Whenever you consider applying for a car loan, you immediately think about the amount of the monthly payments and the down payment. But, do you also think about the interest rates? You should because they can either save or cost you thousands of dollars.
If you are planning to apply for a car loan, avoid applying for any other type of credit for a period of 6 months to a year. Each time that you apply for credit, it reduces your FICO score. And, if too many requests for credit are made within a short period of time, it could make the lending institution wary of you. They may wonder why you have been requesting so much credit and may be less likely to approve your car loan. The higher your FICO score, the lower interest rates you will receive. However, if your FICO score is on the lower side, you will end up paying higher interest rates if you do qualify for a loan.
Before applying for a car loan, purchase a copy of your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus. These are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Lenders commonly rely somewhat upon the information contained in your credit report in determining your interest rates. It is very important that you...