Many people think that getting a car loan is a long and complicated process, and with some lenders, this can be the case. However, finding car financing and getting approved quickly isn’t impossible. Following the guidelines below will help you find favorable financing and get behind the wheel of your new car in hardly any time.

First, be willing to shop around. Different lenders tend to move at different paces. At a financial institution, you will have to fill out plenty of forms, and typically at least a few days for approval. At a dealership, you can often get a financing package laid out on the spot, get approved on a shorter timescale, and drive away in your new car much sooner.

Next, do your best to come to the table fully prepared, or you’ll be wasting your own time as well as that of the dealer. You’ll need to bring proof of employment and your current income, as well as documentation such as identification. You also need to have worked out a budget beforehand so that you know what kind of monthly payments and what kind of total amount you can afford. Being prepared with this information will make it much easier for you to work out an appropriate arrangement with the right lender.

Finally, if you can, you should find out what your credit score is beforehand so that you’ll have some idea of what kind of interest rate you deserve. It’s important to look around for a good rate, but if you’ve had problems with debt or other liabilities, you don’t want to waste too long looking for a deal that you might not find.

With these simple steps in mind, you should be able to expedite your car financing. Although getting auto financing quickly is a great goal, you should always remember that buying a new car is a big commitment, so you shouldn’t rush into anything that you aren’t sure about.

If you are on the hunt for quality used cars in your area, there are some key steps to take to be sure the entire process goes well. We recommend taking these steps to ensure you get exactly what you want and spend the amount you want to in the end. The most important thing is guaranteeing the vehicle you buy is top quality. We want to make sure that happens for you, so here are the steps to remember in the process.

Consider All of the Details When It Comes to Finances

Our concern is not how much you spend, but that you spend a comfortable amount and receive the quality you deserve. This is why we recommend you figuring out your detailed budget beforehand. Calculate in everything, including the total payment of the car and any insurance that you need. Also, be sure to not make a car payment that is over 20 percent of your take-home income. This way, you will find yourself in a safe and secure ride and not in a financial hole.

Have an Inspection Done on the Car on Your Own

While all of our vehicles are thoroughly inspected and are in top condition for you before you even check them out, we recommend you taking it for an inspection on your own with someone you have history with and trust. Our goal is for you to feel like you can one hundred percent trust our vehicles and us. This is why you should take it to a mechanic you know and confirm the positive inspection results we will give you.

We are set on offering you used cars that are of the best quality around. All of our cars have been tested, driven, checked, inspected and have come out with clean results. We want you to be happy with your buy, so we recommend you take the steps above until you feel confident with the car you are considering.

There are many things to consider when poring over a wide inventory of used trucks in hopes of finding the right one. The most common stream of thought to have is how the truck will be utilized. Is the truck going to be driven for commercial use, or for basic daily driving? Are you looking for something more rundown for off-roading excursions, or is an upgraded and comfortable model more your speed? Knowing the answers to these questions will help to set you on the appropriate path to finding the perfect truck.

It is safe to assume that people who prefer to drive trucks over cars are not afraid of getting their hands a little dirty. Being unafraid of grease and grime will come in handy at the car lot when looking underneath the truck. Inspecting the truck yourself is a step that should not be neglected when searching for a new truck to buy. Oftentimes, some places will hoist the truck in the air for you to inspect, or will do a complete inspection themselves for little to no additional fee.

If you are unsure of what to check, make sure an experienced technician conducts a thorough inspection of the truck and provides you with a very realistic assessment of required repairs along with the cost of each one. The main issues to check are the brakes, steering components, possible leaks, weak metal, and damage.

Additionally, try not to be distracted by a truck’s outer appearance. A new paint job adds a nice touch, but it is important to find out what the motivation was behind that fresh coat. Make sure to find out if it is covering scratches, rust, a dull surface, or any other possible defect. When it comes to used trucks, the goal is to find all about the history.

Once you have found the right truck to purchase, try not to second guess yourself. If you did your research, got the right price, and are happy with the outcome, do not worry that you missed out on something better.

Getting approved to finance the car you want can be exciting. It is tempting to skim through the details of the loan and rush to the dotted line so that you can drive off in your next car. Before you sign, however, it is important to understand all the terms of the agreement between you and the dealership. Before you drive away, here are a few questions you might consider asking.

Are There Potential Penalties?

If you plan to pay only your monthly payment by its due date, you might not be concerned about prepayment penalties. If, however, you might decide that you want to make an extra payment one month or pay more than the minimum payment, it is important to understand how that affects you. Many car loans have penalties for paying the loan off early, so if you plan to do so, ask the dealership if you can change the terms of your loan to eliminate or reduce the penalty before you sign and agree to it.

