Dye Autos Denver Area Truck and Automotive Blog
It’s time for you to get a new car or truck, and you’re weighing your financing options. It seems like such a simple decision. If you have enough money to pay cash for a new car, should you do it? While that can be a smart choice, it’s not always the right option. Here are the pros and cons of paying cash vs financing a car.
Before we get into the question of cash versus financing, a little background is in order for car shoppers who haven’t had much experience buying a new car.
If that sounds like you, here’s the deal: When it comes to buying a car or truck, you generally have two ways to go. You can either finance the car, which means you pay it off over time, or you can pay cash, which means you buy the vehicle outright as if you’re picking up a new pair of sneakers at the store and handing the clerk your debit card.
The advantage to financing is that you’ll usually end up with a better car than if you’re paying with cash. How? Here’s why.
Let’s say your car budget is $8,000. You can buy a used car if you pay in full. However, if you use that $8,000 as a down payment on a new car, you can expand your automotive horizons greatly. If you have good credit, you can easily afford many new models.
The drawback is that you’ll need to make monthly payments in order to pay off the loan that allowed you to buy the newer, more expensive vehicle. Included in those payments is interest, which is a fee you pay the bank for allowing you to borrow the money in the first place.
Cash isn’t necessarily better.
Buying a car with cash is generally preferable to financing, but there are many situations in which that’s not the case.
Most people don’t have cash to spend on a car. If you’re like many Americans, there’s never enough cash on hand to layout on a car or truck. If you have good credit, interest rates are still low and that cash might be better saved for a rainy day.
If you have bad credit, paying cash could ruin your chances to re-establish your credit. Use some of your cash for a down payment and finance the balance to show lenders you’re serious about repairing your credit.
Here are the pros and cons of paying cash vs financing a car.
Paying Cash
Pros
- Save money because you won’t be paying finance costs.
- Peace of mind in knowing you own your vehicle.
- Convenience of no monthly payments.
Cons
- Losing out on the other opportunities to leverage your cash. You may be able to earn returns on your money if you were to invest it instead of making car payments.
- You’re missing an opportunity to build a more positive credit score.
- If this is all the cash you have on hand, you’ll not have a “nest egg” around for emergencies.
Financing a Car (Getting a Car Loan)
Pros
- Rates are still low for those with good credit.
- Rates are also still lower for those with bad credit (but higher than for those with good credit).
- Build and/or re-establish your creditworthiness.
- Have cash available to invest elsewhere and increase income.
- Peace of mind knowing you’ve got cash available should something unexpected happen.
Cons
- Pay more for the car because of financing costs.
- Time investment recommended for researching lenders and dealerships who can help with financing.
- Paying the monthly payments.
Dye Autos has been helping customers like you with car loans for many years. We’ve got over 70 years experience in auto loan financing and we’re here to help. Call us at (303) 286-1665 or simply use our easy contact form >>here<<.
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Buying a car with bad credit can be intimidating. If there was ever a good example of the phrase, “Knowledge is power,” it’s in taking on the process of buying a used car when your credit is less than perfect.
The first thing you need to know is…
It’s not hopeless.
Your situation doesn’t have to be grim. If you’ve had a good track record paying previous car loans or your financial issues stemmed from uncontrollable events, you may very well be able to finance your vehicle.
In The Great Recession, many people to lost jobs and eventually made less than they once did. Medical bills, divorce and other unforeseen circumstances happen. You’re not alone.
Tip #1: Talk to your dealer first
If you’ve worked with a dealer in the past and have a good relationship, call them first. They’ve already established trust and credibility and won’t steer you wrong.
Tip #2: Work on your credit before you start shopping
Check your credit report as soon as you start thinking about buying a new car, even if it’s months or years in advance.
By cleaning up your credit before applying for a loan, you improve your chances of being approved with decent terms. Cleaning up your credit will include paying off past due accounts, disputing credit report errors, and adding positive information to your credit report.
Tip #3: Shop for a car loan just as you would if you didn’t have negative marks on your credit report.
When you’ve got bad credit, “you’re likely to agree with just about anything they’ll give you. But you shouldn’t just take the first offer you get,” warns Chris Kukla, senior vice president at the nonprofit Center for Responsible Lending.
Look for ways to save money on a car loan:
- Shorter term
- Factor in all the costs (insurance, gas, parking fees, etc)
- Get 2-3 quotes
- Make additional payments if you can
Tip #4: You’ll need a down payment
A down payment is usually required by lenders, and it’s definitely a good idea.
Why?
- It will reduce the amount you’ll need to borrow.
- It improves your chances of loan approval.
- You may get better terms with a down payment.
- It will reduce your monthly payment.
Your credit history will limit the size of the car loan you can get and a high interest rate will make the amount even lower. A down payment will offset the interest, taxes, and fees and widen the selection of vehicles you can choose from.
