Buying a new car can be a great experience, but it can also be disappointing when it comes time to do the paperwork. With the right credit score you can either walk into a dealership and drive home with a new car same day, or you can face a lot of difficulty with getting the cash you need to finance your new car.

Unless you are paying cash for your car or borrowing money from a family member, you’ll need an auto loan to purchase your new car. Your best bet is to visit your bank first to find out what kind of loan you qualify for, otherwise you’ll be tempted to get your loan through the dealership. Dealer financing is typically very expensive and will cost you way more money for your car.

Either way, your credit score is the most important variable when it comes to determining if you can get approved for a loan, how much, and at what rate. The higher your credit score, the better the rate you’ll be able to secure. That means you’ll be able to purchase a nicer car or save hundreds of dollars a month. The same exact car you purchase can cost another person several hundred more dollars a month simply because of the difference in credit score.

The average credit score in America is 720, though you realistically need a 760 score or higher to get approved for the best rates. If you fall below the 720 mark, you’ll likely need to take a few extra steps to increase that rating.

See how your personal credit score compares to everyone else.

Check it for free at at http://www.thecreditfix.info

Car Loans FAQ:

Question: Are car loans hard to get these days?
I know with the economy the way it is, it might be hard. My credit score is 634 and I am going to try to get a car. My credit is fair, but am curious if I can get a loan for a car.

Answer: A credit score of 634 is below the 680-700 that many lenders like to see. However, some lenders are going with 620 as a lower limit. You’ll just have to try a few to find out which ones will approve you. All lenders are different in what they will accept, but it is definitely much tighter than a year ago.

Question: Who has the best or most reputable alternative car loans?
I need help finding financing for a new or used car with little to no credit history.

Answer: If you have little credit, but what you have is good, you may qualify for a first time buyer program from a major auto manufacturer.

If you have credit problems, this will be harder. The more you can put down, the better the loan terms you will qualify for.

Question: Can you have two loans on one car?
I have a car loan on my vehicle through my credit union. Is it possible for me to get another loan taken out on my car? I have a family emergency that I am needing a couple thousand for and this seems like my only option.

Answer: In theory, yes you can have a second lien on a car. In practice, this is a very high risk proposition for a lender and the value of your car after the first lien is probably not much.

Try and refinance the car and get cash out. This is lower risk for the lender and you will only have one loan to pay.

Question: Can you claim interest paid on car loans or other debt on your taxes?
I know you can itemize mortgage interest paid, but all my end of year loan statements and credit card statements are specifying the YTD interest paid. Is that for tax purposes or just to shock the heck out of me?

Answer: No, it is not deductible

The reason that credit card and finance companies provide this info is in the chance that the credit card is a business card.

Question: How do principle payments work on car loans?
If I owe $33,000 on my car and I pay an extra $200 or if I pay a lump sum say $4000 at one time how does that get applied to my loan and how does that reduce my debt?

Answer: When you send in your payment make sure that it is stipulated that it is for an additional principal payment. Paying down the principal makes what you owe smaller. You pay interest on what you owe and as your balance goes down so does what you pay on interest. Some banks will apply it to where ever they want. That should be in your loan papers. Someone told you that they are paid ahead and can skip if they need to, that is not always true. Each bank and lending institution has their own rules. Read all of your paperwork.

Question: Does anyone one know about bad credit car loans?
Im interested in buying a car but i have bad credit. Does anyone know of any websites that offer car loans to people with bad credit. A lot of them say they do but they lie.

Answer: Call a few local franchised dealers and ask if they have a secondary, or special, finance department. They do. You can buy a late model, or easier yet, new car. You will need some money up front and a job. You will pay a higher interest rate. Just to clear a point…a franchised dealer is one that sells new as well as used cars. The reason I want you to do that is the new car dealers put a lot of business each month into local lenders. Sometimes that is the difference in a border line approval.

Question: What was the last year you could deduct the interest from credit cards and car loans?

Answer: The deduction for personal interest, including interest on charge card purchase of consumer items, was phased out by the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Congress believed that the deduction for personal interest encouraged people to consume and that such consumption was at the cost of savings. At the time, the American savings rate was declining and, unfortunately, the private savings rates continues to remain low. To eliminate the significant disincentive to savings, Congress repealed the itemized deduction for personal interest other than mortgage interest.

Question: How can I find the lowest interest rates on car loans?
I was told I could shop around and find my own financing besides the dealers.

Answer: You can and should shop around. Sometimes the dealers have the best rates available and sometimes a credit union, your bank or another bank may have the best rates available.

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