How Does Car Financing Work?

If you’re asking yourself, “What does it mean to finance a car?” and “How does financing a car work?”, we at Olathe Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram are here to help. Once you’re ready to get behind the wheel of a new or used vehicle, you have a few options. You can outright purchase the vehicle, lease it, or apply for financing. Learn more about each to see which option is best for you and your financial situation. Have any questions? Contact our finance department today!

How Does Financing a Car Work?

The first step to learning how car financing works is to know what you’ll need when applying for a new or used car loan through the dealership, a bank, or even a credit union. Most applications can be started online, or you can apply at the dealership in person. Factors that the lender will look at include:

• Credit Score
• Loan Amount
• Length of Loan
• Debt-to-Income Ratio
• Age of the Vehicle

If you have a low score or bad credit, a car loan might still be an option at the dealership. Consider asking a close friend or family member to cosign your loan. Another option is leasing. You’re more likely to get approved for a lease with bad credit, although the payments will be higher than if you had good credit history.

Choose Your Lender

If approved for a loan, there may be a few options for you to choose from when it comes to lenders. Some dealerships offer in-house financing. And if you have bad credit, this may seem like your only option; however, you can also compare this offer to that from a bank or credit union to see which makes the most sense for your needs and budget. Before this, you’ll want to keep in mind how much money you can put down as well as how much you can afford in terms of monthly payments. You can even use our online payment calculator to estimate these payments.

Finalize the Loan Terms

Before finalizing your loan and buying a car, you may need to negotiate on price. If this is the case, you and the salesperson can go back and forth until you settle on a loan with an interest rate that works for you. Once you settle on a price, be sure to look over additional loan agreements, and then you can finalize the loan terms and close the deal. After the paperwork is signed, you can drive off in your next RAM or Jeep vehicle.

Learn More About Car Financing in Olathe

Get the automotive finance process started today by applying online! If you’re still in the research phase, feel free to browse our new vehicle specials and contact Olathe Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram to talk with someone from our finance department with any questions concerning your financing needs.