What is the Interest Rate? T

he annual interest rate (APR) plays a large role in determining how much money you will ultimately end up paying for the car. Make sure you know your interest rate and whether or not there is verbiage in the loan that allows it to fluctuate so that there are no surprises down the road.

What is the Payment Schedule?

The timeliness of your car payments can affect your credit, so it is essential to understand your payment schedule. Before you sign, make sure that you understand how often you will need to make a payment and how much that payment will be. It is also a good idea to know the total number of payments you will make over the life of the loan so that you can calculate your total cost.

As exhilarating as buying a car can be, don’t let your emotions cloud your judgement. Know the facts of your loan agreement.

Many of our customers come to us with bad credit and are trying to get a car loan. Having bad credit does not mean that you can’t get a car loan, like many of our customers initially think when they first contact us. In fact, you can not only get a bad credit car loan that suits you financial needs, but your bad credit car loan can actually improve your financial situation.

Here are a few things that you need to know about how bad credit car loans can improve your credit:

Car loan interest rates are based on credit

It’s important for you to understand how car loans work. More importantly, if you have bad credit, it’s important for you to be aware that your car loan rate will be based on your credit. When you have bad credit, you will be able to get a car loan, but the interest rate that you will be paying on that car loan will be greater than the interest rate that you would be paying if you were to have good credit. This is because lenders base their interest rates on several conditions, including economic conditions, the lender’s lending capability, and a borrower’s credit.

When you have bad credit, it is usually because you have made some bad financial decisions in the past – whether you are responsible for them or not. You may also not have a very long credit history, which could cause you to have bad credit. When you have bad credit, lenders can not have the same confidence in your ability to be financially responsible as they might have with a borrower who has good credit. Therefore, in order to ensure that they will receive a return on the money that they loan to you, the lender may charge a higher interest rate.

Bad credit car loans can improve credit

Bad credit car loans can improve your credit as long as you repay the loans because they will be showing lenders that you have developed a credit history and are capable of being financially responsible by repaying the loan on time and in full. Therefore, taking out a bad credit car loan can help to improve your credit and lower your interest rates in the future.

Contact us today for more information about our loan program or to get started with your bad credit car loan!

Car loans are a great way to help customers afford a new or used car that they would otherwise not be able to afford. Understanding your car loan and its financial impact is incredibly important. The first step is understating exactly what you can afford to pay on a monthly basis. Overreaching for a car, and the loan that comes with it, that doesn’t fit into your finances will backfire. Rather than focusing on the total cost of a vehicle, it makes more sense to focus on your monthly payments and how they will fit into your budget.

How to Get the Lowest Payments Possible

There are ways to ensure you are paying as little as possible when it comes to your loan. First, the better your credit is the lower your interest rates will be. A simple credit check before applying for a loan will give you a better idea of what you will owe. Second, the larger the down payment upfront, the smaller your loan amount will be, thus decreasing monthly payments. There are a lot of details that go into your car loan and what you will end up paying, so it can be incredibly helpful to talk with a specialist who can break everything down for you.

Don’t Overreach for a Car You Can’t Afford

This seems simple enough, but it’s easy to look at a monthly payment that’s $50 more a month and think it’s doable. Sticking to your budget ensures that you will be able to pay off your loan as fast as possible, and without any late payments that will increase your interest rates. The faster you pay off your loan, the less you will end up paying in interest, and the faster you will overtake full ownership of your vehicle.

Find a car dealership that will help you understand how to best find a loan that fits your needs, and what vehicles fall under the umbrella of what you can afford. A trusted dealer will get you on your way to purchasing the car of your dreams.

Many Canadians who go to their dealerships for car loans or other financing help are doing so for the first time. As a result, they often feel nervous and may delay buying cars for longer than intended due to uncertainty. However, knowing what to expect in advance can make the process much more appealing.

Professionals Who’ll Listen to Details About Your Financial Situation

At our dealership, we help people from all walks of life buy cars they love. Regardless of if you come to us to start the process of getting approved for a loan, anticipate that you’ll speak to finance professionals who are ready and willing to hear all the details about your credit history, current budget and other relevant financial details.

An Explanation of All the Specifics You Need to Know

Car loans sometimes seem complicated to people who are not used to applying for them. While doing preliminary research about vehicle financing, you may have come across unfamiliar words and descriptions.

Rest assured that a dealership’s financing professionals take all the time required to ensure you understand the terms of your loan. The most important thing is that you’re able to pay back the amount loaned to you within a certain amount of time.

However, it’s impossible to make that commitment without knowing all the terms of your agreement and what they mean. Professionals who help their clients secure car loans are familiar with the industry lingo and put it into words that are easier for laypersons to grasp.

