Purchasing a new car can be very daunting. It’s seen as a milestone in the purchasing life of any individual right next to the mortgage for a new house/apartment. It’s a commitment, that’s for sure. When you decide to go out and buy a car, you know it’s going to be a while before it’s fully paid off. In an effort to help out car buyers, Cars.com is looking to educate on car loans and how long should they be?

There’s a good piece of advice for buyers from the start, are you ready to buy? It’s a simple question and one that feels like it’s not asked enough before making such decisions. It’s important to know that you’re prepared from a savings point, that you are ready to make a financial sacrifice to maintain a healthy life-style and still manage to make car payments on time.

Now that we’ve determined that you are indeed ready for that car you’ve so wanted from the lot, now is the question of how long do you plan on having that car? The reasoning behind this question is to best determine the length that you should get on your loan. If you answered that you plan on replacing the vehicle, a shorter loan is the right one to look for. The resale value of a car falls quickly, meaning that what you owe can end up being more than the car is worth by the time you get to selling it or trading it in.

Having a shorter loan can loan can also help you pay less on your car. A shorter term loan both pays off the car faster and keeps the interest costs down. The problem that many may have from getting that short-term loan is that the monthly payments will be more expensive. While that might seem obvious to some, many also don’t think about how the interest rate may impact the overall price on a longer term loan. You may end up paying less monthly with the long-term loan but the interest rate is higher on those loans, meaning that the car may be more expensive in the long run.

Long-term loans work the best for people who have the income now, but are not certain of where they will be financially in the future. It’s recommend for people that fall into this category seek out getting the longest possible loan with the lowest rate. If you do this, you can pay of f the loan aggressively and should the worst happen with things like losing a job, you will still have leeway to work with.

It’s a tough choice, to pay more now to pay less later, or to deal with more interest but less payments. There’s pros and cons to either side and only you know your finances well enough to choose between. Still, it’s good to think ahead about these things when going into the dealership so you have knowledge of just what kind of loan would best suit you.

Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge would like to help you get that car loan you’re wanting. Contact us and see what we can do to help you get that short-term or long-term loan. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter of more information on the dealership and on car news!