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Tip 1: Set a Budget
A great first step in the used-car financing process is setting a budget. This allows you to discover your buying power, so your financing plan will fit seamlessly into your lifestyle.
Professionals suggest spending no more than 10% to 15% of your take-home income on a pre-owned car. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for vehicle financing. To easily find out what you're comfortable spending, compare what comes in (your income after taxes) with what goes out (your monthly bills).
Remember to incorporate other vehicle expenses into your budget as well. This can include auto insurance, maintenance, gas, and parking/tolls costs.
Tip 2: Prepare Your Credit
If you're like most drivers who plan to finance their used vehicle through a lender, your credit history and score play a large role. Lenders will make most of their decisions based on this including your loan term, interest rate, and down payment amount. In short-the better your credit is, the better the loan will be.
Knowing where your credit is before you start the financing process will help limit any surprises. Plus, even if your credit needs some improvement, there are plenty of ways to elevate it. Though it may take some time, it will be well-worth it in the end. Here are some suggestions:
- Dispute any errors
- Pay your bills on time
- Don't open new lines of credit if possible
- Don't close old lines of credit (they work in your favor)
Tip 3: Use Our Online Resources
Now that your budget is set and your credit is ready, it's time to get to business. Before you meet with our expert financing team, however, check out our suite of virtual financing tools. With these on your side, you'll be able to streamline the process even further.
- Finance Application: Our online credit application gives our team the info needed to start finding financing options for you before you even arrive!
- Payment Calculator: Once you find a model you love, use our payment calculator to estimate what your monthly payments will be.
- Value Your Trade: Trading in a model? Use our appraisal tool to receive an estimate of its value.