Courteous Behavior

The people who work in financing departments of dealerships also typically treat their clients with respect and make them feel at ease. Your financing experts should be approachable, patient and eager to explore all possible resources.

Now that you know what to expect when applying for car loans, you’re in a good position to consider using financing to get your next vehicle. Get in touch with us for help.

Our customers looking for used cars in the Maple Ridge area are often surprised by all of the changes and opportunities that are available for used car buyers. Not only have there been significant technological advancements over the past few years that have made used cars more advanced than ever, but used cars are also more affordable than ever thanks to a long list of money-saving programs that we offer.

Here are a few tips to help our used car customers find the right used cars for their needs – with programs that make buying those used cars more affordable than ever:

Know what you’re looking for

The first thing we always recommend to our used car customers is that they know what they’re looking for. Especially when it comes to used cars, there are so many varieties, models, and opportunities to find the right used cars. By determining exactly what you’re looking for from a used car before you start the shopping process, you can have a better chance of finding the right used car for your needs so much faster than ever before. Also, when you know what you’re looking for in the beginning, you can be sure that you drive off the lot with a used car that meets those basic needs.

Do your research

While it’s essential that you know what you’re looking for even before you begin the used car buying process, we are also well aware that many of our customers may not be familiar with many of the features and options that are available to them. For that reason, we always recommend that after customers define their basics wants and needs, they take a closer look at what is currently available in the used car buying marketplace. You may be surprised by what technologies you can afford that may not have even been available the last time you looked at used cars!

Make a budget

Always make a budget before you buy a used car. Our lenders and dealers are happy to help you determine what your budget is so that you can find a used car that helps you to comfortably afford your lifestyle – even if you take out a long-term used car loan. The budget is the first step in finding the perfect used car for used needs that you can appreciate for years to come without having the burden of trying to figure out how to comfortably pay for it.

At DriveTime Motors, your used car dealer in Maple Ridge, we look forward to helping you find the best used car for your needs. Contact us today to get started!

Buying used cars is a great way to get a vehicle at a good price. Many people find that they may not have the cash to buy the vehicle outright, which is why financing the deal is a good idea. Dealerships like ours will often work with buyers in order to get the price right, but there are several things consumers can do to make sure the deal works for their budgets.

Before even stepping into a dealership, potential buyers should be familiar with their credit reports. In many cases, there are errors on the report that can hurt someone’s credit score and thus the interest rate on the loan. Consumers should always dispute an error to make sure they are going into a potential loan with the best credit score possible.

It is important to pay attention to the total loan amount rather than just the monthly payment. The monthly payment is easily determined by dividing the total loan amount by the terms of the agreement. Focusing just on the monthly payment could mean getting a bigger loan spread out over a longer period of time.

Having a car as a trade-in or putting money down is another good way to lower the borrowed amount. Many dealers enjoy working with buyers who can offer collateral upfront, which in the end could mean getting a better deal.

Lastly, buyers should always be clear on the fine print. Before agreeing to anything, a consumer should know the loan term, interest rate, monthly payments and down payment. If a lender states that the financing is conditional, it is best to wait to agree on anything until all the details have been finalized.

Consumers who want to get a great car at a good price can easily do so by browsing used cars. They should always have a good idea of their credit scores and how to negotiate a better loan deal by putting down money and focusing on the total loan amount. Taking these steps will help ease the financing process.

Without a functioning vehicle, some may find it impossible to perform daily tasks, such as commuting to work, shopping, or carting kids to and from school. Auto loans are an integral part of the buying process, and DriveTime Motors are willing to work with you to negotiate a price that everyone can live with.

Things like budget, financial history, and credit score can all have an effect on the terms of a loan. Here are a few things to remember when negotiating a car loan. By keeping these tips in mind, you can rest assured you will procure a loan that’s just right for you.

Be Aware of Your Credit History

Before visiting one of our top-notch sales staff, be sure you are fully aware of your credit history. Your credit score is a huge factor in what type of interest rate you’ll ultimately end up with. There are numerous websites which offer free credit checks online, and for a small fee you can get a more comprehensive report. This will give you an indication of what type of loan you’ll be eligible for.

Arrange Financing Through the Dealership

Our dealership offers a number of financing options for many types of customers. Depending on your credit history, a low interest loan may be a distinct possibility. Our experienced salespeople will work closely with you to determine a loan that will work with your individual financial outlook.

Consider Putting More Money Down

A larger down payment can be extremely beneficial to procuring a reasonable loan. With more money down, the length of a loan may become shorter, and interest rates with be far easier to deal with. This is especially true for customers with faulty credit histories. A larger down payment can help lessen the financial burden associated with car loans.

No matter the financial situation, we can help you to determine the best possible outcome. With some assistance, you are sure to find the vehicle of your dreams at a price you can afford.