In a previous post, we gave you tips on how to best do research for your new car. In this post, we will give you some smart financing tips. You’ve decided that you can afford a new car. Now what? Follow these tips for smart financing: Explore your financing options—especially your credit union. A credit union

Buying a new vehicle doesn’t need to be an overwhelming experience. Just do your homework before you visit the dealership, and you’ll be prepared to find the car you want—not just the car they want to sell you. Before you go to the dealership, you should do the following: Determine if you can afford a

If you’re considering replacing your vehicle, have you considered purchasing a used one? The perception of used cars can be somewhat negative. That’s why the market-friendly term “pre-owned” is now more widely used (forgive the pun). However, shopping for a used car can be tricky because every car has a unique, and often hidden, history.

Credit union auto loans are great for first time buyers in need of money for an upcoming vehicle purchase. In fact, credit unions are usually the best source, because they will typically offer rates and terms to first time buyers that can’t be found with other auto lenders. Unfortunately, not all first time buyers will

While Banks and Savings and Loan institutions nationwide have been busy lining up to the public trough for bailout funds, another institution has been busy writing home mortgages, your neighborhood credit union! Surprised? Don’t be, since credit unions have been writing home mortgages for years- they just have a different business model than the big

Buying a car is unquestionably a unique experience. We are empowered with an apparently unlimited number of choices, including manual or automatic transmission, global positioning systems or anti-lock breaking systems, and the ever-important cup-holder option. Often we also need to take out a loan when purchasing a new ride. Although we probably have the best

More Americans are struggling to make their car payments on time. The numbers, while still low, are definitely on the rise. According to the latest State of the Automotive Finance Market report from Experian Automotive: 60-day loan delinquencies in the second quarter of 2014 increased by 7 percent (from 0.58 to 0.62 percent) from the

The reasons to buy new or used aren’t the same for everyone Depreciation is the single largest expense of car ownership Maintaining a used car requires more time and money Once you’ve finally decided to replace your current car, the next question to ask yourself is: Should I buy new or used? That depends. Unfortunately

More and more people are coming to realize the benefits of buying a used car. If you’ve decided the same, you have definitely made a smart decision. The fact of the matter is you can purchase a car that is almost as good as a brand-new one and save up to 50% off the original

The decision to buy a new car will probably be one of the most important financial milestones in your life. In addition to the investment of money, you will spend a great deal of time looking for the right vehicle that caters to your needs. Similarly, you also need to spend time when looking for