An auto loan is a kind of loan taken from an institution or a car dealer to purchase a car, where the bought car acts as collateral for the loan. This means that if you fail to repay the loan fully, the car is repossessed by the moneylender. This kind of loan is paid in monthly installments depending on your agreement with the lender and the value of the purchased car. The paid amount includes the principal and interest.
It is necessary to know the mode of payment before deciding the make and model of the car to purchase. This makes you sure of making the subsequent monthly payments without difficulties and avoid the repossession of the car by the lender. Many people decide to finance their car by taking an auto loan where the loan is paid for a long period of time.
Conditions to be met by the borrower
Before the lender gives you any loan, they have to examine your creditworthiness to avoid your default in payment of the loan and its interest.
First, the lender has to consider the credit history of the borrower. This helps the lender to know your history on debt repayment so that they can be able to determine if there is any chance of defaulting.
Second, the down payment you pay will show how serious and committed you are to the cause. This capital makes the lender comfortable and willing to give you the loan you need to purchase the car.
Third, the lender must also consider the borrower’s job history and how long they have stayed in their current job. This means that the debt-to-income ratio is a key factor. The capacity of the borrower will show if the income will enable them to repay the loan without difficulties.
Fourth, the lender needs collateral for the loan on which most cases the purchased car acts as the collateral. Therefore, the lender is assured of the recovery of his money in case of a default in payment.
Fifth, the use of the purchased car is a major condition for the loan and also the principal and the interest of the loan. This increases the possibility of the lender agreeing to give the borrower money.
Dealer’s loan or bank loan?
Dealer loan
Dealers are known to offer good rates on their loans though you should be careful with them since they tend to make commissions from the loans. Therefore, you should make sure that you get the right loan. To avoid problems in the future, make sure that the lender is a well-known company and you should ask around to know the kind of experience others got from such deals.
Also, don’t forget about the interest rate, which is a key factor in any kind of loan offered. The interest rates dealers offer depend on the credit score of the borrower. Those with a high credit score are offered lower interest rates as compared to those with a lower credit score.
Bank loans
Bank auto loans are easier to get and fast too, and this makes you avoid disappointments in case you take a car to be approved for.
Banks offer a lower interest rate on their auto loans, mostly if you have other banking services; hence the amount you pay in the long run is much less. They also have online accounts that help in your monthly payment by making it easier and hard to forget.
Whichever option you go for to get an auto loan has financial investment in your car hence called lienholder. The bank or credit unions are the best for financing your auto loan, so you should always research the best option before making your final decision on who to finance your car.
Length and payment of the auto loan
The borrower is allowed to pick the payment period for their car hence able to choose what suits them. An auto loan is a long term. Therefore, there is a lower amount paid each month as compared to short term auto loans, although the interest is higher.
The monthly payment is fixed for the life of the loan and won’t fluctuate, and this is an important factor to consider when getting an auto loan. Each monthly payment includes the interest and the principal. An auto loan is a secured loan, so you have to have enough knowledge of the purchase you are about to make to avoid repossession of the car.
Auto loans also affect car insurance since the lender should be included in the car insurance policy until the debt is fully paid. Before deciding on getting a car title loan, you have to make a good payment plan for yourself and also shop around in order to be able to make the best choice and avoid disappointments in the future.
