Note: GMAC Auto Financing Gets Rebranded as Ally Financial To reach them directly, call 1-888-925-2559 or visit them at www.ally.com.
In order to help distance itself from its recession struggling, bailout taking, damaged brand image, GMAC has decided to rebrand itself as Ally Financial Inc. going forward. While GMAC Inc., which is now almost entirely government owned after receiving over $16 billion in bailout money, formally changed its name to Ally, auto finance changes took effect in August of 2010.
Previously owned by General Motors Co., GMAC was set up to provide financing for GM and Chrysler car buyers through their network of dealerships. The move to the new moniker signals the company's desire to move away from their image as a troubled lender and rebuild their business with an untainted brand. Ally posted its first quarterly profit in two years in May.
When in the market to buy a car, truck or SUV, a GMAC auto loan offers great financing deals and enables a flexible way to pay your car in affordable monthly terms. GMAC (General Motors Acceptance Corporation) was founded in 1919 to facilitate the automotive financing needs of the clients and dealers of General Motors. GMAC has since expanded its operations to include mortgage, insurance and commercial finance with online banking services. It has become a complete solution for every financing need.
GMAC was approved as a bank holding company in December of 2008 by the Federal Reserve Board, which served as a turning point in the company's long, illustrious history. This further cemented GMAC's reputation as a solid financing company that offers flexible and affordable financing deals on whatever make or model of vehicle you choose.
CarsDirect Financing
If you are looking for a car loan, try applying with CarsDirect. The company works with a network of dealers who specialize in car loan financing. The dealer has access to a number of financial institutions and will shop around to find you the best deal. Just fill out a simple application and you will be on your way to receiving a car loan.
GMAC auto loans are car loans that customers take out directly from GMAC. GMAC is a company that takes care of financing General Motors vehicles for public customers and also provides insurance and other products.
Until recently, GMAC was a "captive finance company," which meant that it was owned by General Motors. Large car companies often set up these subsidiary firms to handle financing, making it more convenient for customers to purchase new cars or late-model pre-owned vehicles. However, the GMAC website informs readers that a 2006 handoff puts GMAC in the hands of a new set of corporate investors.
For new car loans as well as some pre-owned options, GMAC offers customers "traditional" financing, where the customer gets ownership of the vehicle during the payment period. GMAC offers a variety of terms for financing and payment options including monthly statements and direct withdrawal, a new technology for handling payments on an automated basis.
A GMAC auto loan works for a range of customers, with many different kinds of credit history. One online tool at GMAC is the SmartApp, an online application process where a user enters items about the desired vehicle and their personal financial history. GMAC then evaluates the credit history of the applicant to select the best financing available for that customer.
Online readers can also get information about credit and how it affects vehicle financing. GMAC's SmartEdge Financial Center goes beyond the single auto loan to discuss greater issues in personal or household budgeting and administration, giving readers information that they can use to put an auto loan into a larger perspective. Users can browse details about automotive financing and leasing, as well as banking and insurance tutorials.
Other GMAC auto finance tools put users in touch with a more external community, with a media room where readers can get the latest on how GM is faring and what is going on with the company. GMAC's Community Relations page highlights how the company interacts with its regions of operation, and fact sheets detail the history of this long-time American enterprise.
In addition, GMAC offers auto insurance policies, roadside assistance and a range of other options to drivers. GMAC functions as a kind of "customer service" arm of General Motors, and a way for potential buyers to do the paperwork before an actual purchase of a GM vehicle. GMAC represents a kind of "branded" alternative to other auto loan lenders, such as banks and dealerships. Using GMAC for buying a new General Motors car or truck can provide a more "seamless" transition into ownership, due to the relationship that the financing company has with the auto maker.
The financing company known as GMAC, once a captive finance company for General Motors, is still a prominent lender for those looking for auto loans, and GMAC loans are a common part of the car financing landscape. GMAC also offers mortgage loans and a variety of other financial services, and many report positive results from using this company for an auto loan. The GMAC financing company has its own unique benefits for the borrower that continue to draw consumers who want to secure decent auto loans that will not negatively affect them in the long run.
Borrowers can find all of this and more at the GMAC Financial Services website where the company reaches out to a wide variety of borrowers online. Browse options for auto loans and apply with GMAC's SmartApp loan application form to see if you qualify for a loan from this established lender.
With the recent bankruptcy filing of General Motors, many individuals who have GMAC loans are finding themselves anxiously awaiting any potentially negative news about their home or auto loans. However, in many cases a GMAC loan is no different from any other loan, provided the lender is stable and well funded.
Originally, GMAC was a division of General Motors and they largely provided loans to individuals who were purchasing a new car from a General Motors dealership. In many cases, people who were buying a new car felt safe and secure in going directly through the dealership to arrange financing for their new car.