Tip #5: Yes, you can get Pre-approved
This fast and easy process lets you choose how much you need to borrow based on the type of vehicle you’re looking for.
Used car financing with DYE Autos is easy, click >>>here<<< to get pre-qualified. One of our helpful finance specialists will contact you to discuss any available financing options, including the amount you’re qualified to finance.
Tips #6: Read all the paperwork
Loan documents are confusing. With your money and your credit on the line, it’s important to take time to understand the terms of the loan.
Make sure the paperwork matches what you verbally agreed to.
Need help financing a car or truck with bad credit?
We’re here to help. We have over 100 years combined experience financing cars and trucks. Together, we’ll get it done! Call (303) 286-1665 or use our handy contact form >>here<<.
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They say timing is everything. When you’re thinking about the best time to buy a used car, you can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars if you pick the right time. And if you don’t? It could cost you BIG if you don’t get the timing right.
Timing and discounts are nothing new, which means those who pay attention to the calendar come out on top. The discounts even fluctuate based on what day of the week or time of the month you buy.
Here at Dye Autos, we have over 100 years combined experience in selling cars. We’ve seen it all and we’re happy to share our knowledge with you.
Before we reveal the #1 insider’s tip for the best time to buy a used car, let’s talk more about timing.
- Always buy a used car before your current vehicle leaves you stranded.
- Always be prepared when you go to the dealership to buy a used car.
- If that timing coincides with the best times on the calendar to buy, you can get a great deal.
Mondays
Some people think that shopping on busy weekends means the dealer will give a discount. The data, however, shows that isn’t 100% true. Visiting a car dealer in the middle of the day or on some weekends won’t necessarily help shoppers get a great price.
One good strategy is to shop on a Monday. TrueCar’s buying data shows that buyers saved an average of 8.1% on Mondays, compared to Saturdays (7.77 percent) or Sundays (7.49 percent).
On Mondays (or other weekdays, to a lesser extent), the salesperson and customers will have more time to negotiate the best deal. A side benefit is that most lenders will be open for business on a weekday, so you can arrange and finalize your auto loan before you leave the dealership.
The #1 Insider’s Secret: “End of The…”
There’s something about deadlines that motivates us dealers to give smokin’ deals on cars. The best times to buy a used car are at the end of the….
1. End of the day
Make your offer later in the day. If a salesperson hasn’t racked up a sale all day, he or she may be more amenable as the minutes tick toward closing time.
2. End of the weekend
Car dealers have weekend goals as well as monthly goals. Various cars on the lot need to move to make room, so management puts up bonuses on specific vehicles to sell them fast.
If the car or truck you want is on that list, especially if the salesperson hasn’t sold it by Sunday afternoon, you can grab a sweet deal by going in at the end of the weekend.
3. End of the month
You can get a great deal at the end of the month. Dealerships are always motivated to sell cars, but at the end of the month their motivation increases exponentially. If you want to take advantage of the dealer’s urgency to meet their monthly goals, start your negotiation a few days before.
4. End of the year
Every dealer has annual quotas and there are bonuses for salespeople who meet certain annual figures. Take advantage of this. If you can wait, buy your new car in the last two weeks of December, when dealers are dying to beat their quotas. Annual sales bonuses are sometimes incentive enough for dealers to knock off up thousands from the price.
If you can’t wait until the end of the year…
Some buyers can’t wait until the end of the year to buy a used car. Don’t worry. There are opportune buying times year-round. Just remember the #1 Insider’s Secret “End of the…”
Need help buying a car or truck? We’re here to help! Call us at (303) 286-1665 or simply use our handy contact form >>here<<
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Coloradans are truck people. When we say we love our trucks, we’re not exaggerating. Our relationship with our truck is often like other relationships we have: we depend on our truck, and it depends on us. When you love your truck on Valentine’s Day, it’s a nice way to acknowledge all the things our truck does for us throughout the year.
Your truck doesn’t ask for much so this Valentine’s Day, show your truck a little more love by being grateful it’s always there for you.
When something (or someone) is dependable, we can often take it for granted. Valentine’s Day is a great reminder to pay attention to your truck’s well-being:
- Does it need maintenance?
- How about your spare…is it in good shape?
- Could your truck use a thorough detail?
It’s always good to take to reflect on all the good your truck does for you. It’s a valuable asset that makes your life a lot better.
Here are some reminders of why you love your truck.
7 Reasons to Love Your Truck on Valentine’s Day
1. Your truck protects you
Your car is a set of body armor on wheels. Could you imagine flying through the air at 70 MPH without the protective shell of your auto interior? You would be as dead as a bug on your windshield.
2. Your truck helps you earn a living
Let’s face it, your truck makes you look good. But it also helps you earn a living. Even if you’re not in construction or one of the trades, your truck brings YOU to work.
