0% APR car deals: Are they worth it? Advertiser Disclosure Advertiser Disclosure We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our aim is to assist you make better financial decisions by offering financial calculators and interactive tools, publishing original and objective content. We also allow users to conduct studies and compare information for free to help you make informed financial decisions. Bankrate has agreements with issuers including, but not limited to American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. How We Make Money The deals that are advertised on this site are from companies that pay us. This compensation may impact how and when products are featured on this site, including such things as the sequence in which they be listed within the categories of listing in the event that they are not permitted by law for our mortgage or home equity products, as well as other home lending products. But this compensation does affect the information we publish, or the reviews appear on this website. We do not include the universe of companies or financial offers that may be accessible to you. @VeraNovember/Twenty20

6 min read The publication was published on March 02, 2023.

Michelle Black Written Michelle Black Written by Contributing writer Michelle Lambright Black is a credit expert with over 19 years of experience. She is an independent writer, and a certified credit expert witness. Alongside writing for Bankrate, Michelle’s work is featured with numerous publications including FICO, Experian, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report and Reader’s Digest, among others. Editor: Rhys Subitch Edited by Auto loans Editor Rhys has been editing and writing for Bankrate since late 2021. They are committed to helping readers gain confidence to take control of their finances through providing clear, well-researched information that breaks down complicated issues into digestible chunks. The Bankrate promise

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They ensure that what we write will ensure that our content is reliable, honest and reliable. We have loans reporters and editors are focused on the areas that consumers are concerned about the most — various kinds of loans available and the most competitive rates, the top lenders, how to pay off debt , and more — so you’re able to be confident about investing your money. Editorial integrity

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If you have questions about money. Bankrate can help. Our experts have been helping you master your finances for more than four decades. We strive to continuously provide our readers with the professional advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate adheres to strict standards policy, which means you can be confident that our content is truthful and reliable. Our award-winning editors and journalists create honest and accurate information to assist you in making the right financial decisions. The content we create by our editorial staff is factual, accurate and is not influenced from our advertising. We’re transparent regarding how we’re capable of bringing high-quality information, competitive rates and helpful tools to our customers by revealing how we earn money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated for the promotion of sponsored goods or services, or when you click on specific links that are posted on our website. So, this compensation can influence the manner, place and in what order products appear in listing categories, with the exception of those prohibited by law for our mortgage or home equity, and other products for home loans. Other elements, like our own website rules and whether a product is offered in the area you reside in or is within your self-selected credit score range could also affect the way and place products are listed on this site. Although we try to offer an array of offers, Bankrate does not include information about every credit or financial product or service. With the monthly average cost for new cars exceeding $700 and used around $525, according to data for the quarter ending in the last quarter of 2022., finding the best deal is on your mind. And signing off on a 0 percent APR vehicle deal is a great method to save money on your next car purchase. Numerous automakers offer no-interest auto loans to attract new, qualified customers and to sell more vehicles. When shopping for a new vehicle it is best to proceed with caution, even if a zero APR offer is on the table. In some cases, getting an automobile loan from an institution could work out better in the end. Are 0% APR deals worth it?

It is worth the cost if you can lower your monthly payment. But you need an excellent credit score to qualify. Keep both its cost-effectiveness and the eligibility of your car when taking a test drive.

What exactly is 0% interest? A 0 percent APR or simply means that you take out a loan at no cost. The monthly installments you pay back you the lender for the amount it paid to the dealer, but no money from your pocket goes to the bank account of your lender’s bank account. This differs from the typical approach, where the lender is charged to finance. Fees and interest, after all, are the principal ways lenders earn money. Here’s an example of the difference in monthly cost a 0 percent APR can bring compared to the more common APR. Average rate

0% APR

The amount to be financed

$27,564

$27,564

The term “loan”

60 months

60 months

APR

5.47%

0%

Monthly payment

$478

$418

Total cost

$28,704

$25,064

How does 0% APR work? The idea of financing a car with no interest sounds too appealing to be real. But these financing deals are a method that auto manufacturers can use to sell more vehicles. Lenders that offer 0 percent financing are known as captive finance firms and are connected to . Some examples of lenders that are captive include Ford Motor Credit, GM Financial, Nissan Finance, Toyota Financial Services and more. If Ford wants to sell more F-150s to address overstock issues, it might offer zero APR loans to select borrowers through its own financing arm. No-interest financing seems more reasonable on the surface however, that’s not always the situation. If car manufacturers offer 0 percent finance, they may attempt to compensate for “lost” earnings in different ways. For example, a dealership may push hard to sell you on the spot or with your vehicle. Also, you may have to forgo benefits like rebates, which normally bring down your purchase price. What are the criteria to be considered for a 0% APR car deal? Zero percent financing offers are typically reserved for those who have excellent credit ratings generally referred to as a credit score that is 800 or over. You’ll want to before you make any purchases for financing for your car. Each lender has its own definition of what constitutes excellent credit, and qualification requirements may differ from vehicle to vehicle. Since zero APR requirements for qualifying vary greatly the best option is to contact your local auto dealer prior to the time. Ask what criteria you need to satisfy to be eligible for interest-free financing on a specific vehicle. Apart from your credit score and your income, an auto lender might consider other factors when it reviews your application, such as: . Employment history. Verification of income and address. Whatever the condition of your credit score -good, bad fair or excellent — it is important to seek approval to from outside financing sources, too. A preapproval is a great way to compare your options and give you a backup plan if you’re not eligible to take advantage of the special offer from the automaker. Limits on interest-free financing might be a great offer for some borrowers. Still, there are a couple of potential issues to be aware of when you are contemplating this type of finance. Limited selection: Interest-free financing may only be available for certain kinds of vehicles. First, the vehicle you purchase will probably have to be . Auto manufacturers also tend to reserve special financing offers for vehicle models where there’s an excess of stock needs to be cleared. Repayment options are limited: Depending on the terms of the deal the repayment options for 0 percent financing may be more restricted. In most cases you’ll have a shorter time to pay off the loan as you would otherwise. There’s no reason to be wrong with paying back the loan fast however, you must ensure that you can afford the higher monthly payment without putting your budget in jeopardy. Zero percent financing vs. bonus cash . Automakers want you to purchase your next vehicle from their company, not a competitor. This is the primary reason the 0% financing offer exists in the first place. To attract new customers, auto manufacturers frequently offer buyers. Sadly, an auto manufacturer may not permit you to take advantage of both zero percent financing as well as bonus cash. If you’re facing this situation, you’ll need to determine which savings opportunity is . Bankrate tip

