Buying a new car is exciting. All the way up until talking
price with the dealer. This is where confusion sets in, and excitement quickly
turns into frustration. You think you’re getting a good deal, but are you?
One of the most misleading promotions you find at
dealerships is the 0% APR offer. Paying no interest sounds great. You could
save a bundle of money. So how can it not be the best decision? Let’s have a
look comparing the 0% APR offer vs. a Cash Back Offer.
The 0% Interest Offer
Imagine you are purchasing a new vehicle that is $25,000. You choose the 0% APR offer and finance the vehicle
for 60 months (5 Years).
Your monthly payment would be $416.67, and in total, you’d spend $25,000.
Cash Back / Incentive
Offer
Using the same example above, assume instead of the 0% APR
offer, you choose a $3,000 Cash Back /
Incentive offer from the dealership. This cash-back offer brings your
vehicle cost down from $25,000 to
$22,000.
Assume you qualify for a 3.00% APR auto loan rate, and you finance this for 60 months (5 Years). Your monthly
payment would be $395.31, a savings
of $21.36 each month. In total, over
the life of the loan, you’d only spend $23,718.67
($22,000 purchase price + $1,718.67 in interest).
In this example, you would actually save $1,281.33 over the life of your
loan.
Choosing the Right
Option
The example above brings to light that the most obvious promotional
choice is not always the best financial decision. One would assume paying no
interest would be the smarter choice, but this does not hold true in our
example.
There are a few things you can do to help ensure you’re
making a good financial decision.
- Obtain a
Pre-Approval first. A pre-approval means that you applied for a loan at
your financial institution, had your finances reviewed, and were approved to
borrow a specific amount. This gives you the upper hand in dealership
negotiations as the dealer knows they cannot sell you a vehicle over your
approved amount. - Download
a Loan Calculator app to your phone. There are tons of free loan calculator
apps for both iPhones and Android phones. When presented promotional options by
the dealership, plug in the numbers, and know immediately which is the best
option. Don’t assume dealerships are always going to provide you with the best
financial advice. - When in
doubt, ask for help. If you’re at a dealership and you’re unsure which
option is best for you, politely excuse yourself from the dealer finance office
and contact us. Our lending team is happy to help run numbers for you to
ensure you’re getting the best deal and not falling into a promotional trap.
We’re
Here to Help!
When
you’re ready to begin looking for your next vehicle, stop by any branch or give
us a call at 800-336-6309. We’re ready to help you get pre-approved, answer all your questions, and lock in a great, low rate.
Learn more about our vehicle loan options here.
Each individual’s financial situation is unique and readers
are encouraged to contact the credit union when seeking financial advice on the products and services discussed. This article is for educational purposes only.