However, in 2006, GMAC was sold to an outside finance interest and was no longer part of General Motors. Part of the reasoning behind this move on the part of General Motors was the that finance arm of their organization had branched out to lending other than the auto industry. Also, corporate leaders were attempting to focus attention back on the automotive industry and serving their customers rather than becoming mired in what was to become the housing credit crisis.
In late 2008, GMAC was given approval to become a bank holding company and became part of Ally Bank, making them eligible for government help in the form of TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) funds. This government assistance allowed GMAC to improve its consumer deposits to a stable and secure level.
One of the large criticisms in the past has been GMAC's willingness to provide auto loans to consumers at very low or no interest loan rates. With the recent government bailout of General Motors, many financial analysts and economists have been alarmed to see new advertisements that have returned to these loan interest rates. In many ways, it has seemed that General Motors has been making a desperate attempt to draw buyers back into the showrooms in order to stimulate sales.
However, even though these advertised rates have been through General Motors dealerships, the financing is through GMAC, which is not owned by General Motors. In large part, risky loans are being taken on by GMAC and not by General Motors.
Risks and Dangers
For the consumer, the largest danger to a GMAC loan is the instability of the GMAC finance company. This issue was addressed in December 2008, when GMAC was allowed to become a bank holding company.
Currently, many consumers have concerns that stem from the news that General Motors filed for bankruptcy. However, these activities have little to do with GMAC loans and the terms of the bankruptcy stand to minimize any exposure that might occur to GMAC from its former connection with General Motors.
Until 2006, GMAC was the finance arm of General Motors. GMAC not only provided loans for car purchases, but also for the purchase of homes. With the removal of General Motors as the parent company of GMAC, GM limited its liability for loans extended by GMAC. In late 2008, GMAC was granted permission to become a bank holding company and joined with Ally Bank, making it eligible for stabilizing TARP funds.
One of the most flexible ways of obtaining a new car is with GMAC loans. These GMAC loans have several different options available to new car buyers that make the purchase of a new car hassle free.
A GMAC loan offers both a traditional auto loan option, as well as a convenient car leasing option. Through several programs like the SmartBuy program, the SmartLease program and flexible payment options, GMAC loans are very popular with consumers.
As the website points out, car buyers looking for financing often visit the dealership first. A dealership representative can take credit information and relay it to companies like GMAC. But now, buyers can detour around that process and simply go on to the website to use GMAC Web tools to apply for financing.
The first up for those researching requirements is to check out the GMAC SmartApp tool. Users enter the make and model of the vehicle, and then provide personal financial data that the company will use to determine credit eligibility.
As the GMAC website points out, car financing is a negotiation process, and a buyer should be thinking about what APR or annual percentage rate he or she is comfortable with paying, so that when the credit application comes back, the potential buyer and the lender are closer to a deal.
Those looking at GMAC loan requirements can also get some clues from other financial tools accessible from the same webpage, such as credit and budgeting options. An affordability calculator helps a user figure out how an auto loan would fit into a household income. With detailed lines for every expense, this kind of tool can be very useful for anticipating the financial impact of any GMAC loan.
As shown in the loan application, the company also wants to know which General Motors vehicle the buyer is looking to finance. When shopping on a dealer's lot, the potential buyer can take down year, make, and model of the vehicle to use later in a loan application process.
Generally, a potential buyer will find out more when they receive the results of their SmartApp loan application. At this point, consumers will have a series of options for finding other lenders or negotiating better interest rates. These include finding a cosigner for a loan, lowering the loan amount by amassing a down payment, or shopping around for lenders who will not be deterred by a lack of credit or a black mark on a credit record. However, for those with decent credit, GMAC loans can be a great way to utilize the knowledge that this lender has about General Motors as a company and about all of the vehicles that run off of its production lines.
The company known as GMAC Financial Services, the company that issues GMAC loans, was originally a captive finance company of General Motors. Its purpose was, and still is, to assist customers in purchasing General Motors' vehicles. The company is no longer owned by General Motors, but it still fulfills a similar role as it has done since the 1920s, offering financing options on General Motors cars and trucks.
Some borrowers may be wondering what kind of credit it takes to be eligible for a GMAC auto loan. Although the GMAC website includes many different information sources and handy tools for applying for vehicle financing options, there is frustratingly little information about what kind of credit scores are required to be eligible for a vehicle loan. However, determined web users can follow a few simple steps to find out where they stand with GMAC when seeking a loan for a new or used General Motors vehicle.
Borrowers looking to find GMAC loans from the GMAC company, the financing company used by General Motors to arrange deals for its customers, will need to involve themselves in some basic research to figure out if a GMAC loan is right for them.
There are several ways in which to compare loan interest rates and terms.
If you are potentially interested in a loan from GMAC financial services for an auto or home purchase, it is a good idea to comparison shop before committing to any loan. The easiest place to start is to apply at GMAC online and gather information about the interest rates and loan terms that might be offered to you. The next step is to talk to a loan broker or apply to an online loan warehouse website to find out about other loan offers.
