How Are Car Loan Rates in San Leandro, CA Calculated?
A handful of factors affect your California auto loan interest rate, including your credit score, the amount of the loan, your income, the down payment, the age of the car, and your loan's term (the length of the loan). A high debt-to-income ratio, poor credit score, or choosing an older vehicle at your San Leandro dealership could result in a higher interest rate. But what's so bad about a high interest rate? The higher your interest rate, the more you pay each month and the more you spend over the term of your loan. Even a rate one or two percent higher could mean spending hundreds more on interest.
How Do I Lower My Auto Loan Rate in San Leandro, CA?
You can use tools like our Interest Rate Estimator to get a feel for what your rate could be before you complete an application for a car loan in San Leandro, CA. If you've supplied your information and are unhappy with the percentage you see, how can you lower?
The loan term is one aspect you can change on your own. Most San Leandro car loans have terms in 12-month increments between 24 months (2 years) and 84 months (7 years). Longer terms will tempt many borrowers because they usually have a lower monthly payment. However, longer terms also tend to come with higher interest rates. If you can afford a bigger monthly payment, choosing a shorter term is a good move. The Auto Payment Calculator estimates what your monthly payment could be based on different interest rates and terms to help you determine what you might be able to afford.
If your credit is far from great, boosting your score could lower your interest rate. Our Guide to Better Credit for Auto Financing can help you understand where your credit score comes from and how you can quickly bring it up. Your credit score may take some more time and work, but it's all worth it for getting those lower auto loan rates in California.
Putting effort into finding the right lender can also help you secure a lower rate. While lenders will use the same information, you'll likely receive a different interest rate from each one. It's important to shop around and compare offers to find the best car loan rate in San Leandro, CA — even without a high income or credit score. You shouldn't automatically choose the first offer you get because there might be a better one just around the corner. Plus, some lenders leave room for negotiation, so you can take an offer from one lender to the other to see if they can beat the interest rate.
See the Best Auto Loan Rates in San Leandro, CA with myAutoloan
myAutoloan is dedicated to helping you find the lowest car loan rates in San Leandro, CA no matter your credit score or the type of car you're buying. We'll show you up to four loans at once so you can find the perfect loan. Fill out our simple and secure online application, pick the loan that works best for you, and visit your San Leandro dealer to purchase a new car. Don't wait to apply and check today's lowest interest rates!