Understanding APR and How it Affects Your Car Loan

Paying for a car could be as simple as coughing up the cash or taking out a loan. If you’re looking to go through with the latter, then you’re going to be affected by APR. There are a lot of nuances involved in calculating the APR, so buckle up! Below, we provide a brief rundown of the APR associated with a car loan.

Do You Even Need a Car Loan?

It’s a smart idea to save up for a few months to pay for a car in cash, but that is not always a possibility for people. Consumers wishing to purchase a new Ford for sale that’s in good condition can get a car immediately with the help of a loan.

Are you sure you want the car right now, or can you wait a few months? If you need a car to get around for school, work, or family transportation, then you probably need a car right away. Knowing about APR can help mitigate its effects on your bank account.

Defining APR

You can get a loan from a lender, such as a bank to purchase your car, but it’s not going to be free. The loan will have an extra fee, called interest, that will add to the total payback amount. The Annual Percentage Rate, or APR, is what determines the additional interest. The APR amount can fluctuate along with the market, so proper timing could be in your favor.

How Does APR Affect Your Loan?

APR is expressed as a percentage, meaning that the lender will charge you x amount of dollars per $100 borrowed. The higher the APR, the higher the interest you will pay throughout the life of the loan. The lower the APR, the lower the amount of interest you’ll end up paying in the end. A fixed APR will not change as you make payments, but a variable rate can rise or fall based on market conditions.

APR also affects your monthly payment amount using their own formulas to finalize a number for your loan. Here are a few factors that they can look at to generate an appropriate and fair APR for you:

• Your credit score and worthiness
• Your income-to-debt ratio
• Your intended down payment value
• The age and condition of the vehicle
• The duration of the loan

Each lender has their own APR formula, so check with different ones to get the best rate available.

APR is the Price You Pay for Taking Out a Loan

If you have the money to pay for a car upfront, then congratulations on obtaining your new automobile! Everyone else, however, will typically opt to take out a loan, which comes with an APR attached to it. It’s best to be aware of the APR so that you know how much your monthly payments will be and how much you will pay out to the lender over the life of the loan.