Should I tell a dealer my down payment?

You should not tell a car salesman you have a down payment until you've agreed on the purchase price of the vehicle you want to buy.
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What should you not tell a dealer?

10 Things You Should Never Say to a Car Salesman
  • “I really love this car” ...
  • “I don't know that much about cars” ...
  • “My trade-in is outside” ...
  • “I don't want to get taken to the cleaners” ...
  • “My credit isn't that good” ...
  • “I'm paying cash” ...
  • “I need to buy a car today” ...
  • “I need a monthly payment under $350”
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Do dealers like more money down?

“It's actually a split, but in most cases, dealers will gladly take your money. Without getting into the jargon behind it, the time value of money states that money in hand now is worth more than in the future due to inflation. Therefore, a big down payment will usually cause a salesman's eyes to light up.
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Should I tell dealer I already have financing?

Getting a Car Loan Pre-Approval

With a pre-approval, you can go to a dealership and shop like a cash buyer. If you don't tell the dealer immediately that you have auto financing, more than likely, they inform you of all the lenders they're signed up with through their finance and insurance (F&I) department.
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Should I tell a dealer what I want my monthly payment?

“Don't tell the dealer what you're willing to pay per month. This is the biggest mistake a shopper can make. Often the dealer will focus on a monthly payment scheme, insisting you are receiving a great deal, but at the end of the day you won't really know what you paid, advises Gentile.
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Is money down on a car deal a SCAM? How dealers turn your cash into PROFIT!



Is $500 a month a high car payment?

The average new car payment in America has crept above the $500 per month mark for the fist time, settling in at $503, according to a recent study by Experian. And if that weren't bad enough, the average length of a car loan now stands at 68 months.
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Can you negotiate a down payment on a car?

If you're financing through the dealer, there's a chance you can negotiate a lower price for the car because their profit will come from the whole deal, including the interest rate on the loan. It's a balancing act, but many buyers prefer to keep it simple, even if it means a higher transaction price.
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Should I tell the dealer I'm paying cash?

NEVER tell them you're paying cash!

If they keep hounding you, tell them you're interested in financing but that you want to agree on the price of the car first. If you tell them you're paying cash, they will automatically calculate a lower profit and thus will be less likely to negotiate a lower price for you.
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What credit score do you need for 0 financing on a car?

And if you're hoping to score a 0% APR car loan, you'll likely need a very good or exceptional FICO® Score , which means a score of 740 or above. Before you start shopping for a new vehicle, take some time to check your credit score to see where you stand.
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Can you be denied a car loan after pre-approval?

While the answer to “can you be denied a car loan after pre-approval?” is, “yes, but rarely,” when it does occur it's often based on a delineated time frame. The fine print likely stipulates that the lender actually has 30 days to decide whether or not to approve the loan.
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How much should you put down on a $12000 car?

“A typical down payment is usually between 10% and 20% of the total price. On a $12,000 car loan, that would be between $1,200 and $2,400. When it comes to the down payment, the more you put down, the better off you will be in the long run because this reduces the amount you will pay for the car in the end.
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How much should I put down on a 35k car?

As a general rule, you should pay 20 percent of the price of the vehicle as a down payment. That's because vehicles lose value, or depreciate, rapidly. If you make a small down payment or no down payment, you can end up owing more on your auto loan than your car or SUV is worth.
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What is a good down payment on a 30k car?

A good rule of thumb for a down payment on a new car loan is 20% of the purchase price. A down payment of 20% or more is a way to avoid being “upside down” on your car loan (owing more on the car than it's worth).
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What questions should you not answer when buying a car?

5 Things Not to Say When You're Buying a Car
  • 'I love this car! '
  • 'I've got to have a monthly payment of $350. '
  • 'My lease is up next week. '
  • 'I want $10,000 for my trade-in, and I won't take a penny less. '
  • 'I've been looking all over for this color. '
  • Information is power.
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How do you beat a car salesman at his own game?

10 Negotiating Tips to Beat Salesmen at Their Own Game
  1. Learn dealer buzzwords. ...
  2. This year's car at last year's price. ...
  3. Working trade-ins and rebates. ...
  4. Avoid bogus fees. ...
  5. Use precise figures. ...
  6. Keep salesmen in the dark on financing. ...
  7. Use home-field advantage. ...
  8. The monthly payment trap.
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What is a good APR for a car?

As of January 2020, U.S. News reports the following statistics for average auto loan rates: Excellent (750 - 850): 4.93 percent for new, 5.18 percent for used, 4.36 percent for refinancing. Good (700 - 749): 5.06 percent for new, 5.31 percent for used, 5.06 percent for refinancing.
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Is 0.9 APR good for a car?

YOU NEED TO QUALIFY FOR LOW RATES

Dealers get you in the door by advertising incredibly low interest rates for vehicle financing, say a 0.9 annual percentage rate (APR). That's a really good rate for a loan, but they aren't giving that rate to everyone.
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Is a 1.9 interest rate good?

While there may be lower interest rates available, 1.9% can be a good deal under some circumstances. In terms of cost, an interest rate of 1.9% APR may not add much to your overall car purchase. On a $30,000 SUV, we estimate that a 5-year loan at 1.9% APR would equate to $1,471 in money spent on interest alone.
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Can I get a better deal on a car if I pay cash?

When you finance a new vehicle, you'll immediately be upside down on the value of the car, meaning you'll owe more than it's worth. It's possible that you may be eligible for a discount if you pay with cash. Many dealerships appreciate having all their money upfront and not having to deal with monthly payments.
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Can a car dealer asking for more money after purchase?

NO, they do not. On its face it sounds like fraud. Short of hiring a lawyer, tho you may need to, speak with the Md State Police, who license car dealers, and the Consumer Protection Div of the Md Attorney...
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Why do car dealers want you to finance through them?

“Car dealerships want you to finance through them for two main reasons: They can make money off the interest of a car loan you get through them. They may get a bit of a kickback if they're the middleman between you and another lender (commission).
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What are the 4 steps to negotiating the best price on a car?

To negotiate the best deal, follow these four steps.
  1. Figure out exactly what you want to buy. Before walking into a dealership, you should know what type of car — and, ideally, the specific model — you want. ...
  2. Research prices online. ...
  3. Reach out to multiple dealerships. ...
  4. Don't play too hard to get.
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Is dealer financing negotiable?

Yes, just like the price of the vehicle, the interest rate is negotiable. The first rate for the loan the dealer offers you may not be the lowest rate you qualify for. With dealer-arranged financing, the dealer collects information from you and forwards that information to one or more prospective auto lenders.
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Why do car dealers focus on monthly payment?

“They do that because cars are getting more expensive, so in order to keep the monthly payments looking affordable, they're stretching the term out,” he says. Dealerships love to focus on the monthly payment and distract you from what you're really paying for the car.
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