Using an will allow you to compare zero percent financing with bonus cash incentives. Sometimes, using the cash rebate that a dealership offers with the higher loan APR will result in greater savings overall. In other cases the financing with 0% interest rate could be the most effective option.

Do you need to cash out and refinance later? You might have to accept regular financing from Automaker’s own captive lender to qualify for certain cash incentives. In the exchange, there’s a possibility that you’ll get a better interest rate than you might get through your bank or outside lender. Based on your circumstances and needs, a new auto loan in the next few months might be an effective strategy. However, there are some disadvantages to consider first. For instance that having two loans back-to-back — the first one as well as the refinance it with — could harm your credit for a while. A number of loans could have at least two marks appearing on your credit reports. In addition, adding two loans added to credit report even though one of them pays on the other could reduce your average age for your accounts that appear on credit report. When it comes to credit score the greater the average account is, the better. The most important lesson

Cash incentives may reduce the amount you need to credit, however refinancing it afterward may result in your credit score to suffer a temporary drop.

If an offer with 0% APR not worth it? It may be beneficial to skip special financing deals from manufacturers in the following circumstances. The terms of repayment don’t match your budget. Low-interest auto loans usually have shorter terms for financing. In the case of your income, a could make your monthly payment not affordable. For example, if the 0 percent car loan lasts for four years, while you typically credit for five years in the future, then that cost could be significant. Average rate

APR 0%

Amount to be financed

$25,000

$25,000

A loan term

5 years

4 years

APR

4%

0%

Monthly payment

$460

$520

As you can see, for an automobile with a $25,000 loan through manufacturers for four years, the monthly payment will be around $520. A $25,000 car loan with a five-year repayment at a 4 percent interest rate requires the monthly payment to be $460. You can utilize the auto loan calculator to perform the maths for your possible loan. Financial experts often recommend keeping your monthly vehicle cost to 20% or less of your take-home income per month. Experts suggest you at 10 percent of your gross income. It’s tempting to buy an expensive car. You shouldn’t raise your budget for autos just to be eligible for a special financing. If you’re looking to buy a car for $10,000 in cash an automobile, then taking out a new auto loan with a $30,000 tag just to take advantage of financing with no interest is probably not an appropriate financial decision. Cash rebates provide additional savings. Cash-back incentives typically do not apply to customers who take advantage of the manufacturer’s financing. If you look at the numbers and you find that cash rebates can provide you with a greater chance to save money, a zero percent financing deal wouldn’t be worth it. Imagine that you could take advantage of a $4,750 cash-back offer on a brand new car purchase. If you buy a brand new car with the price of $30,000, that incentive could bring the cost of purchase to $25,250. If you financed $25,250 at the rate of 4 percent for five years, you’d have to pay $2,651 in interest. In this case the total cost is $27,901 provided you don’t add additional items such as extended warranties or incur any other financing fees. Alternatively, you could pay the entire $30,000 price and opt for a 0 percent APR. Assuming no add-on items or charges, you’d still pay $2,099 more in this case than what you’d pay by taking the cash rebate. Do’s and Don’ts of APR-free deals If you’ve analyzed the options available and determine an auto loan is the best option for you, these do’s and don’ts may assist you with the process. Be aware of these rules.

Don’t

the purchase price before you apply for the APR offer. APR offer.

Accept an unrestricted loan with a large monthly installment that you are unable to pay for.

Get pre-approved for an auto loan prior to visiting the dealer.

Opt for a long-term loan to lower your monthly payment even if it costs you more in the long run.

Confirm that you can afford the monthly payment.

You can choose a zero percent financing option over a cash-back incentive without comparing the possible savings.

Check if the manufacturer has an incentive program for cash back that you can combine with the financing special offer.

Do not make the down payment If you are able to afford it.

The bottom line The key to deciding if a 0 percent APR deal on a car is worth it for you is to evaluate it against the cost of an automobile loan from an outside lender and figure out your real monthly costs. Depending on your circumstance it may not actually save you money. There are some instances where special financing may not be as effective as it appears and obtaining it usually requires excellent credit. Make sure you are current on your credit and that you don’t have to pay interest if it will cost you more in total.

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Written by the contributing Writer Michelle Lambright Black is a credit expert with more than 19 years experience. She is a freelance writer and a certified credit expert witness. Alongside writing for Bankrate, Michelle’s work is published in numerous publications, including FICO, Experian, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report and Reader’s Digest, among others. Written by Rhys Subitch Edited by Auto loans editor Rhys has been editing and writing for Bankrate since late 2021. They are committed to helping readers to take control of their finances through providing precise, well-studied information that breaks down otherwise complex topics into digestible chunks.

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