Most car sales professionals are honest, hard-working people with a job to do. Unfortunately there are a few who fit the bill of the "stereotypical" car salesman and will do everything they can to sell you a car. If you apply for finance through the dealer, this just gives the car salesman another tool to use against you as leverage. Instead, walk onto the lot with online auto loan quotes in your hand and you may be surprised at the difference in how you are treated.
Credit Report Shenanigans
Of course you would never shop for cars without pulling your own credit report, right? Well some people do and that gives the dealer a chance to tell stories.
They'll tell you how you have a terrible credit score and then act like they are doing you a favor by giving you a loan at all. Of course they will have to charge you a higher APR and possibly additional fees for the terrible risk they are taking.
Understand that they will tell you this even if your credit score is perfectly fine.
Your Loan was Rejected
You sign papers and drive off, thinking you own a new car. Then a couple of weeks later, the dealer says the financing fell through and you have to come back in. They'll hit you with higher payments, refinancing fees, and all kinds of other nonsense.
Unless you lied on your application, the dealer knows whether you qualify for the loan or not before he lets you off the lot. Do you really think he's going to let you drive off in a $25,000 piece of merchandise otherwise?
Applying for a Loan by Accident
Even shoppers armed with online auto quotes aren't immune to loan scams. The car salesman may tell you that he needs to pull a credit report because of Patriot Act reporting requirements. You might even notice the form you are filling out is titled "Application for Credit."
The Patriot Act does not require a credit report or your Social Security number so don't be fooled into applying for dealer financing. Your name and driver's license number should be all they need.
Lies About Online Car Loans
Some car dealers are so threatened by online auto loan quotes that they will tell you anything to get you to abandon them in favor of dealer financing.
One of the common lies is how all online car loans are scams and their checks will bounce. Yes, there are a few bad apples among online lenders, but they are generally easy to spot. Most companies that offer online auto loans have been in business for years and are just as reputable as your bank or credit union.
The best way to protect yourself against these and other loan-related scams is to get your online auto loan quotes before going to the lot. That way you know what you have qualified for and don't have to worry about the dealer using your loan against you.
