What Are the Different Types of Auto Loans?

Posted Monday, Feb 27, 2023

A good vehicle is necessary, but the money to make a lump sum payment. This is where auto loans come in. These loans help people buy cars that fulfill their needs while helping them stick to a strict payment schedule.

Let’s explore the common types of auto loans.

Types of auto loans - royal auto dealer

Secured Auto Loan

As the name implies, these loans are secured by a lien, and the title cannot be transferred without paying off the lien. The lender can repossess your automobile if you fail to make timely payments.

Traditional Auto Loans

Some car manufacturers work with captive financing companies like Honda Financial Services and Ford Credit, and they offer incentives on brand-new and certified used cars.

Balloon Loans

These secured loans are rather strange. They have lower monthly payments initially, but the numbers climb at the end of the loan term.
On the bright side, buyers can make payments at the end or trade their existing vehicle for another.

Business and Fleet Loans

A business buys cars and trucks with commercial-level financing, as these vehicles aren’t eligible for traditional loans. Some common business and fleet loans are small business auto loans, commercial truck financing, and commercial fleet financing

Unsecured Auto Loans

Credit cards, personal loans, and personal lines of credit are different types of unsecured loans. They aren’t linked to any asset that the lender could repossess. Because these loans have restrictions, you can use them to purchase cars that don’t fall within the traditional mold. You can also this loan if you purchase a cheaper vehicle than any vehicle that qualifies for a traditional loan.

You can also use an unsecured loan if you are purchasing a collector’s car that isn’t eligible to be used as collateral. It is also worth noting that The Bank of America doesn’t finance vehicles older than 10 model’s years and cars with 125,000 miles on their odometers.

Simple Interest Loans

In simple interest loans, the monthly payment is calculated according to the interest rate. Today, this is the most common type of auto loan. Each month, your payment first goes into interest, and the remainder is used to pay the principal.

As a result, the dominant percentage of your monthly payments goes into interest. Hence, you will pay only the principal by the end of your term. A simple interest loan also allows you to make bigger payments in advance to pay off the loan as early as possible.

Precomputed Interest

In these loans, the interest rate, origination charges, and balance are decided at the beginning and divided across the loan term. With these loans, borrowers must make fixed monthly payments and a fixed interest rate throughout their loan term.

If the borrower incurs late payment fees, the payment for covering the principal goes into paying the late payment fees, thus reducing the principal. In these loans, the monthly payments are lower than the regular simple-interest loans, but you don’t get an incentive for paying off the amount in advance.

Direct VS Indirect Financing

Direct financing is when the entire conversation happens between the buyer and the seller, without any  You can find direct financing at banks, credit unions, and online lending establishments. The credit score depends on your payment history and your credit score.

Indirect financing is when the dealer’s financial staff shares your information with the lenders you normally go to. It will also hand over your information to its captive financing company.

However, the dealer may increase your APR. Moreover, some dishonest dealers don’t share the best offer for your budget.

Prequalification VS Preapproval

Prequalification is easy and quick, based on your monthly income and the debt you already have.

⦁ The lender will also look at your credit score to see if you will qualify for the loan you have applied for.
⦁ Banks usually do a soft pull-on credit for prequalification. However, it doesn’t affect the borrower’s credit score.
is like a confirmation from the lender that they will provide the amount you need.
⦁ The lender checks your credit score and verifies your debt and income level.
⦁ However, this isn’t a guarantee that you will get the loan. However, it does give you and the seller confidence that you will the amount you need.
⦁ The preapproval depends upon the interest rate, the loan term, and the loan amount. As a result, you see what you will pay every month

Buy-Here-Pay-Here Loans

This people with poor credit scores. in reality, it can be financially damaging for the borrower.

In these loans, the interest rates are higher, and the car is also lower in quality. Moreover, in buy-here-pay-here loans, the risk of repossession is usually higher.

Because these lenders don’t have competitive market rates, they have predatory practices.

Final Word

make your payments on time and work hard to improve your credit score to apply for a decent auto loan.