Even if it is just chemicals outgassing, there’s nothing like that new car smell. It says you’re smart, responsible and successful. In fact, the only thing better than the new car smell is the pride you’ll feel as you take your new wheels for a spin.

It’s certainly no secret that driving a stylish new car is fun and exciting. New cars carry warranties that protect you from unnecessary maintenance and repair bills for extended periods of time, so they can be great investments. The secret is in buying a brand new car, truck, van or SUV without deflating your budget. For many smart shoppers, the right car loans turn their new car dreams into realities.

Direct Auto Financing

One of the biggest money-saving actions you can take in purchasing your new vehicle is with financing through an independent car lender. This borrowing plan is referred to as "direct financing" or "direct loans."

Direct financing is any kind of financing action, set up by you, without the help of the car dealer. There are considerable savings and minimal risks involved in direct loans, making them the best option for many new car buyers. When you walk into a dealership with a guarantee new car loan in hand, you’ve got automatic bargaining power. You’re able to have an upper hand in negotiations, and you can stand equally to your dealer. In the end, this increase flexibility keeps you from falling into the common trap of dealership price fixing and additional financing costs.

Shopping Strategies

The first strategy in shopping for new car loans is securing independent financing. With that in mind, allow yourself further flexibility by applying for a loan limit of at least a little over what you expect to pay. This gives you extra room for flexibility at closing time, without having to worry about the loan limit. Of course, you’re under no obligation to use your entire loan limit. Arranging for automatic payments is another way to lower your rates. By having your car loan payments deducted electronically from your bank account, you can save more money over the duration of your loan.

Price Haggling

Car dealers are seasoned professionals who are trained to get every dime out of you.

For that reason, it’s no wonder that so many people part with a lot of money after "negotiating" with a car dealer. Unless you’re an experienced negotiator, or have an armor of thick skin, going through a new car purchase can be an agonizing experience. The best protection from slick sales types is to walk in to the dealership with your financing already in place. When you’re in this position, you’ll find car dealers haggling with each other to get your business. Talk to local car dealers, and make it clear to them that you’ve been shopping around. Let them understand that you won’t settle for anything less than the very best deal. This leaves the dealers working to get your business, while all you need to do is choose the best one.

Owning a new car can make you feel like a million bucks, without feeling like you’ve just spent a million bucks. Shop around for car loans and make smart financing decisions, and you’ll soon be cruising along and taking in that new car smell.

If you don’t have enough cash on hand to purchase the car straight out, you will need to consider your financing options. If you are a smart shopper you should figure out how you are going to finance the used car before you begin shopping. There are three main components that will come into play when you purchase a car. The first is the monthly payment, the second is the down payment and the third is the price of the car.

The monthly payment is going to be how much you can afford to pay each month. This will help the lender determine the life of the loan and when the payments will be due. Many lenders will require that you use the car to secure the loan. The car can be used as collateral and in the event that you default on the loan the lender will repossess the car to satisfy your debt. Monthly payments can also be lowered if you are able to make a down payment.

The down payment is how much cash you can afford to put down before financing the car. This will help to reduce your monthly payments as well. The better a down payment you are able to supply to the bank, the less amount of money you will have to finance through the lender.

The purchase price will be determined to the answer to the two previous questions. These numbers are important to have handy when you are negotiating over the price of a car. If you have these two figures in hand while discussing the price of the car, you will be able to remind yourself of what you can really afford to spend.

You have two options in financing a car. One is to finance the vehicle though your personal bank or credit union. This route is highly recommended, as you will be able to work with lenders that you are already familiar with. You will also be able to be eased in your mind, as your money is going to be sent to a reliable institution. Lower interest rates can also be found at reliable lenders. Using a bank or credit union also makes it easier to stick to your budgeted amount and allows you to find competitive interest rates.

Your other option is to finance through the dealer. This is an option for those individuals who find their credit rating less than good. Many dealers work with people with poor credit and will prearrange financing through an independent source.

When you are car shopping you will want to be sure that you leave yourself enough time to arrange the loan before purchasing the car. You want to be prepared to hand over the money in the event that you do find the used car of your dreams that you have been shopping for. You also do not want to be dependent on borrowing money from a dealer, as they often do not have the best financing and interest rates available, especially on their used cars.

