Secured Car Loans: How safe are they?
Secured car loans are quite secure for the client. It means lesser payments and
better car. You always get a better deal than the traditional car or auto loans.
As the client, you will be in an advantageous position. You will secure a car
deal usually in your own terms. The best part of a secured car loan is that they
are readily available to anyone owning a property or a home.
The moment your chosen lender agrees to accept your terms, you can immediately
own your dream car. You will also have a flexibility of making the first installment
30 days later!
Though the processing of secured car loans appear easy, yet they are very tricky
too. So, ensure that you are not befooled by apparently rosy promises of the loan
providers. Always be choosy and professional. After all, you'd be securing
the car loan by only mortgaging your asset, property or home.
WHAT EXACTLY IS A SECURED CAR LOAN?
Secured car loans are sanctioned against mortgaged property or house. As you'd
be pledging your valuable asset like the property or the home, the lender grants
you much elbow space.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A SECURED CAR LOAN?
There are many benefits. You'd enjoy repayment options that are varied,
loan terms that are flexible and interest rates that are rather low.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGES OF A SECURED CAR LOAN?
Yes, there is a special advantage. You can very well buy a secured car loan along
with car insurance. This clause shields you against unforeseen mishaps like loss
of job or illness.
WHAT ARE THE TECHNICALITIES OF A SECURED CAR LOAN?
Technically, the duration of a secured car loan is short. The repayment time
ranges from 36 months (three years) to 72 months (six years).
A recently conducted research of Automobile Finance shows that only 31% of the
newly sanctioned loans extend beyond five years. It has further found that as
many as 82% of such car loans extend beyond four years but are less than five
years.
CAN'T I GO FOR A RANGE EXTENDING BEYOND 72 MONTHS?
Of course, you can. But technically you'd be unnecessarily overburdening
your budget. The monthly budget will get topsy-turvy. This is simply because
a car depreciates fast in its value. This is especially true if you wish to
sell off the car at a later date. Moreover, it is not at all advisable to sell
off one's car before its loan is repaid.
SECURED CAR LOANS VS CAR DEALERSHIP LOANS?
First, the secured car loans are always a better option than car dealership.
The latter option entails that you pay more compared to the former.
HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT CLINCHING A SECURED CAR LOAN?
The first step to go about securing a secured car loan is to cull your FICO
or credit score. This scorecard is an important piece of paper documenting your
credit history. It will show your collection info and other public records.
It will further include inquiries from various firms or individuals with whom
you have had business transactions at the time you sought the secured car loan;
your loans, repayment history and mortgages.
HOW CAN I GET THE FICO SCORE?
It's rather easy to get the FICO score. Such scorecards are generally
procured from various credit bureaus. However, you can also get fast FICO scores
online after submitting your information and the ones required by the respective
websites like TrueCredit, Consumerinfo or Equifax.
WILL I GET A SECURED CAR LOAN WITH A BAD FICO SCORE?
You will be able to get a secured car loan even if you have a bad FICO score.
The only liability for you would be that you'd be paying a high interest
rate. There are many lenders who deal exclusively with borrowers having bad
FICO score.
CAUTION NOTES: IGNORE THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK
If you have a bad FICO score, always proceed carefully prior to roping in any
such loan provider. Read between the lines, ask questions and settle for the
agreement only if the terms are to your liking. Don't fall for glib talk.
- Know that many additional costs are generally kept hidden.
- Secured car loans should never be accepted impulsively.
- Pose posers mainly on the ongoing bank fees, monthly management fees and the
redemption penalties.
- You must also know from the horse's mouth whether the loan is daily reducible?
- Above all, specifically enquire from the respective lender if you'd have
to bear extra payments at any point of time.