How Does 0% Apr Work
Financing a car interest-free almost sounds too good to be true. But these financing deals are a tool that auto manufacturers can use to sell more vehicles.
Lenders that offer 0 percent financing are known as captive finance companies and are linked to the auto manufacturers themselves. Some examples of captive lenders include Ford Motor Credit, GM Financial, Nissan Finance, Toyota Financial Services and more. So, if Ford wants to sell more F-150s due to overstock issues, it might offer zero APR loans to select borrowers through its own financing arm.
No-interest financing seems more affordable on the surface, but thats not always the case. When auto manufacturers offer 0 percent financing, they may try to make up for lost income in other ways. For example, a dealership may push hard to sell you add-on products, like extended warranties or gap insurance, with your vehicle. You also might have to forgo benefits like rebates that would normally bring down your purchase price.
How To Get The Best Deal
Got new car fever? Well, first, you need to do a little homework. With the internet, the mystery of the automobile buying process has been unveiled and you can be a well-informed buyer ready to negotiate for the best price. First of all, go to ConsumerReports.org to check out vehicle reliability. You may be eying that shiny red sports car, but if its review states that this manufacturer has a history of poor performance or something like electrical issues, you may want to reconsider.
Test drive the vehicle you have in mind, but renting one from a car rental company for a couple days is the ultimate test.
Features Of Used Car Loans
The features of the loans available for Used Car are different from the loans available for the new cars, and are mentioned below:
- The loan offered for the Used Car ranges from 60% to 80% of the on-road price of the car.
- As the risk associated with the used car loan is higher. So, the rate charged on used car loans is on the higher side and starts from 13.75%.
- The process for applying for Used Car financing is simple and, most of the time is identical to the new car loan process.
- There are very few or no restrictions on applying for a car loan. Any individual with a permanent income can apply for it.
- The time period for the payment of the Used Car Loan is up to 7 years.
You May Like: Firestone Complete Auto Care Germantown
% Financing Vs Bonus Cash
Automakers want you to purchase your next vehicle from their company, not a competitor. This is a key reason 0 percent financing offers exist in the first place. In the same interest of attracting new customers, auto manufacturers often offer bonus cash rebates to buyers.
Sadly, an auto manufacturer might not let you take advantage of both 0 percent financing and bonus cash. If youre faced with this dilemma, youll have to decide which savings opportunity is the better deal.
Bankrate tip: Using an auto finance calculator can help you compare apples to oranges when it comes to 0 percent financing versus bonus cash incentives. Sometimes taking the cash rebate an auto dealer offers along with a higher loan APR will make the most sense as far as overall savings. In other instances, 0 percent financing might be the clear winner.
Average Interest Rates By Term Length
Most banks and credit unions provide payment plans ranging from 24 to 72 months, with shorter term loans generally carrying lower interest rates. The typical term length for auto loans is 63 months, with loans of 72 and 84 months becoming increasingly common. The higher APRs of longer term auto loans, however, can result in excessive interest costs that leave borrowers upside downthat is, owing more on the auto loan than the car actually costs.
Heres a closer look at average interest rates across various loan terms for those with the strongest credit.
| Auto Loan Term | |
|---|---|
| 72 Month | 4.45% |
While longer term loans allow for a lower monthly payment, the extra months of accumulating interest can ultimately outweigh the benefit of their lower short term cost, especially for the consumer purchasing an older used car whose value will depreciate quickly.
Terms of 72 and 84 months are also usually available only for larger loan amounts or for brand new models.
For example, when paid over the course of 48 months, a $25,000 loan at a 4.5% interest rate will result in monthly payments of $570 and a total cost of $27,364. When paid over the course of 84 months in $348 monthly payments, this same loan at the same interest rate costs a total of $29,190 more than $1,800 pricier than at 48 months. For higher interest rates, the difference between short and long term payments will be even greater.
Read Also: Why Do Auto Loans Have The Lowest Rejection Rates
Does 0 Apr Mean No Interest
For car loans, 0 APR does indeed mean no interest is accrued. Unlike limited promotional 0 APR offers from credit cards, a 0 APR car loan is for the contractual length of the loan. That is, 48 months if its a 48-month loan, 36 months for a 36-month loan, and so forth.
Promotional credit-card offers for 0 APR usually only apply to a set number of months during which there is no interest. After that promotional period ends, you will pay an interest rate on the amount of the card balance carried over each month. This is not the case with 0 APR car loans. You wont pay a penny over the principal if you make the monthly payments according to the loan contract.
