Not everyone needs or wants a new car. Perhaps you are looking for your first car or a first car for you teenage driver. Maybe your family needs a second car for a stay-at-home parent. Or perhaps you simply can’t justify spending more than $20,000 for a car when your first home cost little more than that. Like many people in today’s economy, maybe you just can’t stretch your budget to include a new car payment.
Whatever your reason, it is important to know the rules of purchasing a used car. You will need a down payment of 10%-20% or a trade-in if you are using a dealer. Sometimes you need both. Most lenders have a minimum amount that they are willing to lend for a used car. Few lenders are willing to lend $500-$1000 for a used car. Interest rates for a used car are also much higher than the rates for a new car.
So, where do you start? First you should do your research on the car you want to purchase. Does the make and model of the car hold its value? For how long? How many miles can you reasonable expect the car to last? 150,000 miles? 200,000 miles? Decide on what year and the maximum mileage of the car you want to purchase. It is important to know that the car can be expected to last beyond the last payment.
When you have done your research, you have the option of setting out to find the car of your dreams or finding the loan to purchase it first. If you are thinking of purchasing a vehicle from a private party, it is helpful to have your financing already in place. You might consider an unsecured personal loan so that when you find a car you want to buy, you already have the money in your hand. If you are purchasing a car through a dealer, you will have several options. You may obtain dealer financing or you might want to visit your own bank or credit union.
Interest rates for used car loans are higher than new car loans because there is increased risk for the lender. If you default on your loan, the lender will be stuck with an older car that will be difficult to sell. There are also higher default rates for used cars. Additionally, it is difficult to asses the value of used cars. For these reasons, used car lenders require higher credit standards and higher interest rates. The interest rates will also vary depending on the term of the loan. The longer the term of the loan, the higher the interest rate.
It is beneficial for you to get competitive bids for your used car loan. Check your local banks, credit unions and the dealer financing options. A written bid in your hand will go far in getting financial institutions to compete for your loan.
Remember. Do your used car homework first. Then find your financing options. Only then are you ready to purchase a used car.