Besides saving what could amount to many many hundreds of dollars…which can translate into thousands over the life of your car loan, you will also save yourself tons of time and aggravation by doing the following BEFORE going to the car dealer…

• Get your credit report and take it with you to the car dealer…IF…you are considering having them handle the financing. This way you will know upfront what your credit report is like, and if its good, then you will know they are lying if they try hitting you with the bogus “your credit sucks” line. Having your own credit report also keeps you from having needless credit checks with too many inquiries – which can effect your credit for awhile.

• Get pre-approved for a car loan BEFORE you start looking for a car with your own bank or credit union.

• Unless you have a great relationship with your bank or credit union, often the fastest and easiest way to get a car loan is to apply online.

Once approved for your car loan, the lender will tell you exactly how much they will lend you and will often give you a check. This way you won’t find yourself getting caught up in the bad credit scam after making an offer (and perhaps leaving a non-refundable deposit) on a car trying to get a loan for an amount that won’t work for you.