Hyundai Santa Fe Financing Deal: 0% Apr For 36 Months
Most versions of the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offer 0% financing for 36 months. This is the same deal that you could get for Black Friday and offers a solid way to get zero-interest financing. For maximum flexibility, Hyundai is offering deferred payments for up to 90 days. That’s an easy way to make no payments till 2023.
However, a 48-month rate of 0.9% APR could be a better deal if you’re looking to avoid a high monthly payment. Confusingly, Hyundai is only offering the deferred payment deal on 36-month loans. This could be a deal-breaker for some buyers. In addition, hybrid and plug-in Santa Fes are excluded from 0% financing.
You May Like: Enterprise Car Rental Philadelphia Airport
What Is A 0% Apr Car Deal
Interest is the cost you pay for borrowing money or, in this case, to pay for a new car, truck or SUV. Its a common feature of all loans. The interest rate is a percentage of the principal, or the amount you borrow, that the lender will charge you.
The annual percentage rate, or APR, is the yearly interest rate plus any lender fees, such as an origination fee its the true cost of borrowing money. The APR is typically a bit higher than the interest rate because of those lender fees. Keep in mind, though, that the APR does not include any dealer fees.
Part of your monthly car payment goes to pay the interest to the lender, and part goes to paying off the principal amount of your loan. So when youre shopping for a 0% APR car deal, compare interest rates and APR rates to get a sense of the total cost of the loan.
When you see a deal for 0% APR, it means you wont pay any interest on the loan, which means that youre essentially borrowing money for free the full amount of every payment you make is applied to your loan. You typically need excellent credit to qualify for these deals.
Should You Take Cash Back And Then Refinance To A Lower Apr
You can do whats called a double-dip. This way, you take the rebate and settle for a higher APR loan. Then, after a month or two, you refinance the loan at a lower APR from another lender, such as a credit union or bank. Learn how to get the lowest auto refinance rates.
The downside, however, is that you may temporarily lower your credit score by having multiple hard credit inquiries in a brief period of time.
Also Check: Napa Auto Parts Ontario Or
Ford Explorer Financing Deal: 0% Apr For 36 Months
Great deals on 3-row SUVs are hard to find, but there’s still time to take advantage of 0% financing on the 2022 Ford Explorer. Since this deal is limited to just 36 months in many parts of the country, Ford’s 48-month rate of 0.9% APR could prove to be a better deal to help lower your payment.
Alternatively, Ford has a 60-month deal at just 1.9% APR. Given the fact that some of Toyota’s rates have reached nearly 9% APR, we consider Ford’s incentives among the best in December. Be sure to ask your Ford dealer about custom-order discounts when choosing a 2023 Explorer instead.
Eligibility For Availing Used Car Loans
Different banks and financial institutions have different sets of rules applicable for the second hand car loans. However, a general eligibility criteria to avail a used car loan is listed as follows:
- Age of the Applicant: The age requirement for used car finance is 21 years to 65 years.
- Income: An individual must have a regular source of income. The minimum income requirement to get a second-hand car loan is 18,000 for salaried and 1.50 Lakh per annum for businessmen or self-employed.
- Work Experience: Banks ask for a minimum of 1 year of work experience in case of salaried individuals and business existence of 3 years for businessmen.
- A credit score above 700 is considered a good score for a used car loan.
- Age of the Vehicle: The vehicle must not be less than 10 years at the time of loan maturity.
Don’t Miss: Car Key Stuck In Ignition
How Long Do 0 Apr Loans Last
Currently, if you find 0 APR financing on a vehicle, it will probably be for 48 months or less. In fact, many are limited to 36-month terms. However, theoretically, even though most 0 APR deals are for shorter terms, they can be for any length of time. They are often shorter loans because the lender isnt charging for the use of its money. Consequently, the idea is to minimize the time the lenders money is tied up in your no-interest loan.
How To Calculate Car Loan Emi
The Equated Monthly Installments that you will pay will depend on a few key factors.
- The size of the loan
- The interest rate that is applicable to the loan
- The tenure of the loan
- The processing fees
The higher the loan amount, the higher your EMI will be. Similarly, the shorter the loan tenure the higher the EMI. To find the best compromise between an affordable EMI and duration you should check out our car loan EMI calculator.
You May Like: Car Rental In Seattle Downtown
Average Auto Loan Interest Rates: Facts & Figures
The national average for US auto loan interest rates is 5.27% on 60 month loans. For individual consumers, however, rates vary based on credit score, term length of the loan, age of the car being financed, and other factors relevant to a lenders risk in offering a loan. Typically, the annual percentage rate for auto loans ranges from 3% to 10%.
