The truth about 0% financing offered at dealerships

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An auto loan without interest sounds too good to be true. 那么,有什么问题呢? Here's what you should understand about zero-percent financing offers before committing. 

什么是0%融资?

When you see a dealership advertising zero-percent financing, it means the car dealer is offering to lend you money for a new car without charging any interest fees over the life of the loan.

At first glance it may seem like a charitable act, 因为对于传统贷款, lenders make the money back through repayments, 再加上一些 as a result of interest fees made over the life of the loan.

A 0% car loan, though, offers no reward to the dealership. But before you go applauding them for their selflessness, know this — the automaker earns the same amount it would earn on any car deal, but now the money is earned over a longer span. They make money on the car itself, not through financing. Dealers advertise 0% interest to sell slower-selling models, 帮助清理陈旧的存货, and to spark sales when the public isn't buying (like during a pandemic).

Can anyone qualify for zero-percent financing? 

Dealerships love to offer 0% financing as a way to get customers in the door, but it can actually be quite difficult to qualify for one of these loans. They are typically only offered to buyers who have excellent credit. The only people who get the deal are the ones the dealership thinks will pay on time or maybe even early. 通过对谁得到这笔交易很挑剔, carmakers can ensure their temporary discount is low risk and profitable.

什么时候0%的融资是一个好主意?

如果你有资格获得0%的融资贷款, you can easily save a ton of cash in interest payments over the life of the loan.

确保你 计算数字 to be sure you can easily afford the monthly payments on a no-interest loan. If the numbers add up, a 0% financing loan can be a great way to save money on a new set of wheels.

什么时候0%的融资是个坏主意?

If you can't afford the loan to begin with, then 0% financing won't help you at all. 0% won't make the car any cheaper, in fact it may do the opposite. Since the dealership only profits from the actual sale, they will rarely agree to bargain down the price and often waive other incentives, 比如现金返还折扣. Stripping away rebates helps them make their money back. Because of this, a no-interest loan could cost more than the savings you’d get negotiating on price. Since most 0% offers disqualify you from rebates, a car you were looking at before the offer could have its price tag increased by $1,000或更多,而没有内置的激励措施.

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Another point to consider before committing to a 0% financing loan is the term of the loan. Some of these loans feature longer terms than traditional auto loans, as much as six years. Six years is a long time to be paying for a car. 在那之前,你的需求可能会改变. 在硬币的另一面, some 0% financing loans are expected to be paid off within four years — which would bump your monthly payment amount way up. 

最后, if your current car is paid off and runs fine, yet you still feel tempted to take advantage of the 0% financing offer while it lasts⁠ — do some soul-searching and ask yourself if you're really ready to commit to that kind of debt again. Not having a monthly car payment gives you more room to save. 你愿意牺牲或拖延吗 其他财务目标 买一辆你并不需要的新车?

我们来算算.

Let’s take a look 在 purchase of a single car and run it through both kinds of loans.

A car is selling for $20,000 with a 0% financing offer that must be paid off in four years. 这笔贷款的月供将达 $416.

或者,汽车贷款 由信用合作社提供全国平均费率 would give the loan an annual percentage rate (APR) of 3.45%. Over five years, that would amount to a monthly payment of $363.

With a traditional loan, you can also take advantage of manufacturer rebates. Meaning that if this car has a $2,500 cash-back rebate, its price would drop to $17,500. In total, a traditional auto loan with an APR of 3.45%可以归结为月供 $318. The total amount paid on the car would also be less than the amount paid through the no-interest loan, at $19,080.

用我们的 汽车贷款计算器 to see what your actual monthly payment would be before taking on a loan. It’s the best way to determine if you can afford the vehicle without overextending your budget.

Learn how Louisiana FCU can make your car-buying experience a breeze. 请求电话 从我们的专家那里,或者 自己做调查.

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