Posts Tagged ‘ Auto Financing ’



The whole process of getting a car can be a lot of work. First, you have to figure out how much you are willing to spend. Then, you need to read up on or even test drive all of the models you are interested in so that you can learn more about each car. And, of course, there is that not-so-insignificant detail of figuring out how you are going to pay for it all.

Of course, in the best-case scenario, you have some cash in the bank that you can plunk down as a down payment on your car. And, in that best-case scenario, you also have a stellar credit score.

Reality, however, is not so rosy for most of us. Many of us find ourselves not having access to the cash we need to put down on the car. And, only a small percentage of the car-buying population has a good credit score.

What 100 Percent Financing Means

One option for people who do not have the cash to put down on a car is to qualify for something called a 100 percent financing loan. These auto loans are structured in a way that you do not need to come up with any cash at loan signing. Instead, 100% of the purchase amount is financed as a loan.

How A Bad Credit Score Affects Car Loans

Of course, if you have a bad credit (FICO) score, you will also need to find a lender willing to extend you a loan. Some lenders will not even offer loans to people with poor credit. And, those who do offer these types of loans do so by simply offering them at a very high interest rate.

You could say that, for most auto financing lenders, bad credit and loans do not mix. Choosing The Right 100 Percent

Financing Bad Credit Car Loans

Fortunately, some lenders offer 100% auto loan financing, even for people with bad credit. To qualify for one of these loans, start by researching your current credit score; knowing where you stand in terms of your credit score is an important first step in negotiating a reasonable interest rate with a credible vendor.

Next, be prepared to present to the lender anything that establishes your credibility as a borrower. For example, show proof of current or recent employment. And, be ready to show the lender how you have successfully paid back some past loans, even if you have an overall low credit score.

Remember, lenders are businesspeople, but they can also be reasonable. Be ready to present any documentation they request that proves that you are a reliable borrower and you will greatly increase the chances of qualifying for a loan.



In the United States, almost every family needs a car, even if they have declared bankruptcy. Once a person has filed for Chapter 7, Chapter 11, or Chapter 13 bankruptcy and has managed to buy some time from his creditors, it?s time for this person to start rebuilding his credit.

For people who would like to get a car loan after declaring bankruptcy, there are a number of options they can consider. However, it may take some time for a person to rebuild his credit to the point where he can get post-bankruptcy auto financing. According to the law, bankruptcy stays on the individual?s record for 10 years, while any bad credit that he may have accumulated stays on his credit report for 7 years.

It is important to remember that this law does not have to prevent you from buying a car. Maintaining a responsible credit practice is considered the best and the quickest means of securing the credit needed to get a car loan after bankruptcy.

Responsible credit practices basically means that all of your current bills are paid off on time, while you are paying off as much as possible of your credit cards, refraining from applying for more credit and simply being patient. Living within your means is the key to getting your first auto loan after bankruptcy.

There are many finance companies, both captive as well as non-captive ones, that offer bankrupt individuals the chance to apply for a car loan. Loans for people with bad credit normally have a higher interest rate than for people with a good credit history.

Various auto dealers offer loans for bankrupt individuals. Before accepting a loan from an auto dealer, it would be advisable to shop around a bit to get the best possible deal. Auto dealers obviously offer loans that provide the maximum profit to the dealership, and this is especially true when it comes to providing loans for bankrupt individuals.

Banks are the most common source of financing for car loans. They, too, tend to charge higher interest rates for people with bad credit history but they can be negotiated with. The payment plans and interest rates can be chosen to suit the bankrupt individual?s needs.



When we were teenagers, a car was more of a want than a need. Pre-driving-age teens imagine themselves putting around town, going fun places with friends, and making quick runs out to get a burger or to buy a loaf of bread for mom at the grocery store.

But as we get a bit older, one day we suddenly realize that owning a car is becoming less of a want and more of a need. We do not just desire a car – we actually start to require one in order to do the things we want to do. For married adults, these things might include getting back and forth to work, doing the family shopping, and shuttling the kids around. For single adults, it’s work, meeting with friends, going on road trips and going out on dates.

This is all fine and well, but connecting that need with reality can be a bit tricky. In particular, qualifying for auto financing is not always as easy as we believe it should be.