The finance company known as GMAC uses easy online tools, a variety of customer program options and a special connection to General Motors to help customers get behind the wheel of new or slightly used GM cars and trucks with GMAC loans. GMAC is often called a "captive finance company" because, up until recently, it was owned by General Motors. A captive finance company generally provides financing and other options for the vehicles that come from a specific auto maker.
Drivers who have their eyes on a GM car or truck should think about the various options available from GMAC to decide if they would like to make the commitment to own, lease a vehicle for a period of time or consider a more complex Smart Buy option.
Several Financing Terms
GMAC loans can be tailored to fit the consumer's financial and payment capabilities. This is determined through the application, and the credit history of the individual. Your credit history, and the value of the car, will have a large part to play in the terms. However, the adjustable payment terms will help you to pay the loan easily without getting into more credit trouble.
Three Payment Options
Paying your GMAC loan is also made easy by their attention to the consumer's needs. You have three options to choose from when paying your loan. You can have a direct payment made each month through your checking or savings account. This is very convenient as you are assured not to miss a payment. However, you must also make sure there is enough in your account to pay the payment.
You can also have a coupon book sent to you. This will include payment stubs for you to use when mailing in your payment each month. A monthly statement can also be mailed to you twenty days before the payment is due.
GMAC loans offers both SmartLease and SmartBuy options to well-qualified buyers who are considering taking a loan to purchase a new General Motors vehicle. Both programs offer lower monthly payment options than a traditional finance contract but differ in their methodologies that help you get such a low payment.
SmartLease. A GMAC SmartLease is a fixed-term, closed-ended lease. This means that after a set term (number of payments) over which you have paid rental and finance charges, you must return the vehicle or pay the buyout amount (the residual value). As a closed-ended lease, you will owe nothing more than the disposition fee to GMAC. You are not responsible for the difference between the residual value and the cash value of the vehicle as sold at auction. This is opposed to an open-ended lease, which GMAC does not use, in which you must pay any difference between the residual value and the selling price at auction (assuming the vehicle is auctioned for less than the residual). In a SmartLease, you are essentially renting the vehicle for a long, fixed term.
SmartLease contracts range from 24 months to 60 months in length, but 24 to 39 month leases offer the best value for your dollar in most cases. However, as you are renting the vehicle, you must also keep the vehicle in good physical and mechanical shape. Any damage, physical or mechanical, will be inspected by a private, third-party inspector. Dents and scratches larger than the size of a credit card may be billed on a final statement from GMAC several weeks after the lease is returned.
SmartBuy. A GMAC SmartBuy is similar to a lease, but you are not renting the vehicle. You have the benefits of ownership with lower monthly payments and a greater selection of lease-end options when compared to the SmartLease. In a SmartBuy, you pay monthly payments with a balloon payment due at the end of a fixed term. Rather than pay the balloon payment at the end a SmartBuy, you may choose to return the vehicle and pay a disposal fee (similar to the end of a lease). You may also choose to pay or refinance the balloon amount and keep your vehicle. A third option is to sell the vehicle to a new owner and keep any profit beyond the balloon payment amount for which you are responsible. Of course, choosing the third option may cost you money if the vehicle is sold for less than the balloon amount, but this is still a good option if the difference is lower than your SmartBuy disposal fee.
Both options are good for individuals who want to drive a new GM product every few years. Both options allow you to stay within your warranty period and keep a vehicle that is in like-new condition. A SmartLease offers the least hassles for those who prefer a new car frequently, but a SmartBuy can be more practical for owners who may want to keep their vehicles beyond the term of a lease. In either case, GMAC offers competitive rates and repayment options for lessees and purchasers. Your local dealer's Internet department or a service like CarsDirect can provide accurate quotes for both SmartLease and SmartBuy options, all with no obligation to purchase.
7 Advantages of SmartLease with GMAC Loans
Vehicle leasing, and the GMAC SmartLease in particular, may not be for everybody, but there are more than a few good reasons to go with a lease option from this captive financing company for getting behind the wheel of a new General Motors car or truck--customers can choose from GMAC loans or GMAC leasing options to get the best solutions for their budgets.
Make use of the above benefits for getting a great lease on a GM vehicle from this popular financing and leasing lender.
GMAC is a company that is dedicated to helping customers get into General Motors cars and trucks, and GMAC loans are only for GM vehicles. GMAC provides financing, leasing options, insurance and much more for drivers. The company also offers various payment options. One of these is GMAC DirectPay, where payments can be automatically deducted from a driver's checking account. Anyone with an active checking account can take advantage of this easy and convenient payment option for limiting incoming paper mail, practicing good conservation of material resources and making car loan or leasing payment hassle free.
For those who are thinking about financing or leasing a new or used General Motors vehicle, GMAC can be the perfect way to "link up" with the automaker. Local dealerships provide the physical location for picking up vehicles, and GMAC provides the rest: a comprehensive financial handling site for communicating all of the ins and outs of a vehicle purchase or lease situation.
