If you watch the TV news, you might think you can’t possibly get an auto loan or a lease, and you might get the impression that millions of U.S. consumers are defaulting on auto loans right and left. But if you take a look at the actual statistics (now why would TV reporters do that?!), you’ll find that the reality is certainly unhealthy but not catastrophic. 
Some buyers are in trouble and may default on their auto loans, but the vast majority are making their payments. At the same time, lenders are being more choosy about whom they lend money to, which means they are in a less risky position than they were last year. Read more . . .
Are you afraid you missed the boat on refinancing your auto loan, because interest rates are now on the rise? Well, it’s not too late to enjoy some savings, especially if you have a long (four-, five- or six-year) loan from an earlier, high-interest rate time. But the clock is ticking, and the Fed could call for a boost in interest rates at any time.
Last year, we revealed the savings the average consumer could realize from a well-conceived automotive refinance as interest rates edged lower. Now, with the signals clearly indicating that higher interest rates are ahead, Read more . . .
Recently car dealers have been getting a bad rap on some local and national news shows. The latest complaint: Dealers actually make a profit when they sell financing and arrange car loans for customers buying vehicles from them. The audacity! Next some news program is going to report that grocery stores make a profit selling milk, and drug stores make a profit selling medicines. Gosh, how can we let abuses like this happen here?
A group calling itself the Consumer Federation of America suggests that car dealerships practice questionable business ethics when Read more . . .