Bad Credit Is The Number One Enemy Of Car Financing

If you have attempted to get a car loan but have been denied more than once, you may be interested in finding special financing for a bad credit car loan. Special financing involves getting connected with a lender who will take your situation into account, rather than just looking at your credit score or employment status when deciding whether to offer you a loan.

How To Find Special Financing For Bad Credit Car Loans

Here are 3 steps for how to find special financing for a bad credit car loan:

1. Get the facts straight: If you are relatively new to the world of auto financing, invest an hour or two of your time learning about the ins and outs. You will want to learn about how the lending process works. You are also going to want to find out your own FICO (credit) score so that you can be prepared for the type of interest rate you will be offered. Remember: no matter how low your score is, it could always be lower.

2. Connect with multiple lenders: People in a tough credit situation sometimes get so eager for an auto loan that they are inclined to take the first offer that comes their way. Be sure to resist that temptation! Remember, the lender is not doing you any favors, and if you can qualify for a loan with one lender, there are others out there who will want your business.

3. Automatically reject the first loan offer you get: Once you start getting offers for loans, make sure to automatically reject the first offer you see from each lender. Remember that they are working with a range of interest rates they can offer you. Hold out for a second, lower offer. Doing so could save you thousands over the life of the loan.

Follow these 3 steps and you will be on your way to getting approved for special financing for a bad credit car loan.



Fixed rate car finance loans are like off the shelf car financing loans. They are loans whose rate, amount and repayment duration is fixed. Fixed rate auto finance loans are very suitable for people who are in dire need of these types of loans. These loans are readily available; they are also easily accessible and come with low interest rates that would definitely match the budget of an average consumer looking for a vehicle loan.

Amongst the different kinds of car finance that exists, pre-determined rate financing is the second best kind of loans that one can apply for. They come in second after low interest car financing. Most people who apply for low pre-determined rate auto financing usually find the rates suitable because most lenders that give out fixed rate finance approvals normally fix the rate at the amount that they feel is affordable to all.

A fixed rate car loan comes with, fixed interest rate, fixed down payment, and fixed surcharges. Most lenders and givers of fixed rate car loan may vary the amount that is required as interest rate and down payment. The required amount that a consumer might be required to pay might depend on certain factors such as the amount that he requesting to be financed with, his credit score and the repayment duration that he is requesting for.

Taking out a pre-determined car finance loan has certain disadvantages. Some of its disadvantages emanates from the fact that a fixed rate car financing loan has rigid terms and conditions that are too rigid to be amended to suit customers and consumer preference. Often time, customers and consumers have to readjust their budget and preference to suit that of the loans.

The advantage of taking up a pre-determined rate car financing loan outweighs it disadvantages.



Used car loan value is of extreme significance in equipping you to obtain car loans that are proportionate to your income – financial status.

Most of the people are not aware of this fact that finance companies provide car loans based on used car loan value and not the actual value of used cars. If you know the loan value of the automobile you propose to buy, you can also have a fairly accurate idea of the down payment you would need to make. Basically used car loan value is that percentage of the cost of a used car, which financiers deem fit to finance. This value is less than the actual cost of the car. The difference between actual cost of car and loan value is the amount of down payment that you will be required to pay.

How To Calculate?

Calculating used car loan value is a simple task. Generally the loan value or the loan amount that finance companies offer applicants is around 80% of the actual cost of a car. To make it clearer, let’s suppose you are proposing to buy a used car that is put on sale at a value of $10,000. In this case, auto loan financing companies would fix the loan value around $8,000. This is the amount that they would finance. The balance amount i.e. $2,000 is the down payment that you would need to arrange your self for purchasing the car.

Benefits Of Knowing The Loan Value

If you know the used car loan value, you would know the down payment you need to make as well. Having proper knowledge of down payment amount helps you decide on the right kind of car to go for. If you find the down payment for a particular car beyond your means, you can opt for a car that entails down payment, which you can afford.

Also, if you are aware of the loan amount that you need to finance and the down payment involved, you can get more accurate online quotes by specifying the loan amount. Obtaining multiple online quotes is extremely important to find the offer with the most reasonable rate of interest and terms of repayment.

Make Use Of Internet To Escape High Interest Rates

In spite of being fully aware of used car loan value, you might have to settle for car loans at high interest rates if you have poor credit rating. After improving your credit score for a few months, you can have your vehicle refinanced at low rate of interest. There are many online companies that specialize in refinance. There is a program called car loan rate calculator that you can make use of to obtain low interest car loans.