How to Compare Car Loan Rates

Although pulling a new vehicle into your driveway for the first time can be exciting, car shopping is an experience many people dread. Choosing a vehicle and negotiating the price of your new automobile can be a difficult process, not to mention, you incur new debt when you take out a car loan.

Get the best deal on your new car by understanding how car loans work, learning how to budget for a new car loan, and using a car loan calculator to determine your monthly payments.

Determine Your New Car Loan Budget

Before you begin shopping for a new car, figure out exactly how much car you can comfortably afford by creating a monthly budget. To do this, deduct all of your monthly expenses, including everything from rent and mortgage payments to spending cash, food and other necessities, from your income.

The amount remaining is the free income that you can put toward a new car loan. Be sure to choose an amount that leaves you financially comfortable. You should still have money left over to pay for emergencies and regular deposits into your savings account. A good rule of thumb is to commit no more than 20 percent of your monthly net income to a car loan.

Also, you should understand how long you can commit to the monthly payment terms. New car loans are typically repaid in increments of one to five years, while the maximum on used car loans is about three years due to depreciation. For the best deal, look for a loan with the shortest repayment period possible. It's simple; you'll pay less in interest.

Finally, know your credit score. Not having these three key pieces of information ready before applying for a new car loan is the biggest mistake new car buyers make when it comes to finding and choosing the best car loan rate.

New Car Loan Rates vs. Used Car Loan Rates

The next step is to determine what type of car you want to purchase: new or used. This will affect your car loan rate. Used car loan rates are typically higher (about one percent) than new car loan rates because it's easier for a lender to recoup the losses if a new car loan goes into default. This means that over time, purchasing a less expensive used car at a higher loan rate can sometimes be comparable to buying a more expensive car at a lower rate.

The example below illustrates how you can buy more for about the same monthly payment depending on the interest rate. Since new loan interest rates are typically lower, or you may even qualify for a zero-percent deal, you could buy a more expensive vehicle and spend less over time.

New Car: $15,000 at 0% interest rate for 36 months = $15,000 ($416.66 monthly payment)

Used Car: $13,500 at 7% interest rate for 36 months = $15,006 ($416.84 monthly payment)

Regardless, it pays to shop around for the best car loan rate. Search online for local new and used car loan rates, or call your financial institution. Check the Sunday classified ads for car loan deals at your local dealerships, too. Credit unions are another good source for car loans. They typically offer lower interest rates than larger lenders, but are usually more selective when it comes to offering loans.

Bad Credit Car Loans

The best thing to do if you have poor credit is to avoid a new car loan. It can cause you more problems than it's worth in the long run. Clean up your finances first, and then buy yourself a fabulous (but affordable) new car as a reward.

However, if you absolutely must have a new car and need a loan, get a car loan pre-approval. This means you get your loan first, and choose your car second. Of course, this limits your ability to choose your car and dealer brands because your ability to obtain a car loan depends on each dealer's ability to find a lender. For example, your favorite Jeep dealership may not be able to find a lender for you, but the Chevy dealership across town may be able to offer you financing.

If you don't have a car loan credit history, or your credit score is below 600, don't waste time filling out car loan applications. It can damage your credit even more. Instead, search online for a company that will locate a high-risk lender for you.