Car deals with 0% APR: Are they worth it? Advertiser Disclosure Advertiser Disclosure We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our aim is to assist you make better financial decisions by offering interactive tools and financial calculators that provide objective and original content. We also allow you to conduct research and compare information for free and help you make informed financial decisions. Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not restricted to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. How We Earn Money The deals that are advertised on this site are from companies that pay us. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this website, for example, for example, the order in which they may appear within the listing categories, except where prohibited by law. This applies to our mortgage, home equity and other home loan products. This compensation, however, does affect the content we publish or the reviews that appear on this website. We do not cover the entire universe of businesses or financial offerings that could be available to you. @VeraNovember/Twenty20
6 minutes read Read published March 02, 2023.
Michelle Black Written Michelle Black Written by Contributing writer Michelle Lambright Black is a credit expert with more than 19 years’ experience, an author on a freelance basis and a certified credit expert witness. In addition to writing for Bankrate Michelle’s writing is included in numerous publications such as FICO, Experian, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report and Reader’s Digest, among others. Written by Rhys Subitch Editored by Auto loans Editor Rhys has been editing and writing for Bankrate since late 2021. They are committed to helping readers gain the confidence to take control of their finances by providing clear, well-researched information that breaks down complicated topics into manageable bites. The Bankrate promises
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It is worth the cost if you can lower your monthly bills. But you’ll need an excellent credit score to qualify. Keep both its cost-effectiveness and the eligibility of your car when taking a test drive.
What is 0% APR? A zero percent APR basically means that you can borrow money at no cost. The monthly installments you pay back the lender for the money it paid to the dealer, but no cash from your pockets goes directly into your loan’s bank account. This differs from the typical method, in which the lender is charged to finance. Interest and fees in the end, are the main ways that lenders earn money. Here’s an illustration of the difference in monthly cost a 0 percent APR could make versus an APR that is more typical. Average rate
0% APR
The amount to be financed
$27,564
$27,564
A loan term
60 months
60 months
APR
5.47%
0%
Monthly payment
$478
$418
Total cost
$28,704
$25,064
How does 0% APR work? Financing a car interest-free almost seems too amazing to be true. But these financing deals are a method that automakers can employ to increase sales of their vehicles. Loan providers that offer zero percent financing are known as captive finance firms and are linked to . Examples of lenders that are captive include Ford Motor Credit, GM Financial, Nissan Finance, Toyota Financial Services and more. So, if Ford plans to sell more F-150s due to problems with overstock, it could provide zero-interest loans to certain borrowers through its own financing arm. No-interest financing seems more reasonable on the surface however this isn’t always the case. If automakers offer zero per cent financing, they could try to make up for “lost” earnings in different ways. For example, a dealership may push hard to sell you , like or , using your car. It is also possible to give up benefits such as rebates that would normally lower the cost of purchase. What are the criteria to be considered for an 0% APR vehicle deal? Zero percent financing offers typically only available to borrowers with good credit scores — typically classified as having a credit score of 800 or over. You should do this prior to when you begin looking for financing for your car. Each lender has its own definition of excellent credit, and qualification requirements can differ from one vehicle to the next vehicle. Because zero APR qualifications differ so widely it is best to contact the dealership in advance. Find out what requirements you have to fulfill to qualify for interest-free financing on a specific automobile. Apart from your credit score, an auto lender will consider other aspects in evaluating your application, such as: . Employment record. Address and income verification. Regardless of the condition of your credit -good, bad, fair or outstanding, you must seek out to from outside financing sources too. A preapproval is a great way to compare your options and offer a backup plan if you don’t qualify for the automaker’s exclusive offer. Limits of 0% APR financing Interest-free financing might be a great offer for some borrowers. But, there are few potential pitfalls you should be aware of when you are considering this type of loan. A limited selection of interest-free financing may only be available for certain kinds of vehicles. First, the car you buy will most likely have to be . Automobile manufacturers also reserve special financing offers for vehicle models where there’s surplus stock that needs to be cleared. Limited repayment options: Depending on the deal, your repayment options with the 0% financing option may be more restricted. Often you’ll be given less time to repay the loan as you would otherwise. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with repaying the loan fast but you need to be sure that you can afford the higher monthly payment without stressing your budget. 0% financing vs. bonuses Cash offers from automakers want you to purchase the next car from their company, not a competitor. This is the primary reason the 0% financing offer exists to begin with. To draw new customers, auto makers often offer to buyers. However, a car manufacturer might not let you benefit from both the 0% financing rate and the bonus cash. If you’re faced with this dilemma, you’ll have to determine which savings opportunity is . Bankrate tip
The use of an app will allow you to compare zero percent financing with cash rewards. Sometimes, taking cash rebates that a dealership offers with a higher loan APR will result in greater overall savings. In other instances the financing with 0% interest rate could be the most effective option.
