Article Categories
» Arts & Entertainment
» Automotive
» Business
» Careers & Jobs
» Education & Reference
» Finance
» Food & Drink
» Health & Fitness
» Home & Family
» Internet & Online Businesses
» Miscellaneous
» Self Improvement
» Shopping
» Society & News
» Sports & Recreation
» Technology
» Travel & Leisure
» Writing & Speaking

  Listed Article

  Category: Articles » Finance » Debt Consolidation » Article
 

Debt Consolidation - Be Careful When Trading in Your Car




By Charles Essmeier

The automobile has long been recognized as the classic American status symbol. America’s millions of miles of roads and overall lack of long-distance mass transit leave the automobile as the primary method of transportation for most Americans. Because so many people spend so much time in their cars, they often use them to make a personality statement. The car is an extension of the driver. Unfortunately, the debt incurred to pay a car is also often an extension of the driver’s own financial problems.

Recent statistics show that the average auto loan is issued for 101% of the purchase price. How can that be? It turns out that many Americans, in their desire to maintain status, usually trade their cars in for a new one while they still owe money on it. The high rate of depreciation on new cars means that consumers often owe more money on their auto loans than their cars are worth, and they make the situation worse by trading in that car on a new one while still owing money on the old one. They simply consolidate the balance of the old loan with the principal of the new loan.

Auto manufacturers hit us with a constant barrage of advertising for the latest and greatest models of cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles, along with their latest sales techniques of rebates, discounts and add-ons. Consumers often trade keep their cars only until the desire for another one comes along and then head out to the dealership to trade the old one in. This is usually done without any regard for how much money is owed on the existing vehicle, leading to the consolidation loan that adds the unpaid balance from the old loan to the new one.

It isn’t smart to owe more money on a car than it is worth. Cars are generally insured for the replacement value of the vehicle. If you purchase a car and roll $5000 of debt from the previous vehicle into the new loan, you are now driving a car that is not only worth less than you owe, but is also insured for less than you owe. Should you find yourself in an accident, you’ll have a wrecked car and a heavy debt, which is not a good combination.

Here are some tips for avoiding this scenario:

Keep your loan term short. If you have to finance that BMW for eight years in order to keep the payments affordable, you should probably be shopping for a Dodge instead. Auto loans that exceed five years are generally unwise unless you’re sure that you’ll keep the car for at least that long.

Make a larger down payment when you buy. The less you borrow, the less you’ll owe several years down the road.

Keep your car until it has been paid off. This one is obvious, but few people actually do it. The least expensive way to own a car is to simply keep it until it won’t run anymore. If you keep the car longer than the loan period, put the amount of your payment aside each month to save as a down payment for the next one.

When you make a decision to purchase a car, consider the length of the loan carefully. Most cars lose more than half of their value in five years or less. Try to keep your loan duration as short as possible. An automobile is a valuable tool to own, but it shouldn’t own you.
 
 
About the Author
©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to personal bankruptcy, debt consolidation and credit counseling, and HomeEquityHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding mortgages and home equity loans .

Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/6002.html
 
If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/6002.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked.



  Some other articles by Charles Essmeier
Latest Work From Home Offer Just Another Scam
Many Americans would love to work from home. The reasons vary; some people may not wish to commute and some may simply not enjoy working in ...

Medicare Drug Plan Lures Identity Thieves
Among the many problems facing senior citizens is that of trying to pay for their necessary medications while trying to ...

Internet Scams Add to Worries of Online Banks
The advent of the Internet has been a huge boon to the banking industry. Long concerned about the costs of doing business, banks have quickly embraced ...

Debt Consolidation - Don't Hire an Agency; Do It Yourself
The average American household now has more than $9000 in credit card debt and the savings rate in this country is lower than at ...

Credit Score Lowered When You Cancel Credit Cards
Most people are aware that anytime they seek a loan, the lender will check their credit report to see if their credit history warrants such a loan. Along ...

Payday Loans are the World's Most Expensive Cash
If someone told you that they would lend you $500 today if you repaid them with $5000 a year from ...

  
  Recent Articles
Alleviates debt burden - Debt consolidation loans
by Alan Jordan

Low Rate Debt Consolidation Loan - Ease Debt Burden At Low Cost
by Bonnie Castle

Two Steps To Credit Card Debt Elimination
by Tony Pescatore

Freedom from Debts: Debt consolidation loans
by Tim Kelly

No More Debts to Follow You: Personal Debt Consolidation Loan
by James Taylor

Debt consolidation: life-breath of a debt free life
by Alex Jonnes

Unsecured Debt Consolidation Loan: Easy Way To Deal With Debts
by Maria Smith

Secured Debt Consolidation Loan-at Lower Interest Rate
by Maria Smith

Solve Your Debt Worries with Unsecured Debt Consolidation Loans
by Ann Gibson

Ease Off Debt Burden Through Unsecured Debt Consolidation Loans
by Andrew Baker

Easy Solution To All Your Debts: Online Debt Consolidation
by Ann Gibson

Credit Card Debt Consolidation Shows Way To Reduce Debts
by Ann Gibson

Can't connect to database