The majority of car buyers finance this major purchase. Given the statistics, it's likely you will be looking at options for car loans when shopping for a vehicle. There are many benefits to purchasing a vehicle with financing. Here are some top advantages to using a loan to purchase your next car.
When you finance a car, you can obtain more vehicle than you may have the cash for. A better car can be safer, more reliable and save on maintenance and repairs. With financing, you make a down payment, then periodic (usually monthly) payments for the duration of the loan. As opposed to paying straight cash for a car, down payments required when obtaining a loan are usually a small percentage of the price being paid for the vehicle.
There is flexibility in terms when financing car. Payments can be made over various lengths of time such as 36, 60 or 72 months. Interest rates that lenders offer are often flexible too, varying with credit score and the desired length of loan. In an economy with low interest rates, your money may be put to better uses than paying cash for a car. Car loans free up that cash so that it may be used for higher interest earning investments, businesses or home purchases.
If you have poor credit or little credit history, financing an automobile may look less attractive. Higher rates are charged to those with low credit scores due to the increased risk to the lender. With a poor credit score, you may need to put down a larger sum of cash in order to keep the payment affordable. However, when you make consistent on time payments, your loan will help improve your credit score over time.
By offering greater flexibility and purchasing power, car loans play a critical part of the automobile purchase process for most.