How to Avoid Being Overcharged for Your Car

It is horrible to be quoted one price and then charged a lot more for a vehicle.

Not only does it ruin your trust in the dealership, but it also rips hard-earned money from your hands. Unfortunately, there are many shady dealerships and scams that will overcharge without worrying about how this affects customers. By familiarizing yourself with the telltale signs of fraud, you’ll be able to ensure that you’re paying a fair price for an automobile. Continue reading…

Looking for Trouble: Spotting Danger Signs at the Car Dealership

When it’s time to purchase a car, heading to the dealership can feel like walking into a lion’s den.

Predatory car dealerships do everything they can to make a sale, whether or not it’s the right decision for you. Fortunately, there are a few danger signs to watch out for that can keep you from falling into a dealer’s trap and spending more money than is necessary. Today, we’ll look at five tactics dealerships use to get unsuspecting customers through the door. Continue reading…

making-the-grade

Student Car Loans: Making Payments, Making the Grade

College is a time when many young people are concerned both with establishing credit and getting where they need to go independently.

But with no credit and likely no job history, college students face multiple challenges when looking for a reliable vehicle. Are you a college student who needs a vehicle? Do you have children leaving for college and want to make sure they have transportation? Let’s take a look at a few helpful tips to aid students in the quest for a reliable vehicle. Continue reading…

How to Ruin Your Credit Score

It’s important to be aware of common pitfalls that can hinder your journey to improving your credit score through financing a car. Improving financial savvy is reliant on understanding what helps and hurts your score.

Here are some ways you could seriously hurt your credit score and drive you deeper down the FICO hole:

  1. Late Payments – One of the best ways to ruin your credit score is to pay late. Did you know that a grand total of 35% of a credit score is payment history? If you’re late all the time on credit card or loan payments, you’re definitely going to hurt your score.
  2. Not Paying at all – Even worse than paying late is not paying bills at all. Continue reading…
Bankruptcy

Can I Finance a Car While Filing for Bankruptcy?

The quick answer to this question is yes, you absolutely can buy a car while filing for bankruptcy (unless you live in Tennessee, sorry). In fact, it’s more common than you might think. However, in order to avoid getting into a financial rut, there are some recommended steps you should take before, during and after the car buying process. Let’s take a look at them. Continue reading…