Save Up For A Down Payment
While the safest car-buying option is to pay in cash, thats not always an option for everyone. Its possible to get a car loan without a down payment, but having one will help keep monthly payments lowand cut down on how much you need to borrow.
You could also consider trading in your current car to lower your auto loan payments.
Recommended Reading: Firestone Complete Auto Care Asheville
The Internet Has Changed Automotive Shopping
Research Before You Shop
After you have determined the car you want to buy, go to Edmunds.com to find the invoice price. Do not shop without this information in hand. It’s your leverage in the negotiating process. If you don’t have this piece of information, the dealer will work from the MSRP which is a much higher price. Consider MSRP as retail price and invoice price as dealer cost.
Never pay higher than invoice price. And don’t worry, the dealer still makes a profit. There is something called holdback which the manufacturer gives the dealer for each vehicle. It’s usually 2-3 % which they receive quarterly. At times the manufacturer also offers dealer incentives for specific models.
If you have looked ahead and planned your purchase, note that some times of the year are better than others to buy a car. Salesmen work on commission and have monthly, quarterly and yearly goals to meet. So buying at the end of one of these periods can save you money, especially if the salesman hasn’t hit his quota.
Get a Free Online Quote
If you have made a decision on the exact vehicle you want, visiting the dealership late in the day may work to your advantage because everyone is eager to go home. Aside from the information we provide here, you may want to read some personal stories of sale negotiations to better visualize and prepare yourself:
Is 0% Apr Worth It
0% APR financing can save you a lot of money on your car purchase since you’re not paying any interest on the car loan. The average price of a car is around $36,000 and with 0% financing over 60 months, monthly payments come out to around $600. If we applied the average APR of 4.96%, the monthly payment on the vehicle rises to $678 a month, or $4,700 in interest payments over 60 months.
Also Check: What Insurance For Rental Car
What Are Other Important Car Ownership Costs To Consider
Beyond the cost of monthly car loan payments, vehicle ownership costs can add up.
Car insurance is one of the more significant costs that come with owning a vehicle. Make sure you understand car insurance rates and the best car insurance companies available in order to select the best car insurance coverage for your needs.
Also, consider maintenance and repair costs, which can start at around $100 per visit but vary by the make and model of your vehicle. Use Edmunds car maintenance calculator to get an estimate of how much youll spend to maintain your vehicle.
Fuel expenses are another cost to keep in mind as you search for a new vehicle. If youre unsure of how much to budget, visit FuelEconomy.gov to view the fuel economy or gas mileage and projected annual fuel costs for the year for the make and model of the vehicle you select.
There are also registration fees, documentation fees and taxes that youll pay when you purchase the car. Youll also pay to renew your registration every one, two or three years. Renewal fees and cycles vary by state.
Estimate your monthly payments with Bankrates auto loan calculator.
Ready to compare rates from top lenders?
More Deals On New And Used Cars
Some automakers have been offering 0% financing, long loan terms, and cash-back bonuses due in part to the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. That said, some of the best incentives have started to fade away over the past several months, so it may be wise to take advantage of these offers sooner rather than later.
Some brands are still offering appealing lease deals as well. Leasing may be a better option for some people since it typically means a lower monthly payment and lower out-of-pocket costs.
Buying a used car can save you even more money. Some automakers have excellent financing offers and deferred auto loan payments on certified pre-owned cars. To learn more, check out the best used car deals this month.
You can also see whats available near you by searching Carfax Used Car Listings. Every car comes with a free Carfax Vehicle History Report to help you better understand each vehicles maintenance record and whether theres been any damage reported.
Don’t Miss: Abc Auto Parts Tyler Tx
Limits Of 0% Apr Financing
Interest-free financing might be a great deal for some borrowers. Still, there are a few potential pitfalls you should look out for when considering this type of financing.
- Limited selection: Interest-free financing may only be available for certain types of vehicles. First, the car you purchase will almost certainly need to be new. Auto manufacturers also tend to reserve special financing offers for vehicle models where theres a surplus in stock that they need to move.
- Limited repayment options: Depending on the offer, your repayment options with 0 percent financing may be more limited. Often, youll have less time to repay the loan than you might have otherwise. Of course, theres nothing wrong with repaying a loan quickly, but you should be sure that you can afford the higher monthly payment without straining your budget.
How Can I Get The Best Car Loan Interest Rate
If your credit score is on the lower end 580 or lower some lenders may offer higher interest rates or longer loan terms, which can be a risk. Taking steps to improve your credit score can go a long way toward getting a better interest rate and saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars if you are not in a rush to purchase a vehicle.
Recommended Reading: Delivery Jobs With Your Own Car