Automotive Loans: What to Know About Interest Rates

by Amy Lillard

(1/15/2013) Just as with mortgages and other loans, the interest rate for a car loan ultimately dictates the amount of money you will pay each month and over the life of the loan. That's why it's important to understand how they work and what kind of rates you can obtain.

Overall, interest rates are the cost of borrowing money. Typically interest rates for cars are lower than that for mortgages and bigger property loans, and research online or with a bank will show typical rates available to consumers during the application process. However, interest rates can vary widely depending on a few things:

• Credit. Lenders want to know the risk represented by certain borrowers before extending a loan. They use individuals' credit histories, which show the types of borrowing activity the individual has engaged in and how often bills are paid on time. They also use credit scores based on that history. Generally, the higher the credit score and the better the credit history, the lower interest rate you can earn.

• Debt-to-income ratio. Lenders will examine how much of a borrower's income currently goes towards debts and expenses. They want to ensure a new loan will not stretch a borrower beyond his or her means. If you have a high ratio, you'll probably be charged a higher interest rate due to increased risk.

• Down payment. Spending a larger initial sum in the form of a down payment is a smart move to lower the total amount of the loan. It also lowers the interest rates on the remaining loan, as lenders look favorably on this move.

• Loan Term. Borrowers have more options for the length of a car loan today, with loans lasting up to seven years. But this elongated loan term comes a cost of higher interest rates, and more interest paid over the life of the loan. The shorter the loan, the lower the interest rate.

• Car choice. Finally, the car itself will determine the interest rate you can obtain. Overall, new cars will typically come with lower interest rates. Used car rates will vary much more, due to differing quality of the cars, variable resale value, and changing supply and demand.

Automotive Loans: What to Know About Interest Rates

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Amy Lillard

Automobile Buying/Financing

Auto Insurance

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