Do you want to take the cash and then refinance later? You might have to accept standard financing through the automaker’s captive lender to qualify for certain cash incentives. In the exchange, there’s a possibility that you’ll get a better interest rate than with your bank or an external lender. In the case of your particular situation the new car loan in a few months may be an effective strategy. However, there are some disadvantages to think about first. In particular, making two loans back-to-back both the original one and the one you refinance it with — could harm the credit score for quite a period of time. A combination of loans can result in at least two negative marks credit marks on your report. Adding 2 loans to your credit report, even though one pays from the second, can decrease the average age of accounts in your credit records. In terms of credit scoring the greater the average age of your accounts the better. Important takeaway
Cash incentives may reduce the amount you need to take out a loan, but refinancing it later for a could result in your credit score to take a temporary hit.
If an offer with 0% APR not worth it? It may be beneficial to skip special financing deals from manufacturers in the following scenarios. The terms of repayment don’t match your budget Low-interest car loans typically offer shorter financing terms. Depending on your income, a can make your monthly payments impossible to afford. For example, if the zero percent car loan is over four years but you typically be financing for five years difference can be meaningful. Average rates
APR 0%
Amount financed
$25,000
$25,000
Loan term
5 years
4 years old
APR
4%
0%
Monthly payment
$460
$520
It is evident that for a $25,000 car loan by the manufacturer for four years, your monthly installment is approximately $520. A $25k car loan that is financed over five years at a 4 percent interest rate will require the monthly payment to be $460. You can make use of an online auto loan calculator to perform the math for your potential loan. Financial experts often recommend that you limit your monthly car payments to 20% or less of your take-home salary per month. Experts suggest you pay 10% of your gross income. It’s tempting to buy an expensive car. You shouldn’t decide to increase your auto budget just to be eligible for a special financing. If you’re looking to pay $10,000 cash for the purchase of an auto loan with a $30,000 price cost just to avail of no-interest financing probably isn’t a wise financial move. Cash rebates offer you additional savings. Cash-back incentives typically aren’t available to those who are using the manufacturer’s financing. If you analyze the numbers and cash rebates can provide you with a greater savings opportunity, a 0 percent financing rate isn’t worth the cost. Imagine you can take advantage of a $4,750 cash-back offer on a brand new car purchase. On a new vehicle with a $30,000 price tag the incentive could reduce the price of your purchase down to $25,250. If you borrowed $25,250 at the rate of 4 percent over five years, then you’d pay $2,651 in interest. In that scenario the total cost is $27,901 provided you don’t add on extra products like extended warranties or pay any other financing fees. You could also pay the full $30,000 purchase price and then choose a zero percent APR. In the event that there are no additional items or charges, you’d be paying $2,099 more in this scenario than you’d get if you took the cash rebate. Do’s and Don’ts of APR-free loans If you’re looking at the options available and determine a 0 percent APR auto loan is the best choice for you, these do’s and don’ts may assist you with the process. Don’t
Don’t
the purchase price prior to when you ask for the 0 percent APR offer.
Accept an unrestricted loan with a significant monthly installment that you are unable to manage to.
Be pre-approved to get an automobile loan before visiting the dealer.
Consider a longer-term loan to reduce the monthly cost of your loan if it will cost you more overall.
Make sure you are able to manage the monthly payments.
You can choose a zero percent financing option over a cash-back incentive without comparing the overall savings.
Check if the manufacturer has a cash-back incentive program that you can combine with the special financing offer.
Skip the down payment if you can afford one.
The main point to deciding if a 0 percent APR car deal is worth the price is to evaluate it to an automotive loan from an outside lender and determine your actual monthly costs. Depending on your circumstance, the deal may not actually save you money. There are also a few situations where special financing isn’t quite as great as it appears and obtaining it usually requires excellent credit. Be sure to check the current rates and ensure that interest-free won’t end up costing you more overall.
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Written by a contributing Writer Michelle Lambright Black is a credit expert with more than 19 years experience. She’s an independent writer, and a certified credit expert witness. In addition to writing for Bankrate Michelle’s writing is published in numerous publications, including FICO, Experian, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report and Reader’s Digest, among others. Written by Rhys Subitch Edited by Auto loans editor Rhys has been writing and editing for Bankrate since the end of 2021. They are passionate about helping readers gain the confidence to control their finances with concise, well-studied and well-researched content that break down complex topics into digestible chunks.
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