Auto Loan Calculators GURU
Finding the most affordable car loans deals
You spent hours researching details such as trim, tires, color, leather vs. cloth for your new automobile; why should your vehicle loan get less of your time? Just as you would for a car dealership, shop around for an auto loan.Where to begin?
There are a lot of websites and phone apps where you may look for automobiles and vehicle loans, so we categorized them by type: whether you want a new or used automobile, or need to buy a car after declaring bankruptcy. Don’t jump at the first vehicle that comes along with the first loan offered by the nearest dealership. Maybe you’re a brand-loyalist and you know exactly which automobile manufacturer you prefer — pick one from the list above to see whether any special incentives or financing are available. Even if manufacturer financing is a viable option for you, comparing rates with your bank, credit union, or online lender is always a smart idea.Take notice of the amount in dollars
After you’ve chosen a vehicle, pay attention to the amount rather than the monthly payment or APR. Why? Because even a little boost in the monthly payment results in a significant overall cost increase. Auto loan calculators may assist you in determining what you owe and how much it will be for each month.
Make the most of this opportunity by concentrating on the vehicle price. It’s worth emphasizing since automobile dealers benefit when a customer only examines the monthly payment. They know they can probably talk you into increasing your payment — what’s an extra $10 per month? A lot when you’ve agreed to a 72-month auto loan and are looking at more than $1,000 in additional costs. So concentrate on the automobile price rather than the car payment while haggling for a lower price.
Focus on trade-in price, not the monthly payment. Same goes for the conversation about your trade-in vehicle. Car dealers love to say they will “give you” a certain amount for your trade-in. They are not giving you anything; they are buying your trade-in from you and you shouldn’t accept less money for it than it is worth.
Again, pay attention to this value and don’t simply accept what the dealer says they will “give you” or forget that the value of your trade is a vital part of the car deal and your money. Research your car’s value ahead of time using tools like Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides or Edmunds.
Low or zero APRs versus cash rebates. A lot of people take pride in receiving a low APR offer. But a 1% APR difference on a $30,000 car is $300, and many rebates are at least $500. If you have to choose between a rebate and a low APR financing deal, the rebate is almost always better.
Watch out for long loan terms. Paying attention to how much in interest you will pay over the years of the loan as a dollar amount instead of a percentage will help you compare apples to apples when you’re looking at different auto loans with different APRs and different lengths. This can ultimately help save you money.
Play sellers off each other
Businesses want you to buy from them — use this to your advantage.
Car prices
If Dealer A has a higher price than Dealer B, ask Dealer A to beat Dealer B’s price. You could go back and forth this way between multiple dealerships or sellers until you get the lowest price you can.
Trade-in value
You shouldn’t accept less than what your trade-in is worth, and the dealer is not your only option. You could also try to sell your vehicle online through sites such as AutoTrader, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and more.
Loan APR
It does not hurt your credit to apply to multiple lenders any more than it does to apply to one, as long as you do so within a window of about 14 to 45 days. So apply to more than one lender directly, not through the dealership. Dealers add an average of 2.47% to customers’ APR. The best way to avoid this and pay the least in interest is to shop around for a loan. When you have the loan offer that suits you best, you could go to the dealer with your preapproved loan(s) and ask them to beat the lowest rate.
Read the final contract
At the end of this whole process, don’t forget to read what you’re about to sign. Make sure the numbers on the final contract match the agreed terms. The car price should be the same, the trade-in value should be the same, the APR and loan term should be the same. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and don’t sign anything if the numbers are wrong. Make sure the numbers are right before signing.