Why do car dealers want you to finance through them?

Asked by: Prof. Werner Wiza DDS  |  Last update: July 29, 2022
Score: 4.3/5 (45 votes)

“Car dealerships want you to finance through them for two main reasons: They can make money off the interest of a car loan you get through them. They may get a bit of a kickback if they're the middleman between you and another lender (commission).

Why you should never finance through a dealership?

2) Dealerships don't want you to have your own financing.

Dealers don't just sell cars, they sell your business to lenders for a profit. They're counting on making money on your loan.

Is it smart to finance a car through a dealership?

Financing your vehicle directly through the dealership is the right option if you are looking to avoid the heavy lifting that comes with shopping for vehicle financing. It is also easier to qualify for, so if you have poor credit, financing through the dealership may be more accessible.

Is financing through a dealership a good idea?

The Advantages of Dealership Financing

Dealerships with in-house financing may offer lower interest rates than banks or credit unions. Because dealerships specialize in lending to car buyers, in-house financing could save you money. Dealership financing may be the best option for buyers with bad credit.

What does it mean when a dealer wants to finance a car?

Dealer financing is a type of loan that is originated by a retailer to its customers and then sold to a bank or other third-party financial institution. The bank purchases these loans at a discount and then collects principle and interest payments from the borrower.

Car Dealership Tricks. Why Dealership Financing Makes Them Money.

17 related questions found

Is it better to lease or finance a car?

The monthly payments on a lease are usually lower than monthly finance payments if you bought the same car. With a lease, you're paying to drive the car, not to buy it. That means you're paying for the car's expected depreciation — or loss of value — during the lease period, plus a rent charge, taxes, and fees.

What should I watch for with dealer financing?

Don't Let the Car Financing Spook You- 6 Tricks To Watch Out for at the Dealership
  • Pushing you to buy right now.
  • Low-balling your trade in.
  • Offering a different price online.
  • Putting your purchase into a single transaction.
  • Selling you a monthly payment.
  • Sneaking in additional fees or upgrades.

Does financing a car build credit?

As you make on-time loan payments, an auto loan will improve your credit score. Your score will increase as it satisfies all of the factors the contribute to a credit score, adding to your payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, new credit, and credit mix.

What credit score is needed to buy a car?

In general, lenders look for borrowers in the prime range or better, so you will need a score of 661 or higher to qualify for most conventional car loans.

When should you finance a car?

Financing a car may be a good idea when: You want to drive a newer car you'd be unable to save up enough cash for in a reasonable amount of time. The interest rate is low, so the extra costs won't add much to the overall cost of the vehicle. The regular payments won't add stress to your current or upcoming budget.

How much should you put down on a car?

When it comes to a down payment on a new car, you should try to cover at least 20% of the purchase price. For a used car, a 10% down payment might do.

Why is it important to haggle when negotiating to buy a car?

Bargaining may be an easier price-setting mechanism than changing a posted price every day or week.” Plus, if a customer walks in offering to pay a hair below the list price, the dealer may actually come out ahead by cutting a deal and saving on the inventory cost.

Can you negotiate APR on a car?

Yes, just like the price of the vehicle, the interest rate is negotiable. The first rate for the loan the dealer offers you may not be the lowest rate you qualify for. With dealer-arranged financing, the dealer collects information from you and forwards that information to one or more prospective auto lenders.

Do car dealers get a kickback on financing?

“Unless the dealership has its own financing department, most dealerships get a kickback, or commission, from the lending company for originating the loan. This amount varies depending on the total amount of the car loan but is often a few hundred bucks.

Can a car dealership take a car back after you signed a contract?

A customer may take delivery of a car on a Friday, drive around for the weekend and suddenly see something that is much more appealing. But once you've signed the deal, this is binding. And a dealer will only allow you to take delivery once the payment has registered after the money has in fact changed hands.”

Can you back out of a car loan after signing?

Can You Back Out of a Car Loan After Signing? If you're unhappy with the sale price of your new car, or think you got too little for your trade-in, chances are you won't be able to alter those terms after the deal has been signed. If you signed the sales contract, you own the car.

What is the payment on a $15000 car loan?

Using the formula above, you can estimate your monthly payment for various loan terms to be: 12 months: $1269.25. 24 months: $643.99. 36 months: $435.49.

How much should I put down on a 15k car?

As a general rule, you should pay 20 percent of the price of the vehicle as a down payment. That's because vehicles lose value, or depreciate, rapidly. If you make a small down payment or no down payment, you can end up owing more on your auto loan than your car or SUV is worth.

What is considered a high car payment?

According to experts, a car payment is too high if the car payment is more than 30% of your total income. Remember, the car payment isn't your only car expense! Make sure to consider fuel and maintenance expenses. Make sure your car payment does not exceed 15%-20% of your total income.

Can I buy a car with a 600 credit score?

There is no set credit score you need to get an auto loan. If you have a credit score above 660, you will likely qualify for an auto loan at a rate below 10% APR. If you have bad credit or no credit, you could still qualify for a car loan, but you should expect to pay more.

How fast will a car loan raise my credit score?

When you make a timely payment to your auto loan each month, you'll see a boost in your score at key milestones like six months, one year, and eighteen months. Making your payments on time does the extra chore of paying down your installment debt as well.

Why did my credit score drop after paying off a car loan?

Lenders like to see a mix of both installment loans and revolving credit on your credit portfolio. So if you pay off a car loan and don't have any other installment loans, you might actually see that your credit score dropped because you now have only revolving debt.

What should you not do at a dealership?

7 Things Not to Do at a Car Dealership
  • Don't Enter the Dealership without a Plan. ...
  • Don't Let the Salesperson Steer You to a Vehicle You Don't Want. ...
  • Don't Discuss Your Trade-In Too Early. ...
  • Don't Give the Dealership Your Car Keys or Your Driver's License. ...
  • Don't Let the Dealership Run a Credit Check.

How dealers make money on financing?

Traditional means dealerships make money off of financing

What the dealer negotiates with lenders is the interest rate they pay, not what the end user, or car buyer, pays. This provides the dealership an opportunity to mark up the interest rate ultimately offered to the client and make money off of financing.

How do you not get scammed at a dealership?

How to avoid car dealer scams
  1. Get pre-approved for a car loan before you step on the lot. This can save you a bundle. ...
  2. Do some research before going to the dealership. ...
  3. Don't negotiate based on monthly payments. ...
  4. Don't allow your trade-in to influence your new car's cost. ...
  5. Be willing to walk away.