Using a credit union car loan can save you a lot of money in interest and fees on your next new or used car purchase. Credit unions generally offer much lower interest rates than either banks or finance companies. In addition, credit union members generally pay reduced fees or costs associated with a loan application or loan documentation.
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If you're already a member of a credit union, you probably already know your local credit union's requirements for applying for a new or used car loan. However, if you're not a member of a credit union, and you're thinking of becoming one, you should probably be aware of some general requirements for getting a credit union car loan.
Membership Required
Credit unions only make car loans to members. Credit unions are member-owned cooperatives that cater to a specific group or cross-section of individuals. While membership requirements for credit unions vary, all credit unions do have specific criteria for membership.
Common criteria for membership in credit unions might include: working for a specific company or government agency; membership of a specific group or organization; being a member of a certain ethnic group or residing in a certain location or municipality.
Although requirements for credit union membership can be confusing, almost everyone is eligible for membership in one credit union or another. You will simply need to do some research and inquire as to your local credit union's membership requirements.
Good Credit
Although credit unions offer fantastic interest rates and terms on their new and used car loans, they don't make them available to everyone -- not even to all of their members. Credit unions are generally much smaller and have far fewer financial resources than do most commercial banks. Therefore, they must invest their members' deposits and savings wisely. Credit unions usually require that members demonstrate considerable credit worthiness before they will approve a car loan application. This is the trade-off for the very low interest rates they offer in their automobile loan packages.
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In addition to the credit union's specific requirements outlined above, credit unions require basically the same types of assurances and documentation that commercial banks do. This is in regard to the approval of auto loan applications. There isn't a lot of difference between the two in the loan application process. Just as commercial banks do, credit unions require certain level credit scores and credit histories, an acceptable debt to income ratio and evidence of the ability to repay the debt.
Certain credit unions may have even more stringent criteria and requirements for the approval of car loan applications. You should visit your local credit union and speak with a credit union loan officer to get more details concerning their specific requirements for a new or used car loan.
Credit union car loans can help you save a lot of money versus loans from a conventional bank or finance company; however, they are not for everyone. Dependent on the criteria submitted will determine whether or not one is approved.
Besides the low interest rates offered, credit unions offer maximum convenience and instantaneous response to various credit needs. There are no steep organizational levels that require approval from each office or branch, such as in banks and large financial institutions. Service is also more straightforward and loan status could easily be inquired.
Be mindful that not all services offered by banks are made available by credit unions. Determine the type of loans granted by a particular union before seeking membership. A quick look at online sites will give you an idea on a particular credit union in your area. This will save you time in searching the financial services you seek. In this day and age of convergence, financial assistance is not limited to large banks and giant financial companies. An affordable loan could be made available to a local credit union near you.
If you are in the market for a new or used vehicle and need help with your car finance, be sure to examine credit union car loans before going straight to your bank for assistance. With so many loan options and auto loan lenders to choose from, it can be easy to make the mistake of assuming that they are all more or less the same. However, this is not the case and there are some key differences between banks and credit unions that you should be aware of before take out a loan.
First, it is important to understand the difference between a commercial bank and a credit union. Banks are owned by shareholders, and work towards increasing the profits of their shareholders. On the other hand, credit unions are non-profit organizations and are owned by members of their union. So when you join a credit union you are essentially buying a small stake of a bank with your return on investment being lower interest rates.
Lower car loan rates are probably the biggest incentive to borrow from a credit union as opposed to a bank. If you have all of your credit transactions consolidated with one bank, they may be able to offer you a better rate, but in general credit unions have lower interest rates across the board. Banks will sometimes try to convince you that borrowing from a credit union is risky due to the lack of FDIC protection. However, many credit unions are covered by FDIC, and all one needs to do to find out is call the credit union in question and ask if they are insured.
Another reason why some people choose to borrow from a credit union is because of the personalized service they can offer. If you are banking with a large commercial bank, it is likely that you will have to deal with 1-800 numbers, and sometimes poorly informed customer service reps. Since credit unions are smaller in nature, they tend to be friendlier to their customers and have fewer, but better informed, employees at your service. One of the downsides of choosing a credit union is that they typically have fewer automatic banking options than a large commercial bank would offer you. So if this is something that is important to for you, you may want to stay with you bank.
Credit unions are known for being more lenient and friendly with first time borrowers, so if you are looking to build up your credit then this could be a good place to start. Certain factors such as your credit rating, the amount you are willing pay on a down payment, the vehicle in question's age and mileage, and your employment stability will all factor into what kind of deals you can get.
Overall, your best bet is to just shop around and find the loan that works best for you. Credit union loans are a valid option, and should be considered before simply settling on borrowing from your bank.
If you belong to a credit union, car loans may be much easier and more attractive than you are aware of. Credit union credos say they are not for profit, that they exist to serve their members.
Easily Obtained Loans
Credit union members are typically able to get credit products such as auto loans much easier than at regular banks or other lenders. This is because one of the main functions of a credit union is to provide favorable loans to members by the pooling of the resources of all members if the credit union.
More Attractive Rates
Loan rates for credit union car loans will typically be lower than at more traditional lenders. Again, this is because credit unions are in existence to serve their members, not make a profit. The pooling of members' resources makes extending lower rate loans possible. It's very likely that the best car financing options available will come from a credit union.
See what kind of interest rates you can get >>
Join and Sign Papers Same Day
Most credit unions don't have a waiting period between when you become a member and when you will be able to take advantage of the enhanced benefits of being a member. What this means is that as soon as you become a member, you can also obtain financing from the credit union, usually without talking to different people as in a regular commercial bank.
