Car Financing 101: What You Need to Know

Ella McCain

Car Financing What You Need to Know

Even though there’s no denying that purchasing a car is a great thing, the truth is, that it’s not as simple as you may think. After all, it’s not like you are buying a toy that you can easily replace with another one if you realize you do not like it.

This is a purchase worth lots of money that you certainly do not want to waste. That’s precisely why you need to carefully think things through because there are a bunch of different options as far as financing your vehicle is concerned.

If you would like to navigate this whole financing process the right way, then just take a good look at this informative guide, because it is loaded with information that you can benefit from. So let’s see what’s in store today!

What Does Financing An Automobile Even Mean?

It means that you will borrow cash for these purposes, usually from a credit union, bank, or any other similar institution and you will pay it all back within a certain timeframe. That’s at least what most people do anyway.

There are buyers who decide to lease, and there are those who would rather finance it. But the point is that a vast majority of people need some financial assistance in these types of situations. 

At the beginning of purchase, you are obligated to sign an agreement where you’ll commit that you will pay a specific amount of money for an agreed-upon number of months. Loan terms depend on your budget and the length of time you opted for. In most cases, it’s either thirty-six months to seventy-two months or three to six years.

Is It A Good Idea To Consider Financing Through Dealership?

The answer is yes. Now, if you are wondering how to get car financing, you first need to remember that it can go a few different ways. Those who opt for dealers, normally do so because only through them, they can receive special financing from a manufacturer.

That’s something that can only be provided through the dealer. Namely, Toyota, Ford, and many others have their own financing departments in a variety of different cities and countries. For instance, Ford Motor Credit is also known as a captive lender because it is tied to a certain carmaker. 

So what is the role of captive lenders? They frequently have interest rate specials for specific cars. It means that at times they do not demand any cash down, or they even offer extremely low interest rates. 

Bear in mind that these sorts of deals are intended only for shoppers who have a great credit score. If you want to buy a certified pre-owned four-wheeler at a franchised dealer, the brand’s captive lender may run leasing or financing deals on it.

What About Direct Lending?

This is another common way you can purchase your auto, which typically involves acquiring a loan straight from any financial institution that you opt for, like a credit union or bank. By selecting this, you are practically given the opportunity to shop around for the financial group and eventually opt for the one that provides the best rates and loans to cater to your needs and demands.

Why do people love this option so much? Well, that’s because they do not want to further complicate things. In these instances, they can get a loan through the bank they’ve been already using, and, concurrently, consolidate all their expenses in one place, which is very practical.

One of the biggest benefits of this is the fact that you will already be familiar with the credit terms, which means that you won’t be surprised by anything else that’s related to this purchase.

Is It Better To Lease Or Finance?

Although this was briefly mentioned above, it doesn’t hurt to go more into detail in this section. That’s because this is probably one of the most common questions that practically every driver asks themselves before they take any further steps.

As previously stated, there are those who find leasing a lot more convenient, and yet you will oftentimes run into people who prefer to finance. At the end of the day, it all comes down to your long-term plans for the car. 

If you want to have a new car every few years, then leasing is definitely much better for you. On the flip side, if you want to have a car that you can call one hundred percent yours, then financing is the way to go.

Car Financing What You Need to Know

Whatever route you select as far as this is concerned, as you can see, in every instance, you still need to take a couple of factors into consideration if you want to make the right choice. So do not do anything hastily!

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