Tag Archives: driving
Cars and Credit Reports
The Problem
I was driving home from the store the other night when I noticed a license plate that made me laugh to myself and then I proceeded to feel sorry for the poor sap driving. The plate read “0 DOWN”. It was a white, shiny, new Ford Explorer (probably an 06′). Here’s what really got me about the caption: Not only did this consumer purchase a brand new vehicle with no money down, but he was proud of it. DUMB! Commercial advertisements and society as a whole embeds the “Buy Now, Pay Later” method into our heads and it works so well that around 90% of all consumers who purchase new cars do not put $5 down on the vehicle before signing the papers. The sad fact is, is that the average new automobile loses $3,000 as soon as it leaves the lot. Technically, you have gone into debt for something that loses value before you even use it. As if this wasn’t depressing enough, the less money you put down on a car and the worse off your credit is, the more you pay for the car. If this isn’t one big sand trap I don’t know what is!
The Role of Your Credit Report
Your online credit report is affected 2 ways when you buy a new car with no money down. First let’s look at the role it plays after you decide you NEED that shiny new sports car. The mass majority of consumers are thinking of one thing when they sit in the ‘sales chair’ to go through the paperwork: driving the car home (man this is bringing back some bad, bad memories). In order to do this you will need to finance the vehicle which requires pulling up your credit history and your credit report. This can easily be done online right in the sales office while you look around to make sure no one else tries to sneak off with your new toy. The worse off your credit report is, the higher interest rate you will pay. (This is fine though as long as you can still afford to buy food every other week and pay a few bills here and there.) The other role that your credit report plays in this game is the after-effect. The average new car buyer’s car payment is 25-30% of their total income. This creates a nice, big road block on your credit report in itself for when you are ready to make another large purchase. Not to mention when you fall behind on even one payment and your credit file takes a hard blow. Try to keep these factors in mind next time the kid in you tries to make a financial decision.
The Solution
Well you’re not going to like the best solution but here it is anyway: PAY FOR THE CAR IN FULL! If you saved the car payment every month in a good money market account; not only would you save time and money, but when you walked into the sales office with piles of hundred dollar bills you would get quite a deal! Okay, so you’re more likely to win the super lotto than do that right? Well here are a few ideas. As long as you practice a few you might get ahead of this nasty game a little bit or at least protect your online credit report. First, consider getting a 2 or 3 year old car. You can still get a shiny one and the previous owner will have taken the major depreciation of the vehicle passing the savings directly to you. Second, if you can, try waiting and searching to find the best deal possible. Trust me, there is more than 1 of those cars in the market. Third, put something down. Anything! For starters you could put down 10 to 15%. This will lower your monthly payment, lower your interest rate and maybe even cut your payoff time down. Lastly, get a bargain. Don’t settle for the asking price by any means. Be patient and keep control of your focus. One definition of maturity is learning to delay pleasure.
Kansas City No Credit Check Auto Sales – Buying a First Car
If you’re a student or young adult who has never owned a car before, there are a few factors to consider before you make this important purchase. One problem that you may run up against is not having any credit history. While having no credit is better than having bad credit, it’s still something that can be held against you by lenders. For those who are living in the Kansas City area, you can visit a Kansas City no credit check auto sales dealership. This is a way to get financing for your first car when you need it most. Having a vehicle in the Kansas City area is a good idea, because it is spread out over 15 counties, including Johnson County, and has a population of over 2 million residents.
Buying a car is a good way to get you around, whether you need to get to work, school, or a friend’s house. By visiting a Kansas City no credit check auto sales center, you can peruse your options without worrying about being denied due to your lack of credit history. However, you will need to qualify for financing based on some other criteria. For example, you will either need to have your own form of employment or your parents will need to offer their financial details. You will also need to submit a valid driver’s license, and your insurance papers.
With this in mind, it’s a good idea to think about the type of car you want before you visit the Kansas City no credit check auto sales dealership. Think about the size and model of car that will best fit your lifestyle. If you’re going to be using this car only for yourself, you could choose a smaller car, while if it’s going to be shared with your family, you’ll want something larger. If you plan on taking the car to college, you might want to choose a car that has enough storage to pack up your belongings.
The area where you will be driving your car can also influence the best type to choose from a Kansas City no credit check auto sales dealer. If you’re going to be driving only on the highways, you will want a good cruiser that can handle high winds. For driving around Kansas City, it’s a good idea to choose a hatchback or other smaller car that can zip in and out of traffic. These are just a few of the practicalities to think about when you are establishing credit and purchasing something as important as your first car.