Do you have your eyes on a new ride? If you don’t have the funds sitting in a bank account, you’ll need to know how to finance a new car.
With the average cost of a new car around $35,000, you should shop around to find the best deal on a loan. (Source) Otherwise, you could spend hundreds, if not thousands more than you have to over the life of the loan.
Getting the best deal on financing
Financing offers vary from lender to lender. Take these simple steps to find the best deal available.
Know tour credit score
The higher the credit score, the lower the interest rate. To illustrate:
| Loan Amount | Interest Rate | Loan Term | Monthly Payment | Total Interest Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18,000 | 2.19% (Excellent Credit) | 36 months | $515 | $558 |
| $18,000 | 4.99% (Fair Credit) | 36 months | $539 | $1,418 |
| $18,000 | 8.99% (Bad Credit) | 36 months | $572 | $2,603 |
And in some cases, you may qualify for zero percent interest on your new ride if you have excellent credit.
Visit Credit Sesame to get a free credit score and report. Check all the items on your report are accurate. If you see a mistake that could be hurting your credit, ask the credit bureau to correct it immediately.
Don’t settle for the first offer
Some dealers offer tons of incentives on new cars if you finance in-house. But that doesn’t mean you should only apply with them.
Explore loan products from other lenders before heading to the dealership. You can use SuperMoney’s auto loan comparison tool for your search. Remember, as long as you shop around within a 30-day period, credit score algorithms will consider all your credit requests as a single credit inquiry, which will reduce the damage to your credit score.
Have your trade-in appraised
If you’re planning to trade-in your ride, have it appraised. You can also use Kelley Blue Book to get an idea of how much it’s worth. Print this information and bring it to the dealership in case they lowball you.
How much can you afford?
The average monthly payment in Q3 of 2016 was around $500. (Source) But that doesn’t mean you should be spending that much on a car payment.
Instead, use an auto loan calculator to gauge your affordability. And don’t forget to include other fees in your calculation. This includes the cost of taxes, registration, the extended warranty, and other add-ons.
Finance a new car options
There are three ways to finance a new car.
Direct lender
In this arrangement, you get a loan from a bank, credit union or other financial institution. The lender pays for the vehicle and manages the loan until you pay it off.
Dealer financing
The dealer will shop your information around to its partners and offer you the best option. Upon approval, you will remit payment to the lender and be under contract with them for the duration of the loan. (In some instances, you’ll deal with the dealer directly).
Credit Cards
Some dealers will accept credit cards for auto loan purchases. Once you buy the vehicle, the contract is between you and the credit card company.
(See: Which Are the Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards?)
If you need to compare credit card options, check out SuperMoney’s credit card comparison tool to find the cared that’s right for you.
Steps to financing a new car
Follow these steps to take the hassle out of financing a new car:
Step 1: Get pre-approved
The lender will want proof that you have the ability to make payments each month. If you’re an hourly or salaried employee, you most recent pay stubs should suffice. The lender may also request a recent bank statement to prove you have the funds for a down-payment.
But, you may have to provide a bit more documentation if you’re self-employed, including:
- Bank statements from the past three months
- Tax returns from the past two years
- Business financials from the past three months
You’re free to start shopping once you have your pre-approval letter in hand.
Step 2: Negotiate the price
Now that you’ve selected a car, it’s time to negotiate the price. This step is important as it determines the total amount you’ll finance. A few tips to negotiate the best deal:
- Focus on the total cost, not the monthly payment.
- Allow the salesman to make the first offer.
- Remain firm and be prepared to walk away if they won’t budge,
- If you’re trading in your current ride, negotiate the price first. (Also, be mindful of the cost implications of negative equity. This is the amount owed above what the car is worth).
Step 3: Select a loan product
The dealer will encourage you to speak with their finance department. If you take them up on their offer, they may be able to beat your pre-approval terms. But if they can’t, you have two options:
- Go with dealer financing to take advantage of the incentives and refinance in 30 days.
- Select the lender with the best offer and forgo the incentives. If the dealer isn’t offering much, it won’t matter.
Step 4: Finalize the loan
If you decide to go with a direct lender, you’ll need to finalize the loan documents with them. But if you choose to finance through the dealership, you may have to fill in the paperwork on-site. In some cases, you’ll need to pay a down payment on the car.
Step 5: Run the Numbers
Read the entire loan agreement, and make sure you understand the terms before you sign. If you have any questions, now’s the time to seek clarity. Also, watch out for the add-ons.
Should you consider a lease?
The choice is yours, but leasing a car may be ideal if you:
- Want a more expensive model for the same monthly payment
- Change cars often
- Have funds available for a down-payment
A few benefits and drawbacks to consider:
(Check out: Buy or Lease? What to Know Before You Decide on Your New Ride)
Securing financing with bad credit
A less than perfect credit score isn’t the end of the world. In fact, there are several lenders that offer auto loans to credit-challenged consumers. You may also qualify for a loan with a lower interest rate if you have a cosigner. (See: Best Auto Loans for Bad Credit)
The following cards allow you to apply with a cosigner.
A final thought
With a little legwork, you can score a great deal when financing your new car. The tips in this guide can help you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on your next car loan.
If you’re ready to buy, use SuperMoney’s auto loan search tool to compare lender rates and read reviews from other users.
Allison Martin is an accomplished finance writer who has written for publications including The Wall Street Journal, MoneyTalksNews, The Simple Dollar, and Credit.com. Her work has been featured on Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, MSN Money, and ABC News. She enjoys writing about personal development, entrepreneurship, personal finance and is a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI).