3. Your truck feels like home
Most of us spend a lot of time in our truck and frankly, it feels like home. It’s nice to plop down in the driver’s seat after a hard day at work, close the door, turn on some tunes and merrily drive home. There’s something so satisfying about it, right?
4. Your truck is always there when you need it (most of the time)
It’s comforting to know that, wherever you go, when you’re ready to leave, your truck is there waiting for you.
There’s nothing like getting stranded to make you appreciate your truck. Be proactive with regular maintenance and you’ll lessen the chances of getting stuck without it.
5. Your truck gives you a sense of pride
Pride still matters.
Pride has nothing to do with ego or vanity, far from it. Pride is setting a personal standard, excellence in all things, and holding to that standard. Your truck is an extension of you.
Want to show even more love for your truck? Keep it looking good. Nothing says, “I take pride in what I do,” like a clean truck.
6. Your truck saves you trouble
Without your truck, you’d be destined to:
- Ride the bus
- Walk
- Ride a bike
- Bum a ride
- Take an Uber
7. Your truck provides freedom
Feeling a little overwhelmed? Need to escape? Your trusty truck is there, just waiting for you to get in, roll down the windows, and take a drive. Freedom is a wonderful thing.
What does your truck say about you? Are you ready to buy a truck you can love? Call us at (303) 286-1665 or simply fill out our contact form >>here<<. Dye Autos is here to help!
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Buying a used car can seem like a maze of difficult decisions. At Dye Auto, we believe that getting the car of your dreams should be easy. That’s why we began this blog – to share our expertise with you, so that you feel as comfortable as possible with your decisions.
There are a lot of questions that customers ask and over the years, we’ve answered hundreds of them. We believe that information is power and getting the answers you need ensures that fact.
Where we shine is in answering the questions that many customers don’t know they need to ask.
We recently wrote about the “Answers to Your 6 Biggest Used Car Financing Questions.”
- Do I need a down payment?
- Can I get approved if I have bad credit?
- Why does a car’s age and mileage affect my financing options?
- How much should my payment be?
- How much are can I afford?
- Should I get pre-qualified?
(For more in depth answers to these questions, simply click over to our post via the link).
As time goes on, we’ll cover every question you might not know to ask when buying a used car.
We’re excited to help customers buy cars. We’ve been in the Denver / Wheat Ridge area for many years and we have a combined 100 years experience in selling cars to great customers (like you).
We’re not like the other guys.
- We have a streamlined process that gets you in and out in 90 minutes.
- We’re relaxed and easy to do business with.
- We’re just like you – we dress casual and we aren’t pretentious.
- We have access to financing for anyone.
Here are 6 more questions to ask when buying a used car
You ask – we answer!
1. Are there any potential penalties or fees on my car loan?
Make sure you know about any early payoff fees or extra charges that occur during the term of your car loan. This is something you’d find in the “small print” so ask the finance manager to explain it all.
2. What’s the best thing to do with my trade-in?
Your trade-in is part of the deal making process and you should use it to your maximum benefit.
The current market is what sets the price for your trade-in. It’s not what you think it might be worth.
It’s possible to get more selling your car privately, but it’s definitely more of a hassle. The best approach is to do your homework. Know what your car is worth and come to the table ready to make a deal.
For more information on what to do with your trade-in, click here for our post: Do’s and Don’ts of Trading in Your Car.
3. Is my deposit refundable?
In some cases, you’ll leave a deposit on a car you want to buy. This tells the dealer that you’re serious and it saves the vehicle from being sold before you can make all the arrangements.
Before you give anyone a deposit on a vehicle, be sure you know whether can you get it back if you change your mind. Get a receipt and make sure it says “refundable” before you hand any money over.
4. Should I buy a service contract?
Used car buyers are often offered an Extended Service Contract when there is no other warranty available for the car being sold. This is usually on older cars, well out of their manufacturer’s warranty.
If you plan on keeping the car for a long time, a service contract is worth considering. Make sure you get the answers to these 4 questions before you say yes.
- Who stands behind the warranty?
- What is covered exactly?
- What is the deductible for each claim?
- Will you have peace of mind if you don’t buy it?
5. May I see a copy of the car’s history report?
Vehicle history reports have become an integral part of any used-car purchase. They are one of the best ways to learn about a given vehicle’s past and help make your search for a used car much easier.
At Dye Autos, we provide a free vehicle history report from CarFax on each of our vehicles.
6. Why should I buy from you?
This is a GREAT question to ask your salesperson and it’s important to listen carefully to the answer. You want to feel comfortable with your salesperson and this is a nice icebreaker.
Every good car salesperson should know exactly why their customers buy from them.
Got more questions?
Call us at (303) 286-1665. Dye Autos is here to help!
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