through a dealership:

Lower Credit Score Requirements

If your credit score is less than favorable, you can expect to have difficulty getting financing from a bank. On the other hand, a dealership will try its best to help you secure an auto loan as part of the car-buying process. Even if you have no credit or bad credit, they can make special arrangements with certain lenders to get you approved for a loan. In addition, some dealerships have a credit-building program that enables you to improve your credit score quickly if you successfully keep up with your car loan payments. 

Flexible Loan Terms

Compared to a bank or credit union, a dealership is more willing to go the extra mile to accommodate your unique financing needs. For example, they may be able to offer you a longer loan term than you can get with a traditional lender, such as a seven- or eight-year loan. In some cases, you can even negotiate for a lower interest rate. 

Convenient Processing

One of the most appealing aspects of dealership financing is that it can help you save a lot of time and effort. With their in-depth knowledge of the local lending market, a dealership can find the best car loan for you in no time at all. They'll do all the legwork on your behalf while you kick back and relax in the comfort of the showroom. 

Under normal circumstances, you should be able to test-drive your favorite car, get a value for your trade-in, complete the paperwork, get your loan approved, and drive away in your new car, all within a few hours. However, if you apply for a loan with a bank, you may have to wait a few days for the funds to appear in your bank account. 

Promotional Incentives

If you decide to finance a car through a dealership, you may have access to an array of promotional incentives, such as cashback and low-interest financing. These special offers may change from time to time, but they can help you save substantially on your car purchase. 

Get the Best Car Financing Deal at Huffines Chevrolet Plano