Buying an automobile isn’t cheap. With the average new car payment being over $700, many buyers look for ways to cut costs. However, it is possible to avoid the loan completely. You can pay cash for cars and walk out of the dealership with no payments. These are the steps to follow to buy a car with cash.
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Cars Are Getting More Expensive
If you’ve looked for a new-to-you set of wheels recently, you know how expensive cars are. The average new car costs over $48,000 in 2023. A used car averages over $26,000.
Either is a large sum of money. If you finance it, you could be on the hook for a large monthly payment. With prudent shopping and being flush with cash, you can mitigate your costs.
There’s No Need to Finance a Car For Nearly a Decade
The average car loan length is now over 72 months or six years. It’s possible to finance a car for 84 or 96 months. While that does allow you to reduce your total monthly payment amount, it dramatically increases the amount of interest you pay.
Buying a car with cash avoids all of that. Even if you’re not able to buy outright, following some of the same principles will dramatically decrease the amount of interest you will pay over the life of the loan.
It Is Possible to Pay Cash For a Car
Not every automobile costs $30,000 or more. Perhaps you can find a reliable car under $10,000, or maybe you hate having monthly payments.
It’s possible to pay cash for cars with commitment. Here’s how.
Determine the Car You Want
The first step to any car purchase is figuring out what you want. This is even more important when buying with cash. Research the reliability of the cars you’re considering.
Use sites like Edmunds.com and Kelley Blue Book to assess pricing. Narrow down the makes and models that fit your desired reliability and features. This will help you determine the cash goal you need to achieve.
Start Saving Your Money
Saving your cash is the obvious next step if you have not started doing so already. Determine what you need and actively start saving the necessary cash.
You also want to earn as much interest as possible on your savings. An online bank such as CIT Bank is typically best. You earn a competitive rate and have the same FDIC coverage as your local bank.
Negotiate Effectively
Negotiation is a major part of any auto purchase. Once you have the cash you need and have identified a car, determine a fair price to offer.
Don’t tell the salesperson you’re planning to pay in cash. Simply inform them you’ll discuss financing with the finance department if you agree to a price. Once you agree to a price, tell the financing department your plan.
Get a Reliable Car
Buying used is the best way to save when getting a new to you car. Getting a reliable set of wheels is essential. You don’t want to sink thousands of dollars into the car only to need to spend more on costly repairs.
Most reputable dealers will let you take your car to a trusted mechanic. You will need to pay the mechanic for their time, but the minimal cost is well worth it.
Making the Payment
When you buy a car with cash, it’s typically best to pay with a cashier’s check. Ask the financing department for the final amount and go to your bank to purchase a cashier’s check for that amount.
You can try to use your rewards credit card with the dealer to earn points. However, most dealers limit you to $3,000 on a credit card.
What to Watch Out For
A common ploy by many financing departments is to tell you that they need to run your credit when you buy in cash. That’s a lie. It’s their attempt to market financing to you. They may even tell you that they have to because of the Patriot Act.
If the car is over $10,000, they will have paperwork for you to complete. That’s required by the government to ensure you’re not on the terrorist watch list. However, no credit check is necessary.
Advantages Of Paying Cash For a Car
Paying cash for a car has numerous benefits. It lets you avoid interest and fights depreciation. Additionally, it ensures monthly payments won’t erode your income.
In most cases, it also means you’re spending less money overall. Those are all good things.
Why You Shouldn’t Pay Cash For Your Car
Despite eliminating monthly payments, it’s not all roses if you buy your car with cash. It’s possible your options will be reduced since you may be working with a limited budget.
Furthermore, you may not be able to receive dealer incentives typically available when you finance. Additionally, if you want to build your credit not having payments could hinder those efforts.
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I’m John Schmoll, a former stockbroker, MBA-grad, published finance writer, and founder of Frugal Rules.
As a veteran of the financial services industry, I’ve worked as a mutual fund administrator, banker, and stockbroker and was Series 7 and 63-licensed, but I left all that behind in 2012 to help people learn how to manage their money.
My goal is to help you gain the knowledge you need to become financially independent with personally-tested financial tools and money-saving solutions.
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