Wednesday, February 16, 2011

How to take out an auto loan at favorable terms and conditions


Are you looking for a suitable auto loan to purchase a vehicle of your choice? If yes, then it is advisable that you shop around and compare the terms and conditions on auto loans before you take out one. It will help you take out a loan with favorable terms and conditions. Read on to know about other tips to obtain an auto loan with suitable terms and conditions.
  • Calculate overall cost of the loan – It is quite important to calculate the overall cost of an auto loan while comparing the terms and conditions on auto loans. This is because a lender may offer you a loan with relatively lower down payment but it may increase the overall cost of the loan. You should also check whether or not there is any prepayment penalty on your auto loan. If there is, then you cannot pay back the loan before the stipulated time period even if you want to repay it. If you want to repay early, then you’d have to pay a prepayment penalty.
  • Check your credit score – Do you check your credit reports at regular intervals? It is quite important to check credit reports especially when you’re applying for a loan, and auto loan is not an exception. If your credit score is good, then the lenders will offer you loans with suitable terms and conditions. So, it is advisable that if your score is low, try to increase it by several points before you search for an auto loan.
While shopping for a suitable auto loan, you may come across a zero percent interest loan. However, before taking out such a loan, you should know that you may not get dealer rebates on such loans. So, you’ll not be able to negotiate on the price when you take out such a loan from your auto dealer. Moreover, some dealers may give zero percent interest option only on selected models. Therefore, it is advisable that you consider these points and weigh the pros and cons so that you can take out an auto loan with the terms and conditions most suitable to you.