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Sooner or later, everyone wants or needs to buy a vehicle; and unless you have a money tree in your backyard, you’re going to need to take out a loan.

Virtually every new car purchase requires financing from a bank or other financial institution. The only other choice is to pay cash, an option few of us have at our disposal. If you’re in the market for a new car you’ll need financing, and in order to make the right decisions you need to know about car loan calculations. If you fully understand how to make car loan calculations, you’ll be able to estimate the values involved in your purchase, as well as balance the expenses that come with buying a new car. Knowing this information is crucial to buying a car that’s within your budget.

Car loan calculations involve a number of factors. Consider the loan term, interest rate and loan principal and work them into your calculations. Only then will you know if the car you want is the car you’re able to afford.

Loan Term Basically, this is amount of time it will take to pay the loan in full. A shorter term will mean higher monthly payments, but the loan will be paid off faster. Longer terms involve more affordable monthly payments, but it will take more time to meet your obligation. The length of your loan term can also affect the interest rate, and can increase the amount you pay in interest overall.

Interest Rate No banks or finance companies will lend you money out of the goodness of their hearts. They make money from interest. The interest rate determines how much extra you will pay for the convenience of borrowing money. Interest rates will fluctuate based on the market, and lenders will try to get your business by offering a lower rate. Shopping around for a good rate can save you hundreds of dollars over the term of the loan.

Loan Principal This is the base amount of money you borrow, before any interest or financing fees are added on. The amount of your monthly payments, and the total amount of interest you pay, are based solely on the principal amount. Naturally, the monthly payments and overall interest will get higher as the principal increases. If you find that the monthly payment is beyond your means, then you should consider starting with a smaller loan principal. In some cases, the term "loan principal" can also be used when referring to your outstanding loan balance. At any given time during the term of your loan, you can check to see what your existing loan principal is.

If your loan is an amortization, you’ll find that your first few months of payments will only pay off the interest amount. You can pay $500 a month for 8 or 9 months, only to find that a fraction of that amount has been taken off of the principal. Over time, however, the payments will balance out and you’ll begin to see more money coming off of the principal. Eventually, the entire loan will be paid.

Buying a car always seems like a great idea, but the payments really can be quite overwhelming. Don’t put yourself in a situation where there’s more month than money. Car loan calculations are absolutely necessary to putting yourself in the driver’s seat, without putting yourself in the hole.

You’ve been bitten by the new car bug. Or perhaps you’re just so tired of your current car; you can hardly stand to drive it anymore.

You’re about to embark on the research phase of the car buying experience (which is the right course of action). But, before you even begin pointing, clicking, and eyeballing these shiny new toys; take a step back and determine just how much car you can afford to own and operate.

The conventional wisdom is not more than 20% of your monthly income… your net (take home) pay… not your gross pay. And by the way, while you’re doing your figuring on this 20% monthly cash outlay; make sure you include all the cars you own.

Regardless of whether you don’t even pay rent or own your home outright, stand firm on the 20% rule.

On your way to calculating your 20% budget, in addition to the purchase price, be sure to factor in any down payment and/or your trade-in value. The bottom line you’ll finance is the bottom line.

Of course, the more money you put down the more car you can buy and still be under the 20% rule. Keep in mind, the more money you put down doesn’t affect how much you actually pay and cars are severely depreciating assets… not investments.

Once you get close to determining your 20% number, you’ll need to know the going interest rates you’ll be paying on your borrowed money. And since we’ve now broached borrowing money and interest rates… you should also plan on getting a copy of your credit report while you’re at it.

Another important aspect to consider is the costs of ownership involved with the car. Things such as fuel, maintenance, and insurance premiums can run up some hefty numbers on you in addition to your monthly payment.

Maintenance and insurance costs are somewhat related, because insurance companies take into account the cost to repair a vehicle as part of their premium calculation. So, if you are looking at a car that is expensive or difficult to repair, you’re probably also looking at higher insurance premiums as well.

So, even though you should keep the 20% rule firmly in mind as your are crunching your numbers, don’t overlook all the other monthly expenses associated with the car you are considering.

Taking the time to get all of your financial and budget numbers in place before you seriously begin looking at your intended makes and models will serve as a good financial rudder for you during the car buying process and make for much wiser purchase.