HOW DO CAR LOANS WORK?
For most of us once in our lifetime; we want to buy a car
our DREAM CAR. While we put in great thoughts in the right model, mileage,
sedan vs SUV, and which brand of car to go with. How to arrange for finance for
the car is also a BIG question one has to think of. Do you want to buy the car
cash down or finance the purchase? It’s very important to know and do an analysis
of both to take this decision.
Car Loan – the
process
In a car-loan; the person buying the car borrows money from
a lender who arranges funds to pay for a vehicle upfront to the dealer the car
is being purchased from. The Borrower pays the debt in monthly installments; as
per the terms. There are three parties involved:
1.
Borrower – the person buying the car
2.
Dealer – the person/entity selling the car
3.
Bank / Financial institution – the lender.
Factors – affecting
Car Loan
There are three basic factors affect the overall cost of the
loan:
Loan Amount is the amount you borrow. It is also called the
Principal amount.
APR: Annual Percentage Rate is the interest rate charged on
the Principal Amount and the fees charged by the lender. APR is directly
proportionate to the cost of the loan.
Term of the Loan: the tenure of the loan. Car loans are
generally 36 – 72 months.
The Right Budget
One has to ensure the right balance between the care one has
to buy and the amount one is spending when one is financing it. Just because
one is thinking of financing; and will be paying installments which can look
like small amounts going out every month but can actually be quite a bit if we
don’t calculate the exact amount going out. Sometimes one can get swayed by
these small amounts and think of taking a plunge by going for that top model of
the car in mind or the car which may be out of budget.
How to save
money while taking a Car Loan
These can be some points to keep in mind to lower interest
charges in your car loan:
Down payment: you can choose to pay some portion of the
amount to be paid for the car as down-payment and only borrow 50% amount so the
net outflow of interest is less.
Opting for a shorter term of the loan: while taking the
loan; you can negotiate on paying higher installments but taking a shorter
tenure of the loan. You will end up paying lesser interest.
Foreclose / pre=pay the loan: a car loan is a simple
interest loan on which interest is calculated daily. With such loans; any block
pre-payment can reduce the interest outflow.
Get your loan
pre-approved:
Getting your loan pre-approved beforehand can ensure you
know exactly how much you can spend. It’s the smartest way to decide and plan
the finances.
Now that the finance tips are in place; some additional tips
are as follows:
1.
Negotiate the price
2.
Check multiple dealers and loan options
3. A Credit score is an important point to consider
when applying for a car loan. You must check what is your score to even think
of getting a loan.
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