More Forgiving of Past Bad Credit
Because most credit unions service a particular group of people (employees of a certain company or city, residents of a given geographical area, city/county, etc) and because their purpose, again, is to serve the needs of their members by way of the pooling of all members' resources, they're going to be a bit more forgiving about negative or derogatory credit remarks. Credit unions set up for employees of a given company will know that maybe that missed credit card payment occurred at the same time the company had to cut way back on hours, whereas a typical lender isn't going to care.
Typical New Auto Loan Rates
Typical car loan rates through credit unions can range from 4-9 percent, with many institutions offering lower promotional fixed and variable rates. Some credit unions allow auto loan financing up to 7 years, making monthly payments low as well as bringing the affordability of a higher priced car within reach.
As stated, because credit unions are member-owned and not for profit, they can afford to give lower rates than 'traditional' providers of auto loans. Below are average rates for sixty month loans on new cars, based on general credit score ranking.
If you're eligible for credit union membership, and most Americans are, you'd be able to save a considerable amount of money on your next car loan by getting one through a credit union instead of a 'traditional' lender.
Credit union car loans are available for both new or used car purchases. Refinancing is also offered by most credit unions to somehow have to option of lowering your monthly payments. Credit union auto loan interest rates are competitive and average about 4.5 to 4.75% depending on the area, but a quick look online will give you an idea on the exact interest rates the nearest credit union might offer.
When deciding to seek financial assistance from a credit union, remember your monthly payments will be determined by a lot of factors. Careful analysis of the following should be undertaken to get the best loan possible.
Kind of Car
Make the most of your new car purchase by choosing a car wisely. Cheapest may not be the best option when seeking a used car, and a thorough inspection should be made before deciding to make a purchase. The Internet is a good source of quality used cars online, but a physical visit to local dealers and banks may give you a list of repossessed vehicles you can take advantage of for a cheaper price. Most these vehicles still carry a factory warranty.
It would also be wise to keep an open eye or ear on various cars for sale in your area. This would make it easy to contact the owner and get an accurate evaluation on the car. Buying direct would usually save you a lot of money when mild negotiation skills are applied. Rest assured that the market is never short on quality used cars, and the potential buyer should do proper research to determine the right kind of car that is fit for any need and budget.
Credit Score
A good or average credit score will determine the amount of interest that credit unions will impose on your loan and a better than average credit history will usually yield low interest rates and low monthly payments. Try to obtain a copy of your credit report and fix any errors that may persist. People with bad credit need not despair, as credit unions also offer bad credit car loans, albeit at a higher interest rate than normal.
Down Payment
If you decide to pay a higher down payment for your used car purchase, this would result to a lower amount that needs to be financed by credit unions. This will give you a low monthly payment scheme even when interest is applied. Try to save more money for an adequate down payment to ensure low monthly payments, even when interest is added to the equation. An increase of $2,000 to $5,000 on your down payment will greatly reduce your monthly payment obligations.
Credit Unions
Remember that there are a lot of credit unions that exist which provide quality and fast service for those seeking a used auto loan. Other credit unions offer specialized services for the government employee while others may cater to people with a common interest. You can find different credit unions in the internet and most offer online assistance and membership options. The Pentagon Federal Credit Union is one such example, and offers competitive rates for people employed by the Army, Air Force or any government and military agency.
Finding a credit union car loan starts with finding a credit union. In order to borrow you must be a member, but it's a wise choice since credit unions offer something many large banks cannot: local accountability.
If you don't belong to a credit union it might be wise to look for one. You can find a credit union by going to the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) website. It will give you information about credit unions in your area and about obtaining a car loan from one of them.
Most credit unions are membership based. The way you get in is if your employer or union has an affiliated credit union. If not, some credit unions will allow family members to join so check with family to see if they belong to a credit union. You can look up credit unions in the local phone book and call to see what their qualifications for membership are. Many will talk to you about the benefits of the available car loans even before you become a member. Once you've settled on a credit union, use the following steps to get the best rate on your loan:
After that, it's a matter of insuring the vehicle and driving away pleased with your purchase. Do the homework necessary to create the best opportunity for a credit union car loan and follow the steps above.
There are three disadvantages with financing through a credit union: lack of convenience; lag time; and stringent qualification requirements. This information is not meant to discourage you from financing through a credit union; rather, it is meant to give you a full range of information before you make your choice.
Inconvenience
A lot can be said about the convenience of a credit union. In addition to offering standard banking services, they also offer auto, home, and personal loan financing. But applying for car loan financing through a credit union can be inconvenient for a number of reasons. Most credit unions have only one branch. In order to apply for a loan you have to physically go down and wait to speak to a finance agent. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It's just that it may require more waiting than you are accustomed to.
Secondly, credit union financing is nowhere near as convenient as online financing. Online you can apply for a loan and be conditionally approved in an hour or less. Not so with a credit union. Another obvious disadvantage is that you must be a member of a credit union to receive a loan from them. If you are happy with your traditional banking service and see no reason to switch, you will be unable to receive a credit union auto loan.
Lag Time
Applying for a credit union auto loan will not be an instantaneous process. The application must be processed, your credit rating and employment situation examined, and further details of your financial history considered. Conditional approval might be quick, but final approval of an auto loan application may take several business days. If you are looking to secure financing for an auto loan quickly, your best bet is to avoid the credit union.
Stringent Qualifications
A credit union will require that you have good-to-excellent credit before they sign off on an auto loan, especially one with a low interest rate that they can offer. They consider their borrowers carefully, and they won't simply lend to you if they know nothing about your credit history. Less rigorous requirements can be found through online lenders, many of whom will lend to you even if you have bad credit.
You should know the pros and cons of each of your auto financing options, and a credit union is no exception. You want to be as informed as you possibly can so you go into the process knowing full well the terms of the loan you have committed to.
