A Word of Caution about Credit Unions
With all the advantages credit unions offer, you would think they would have no drawbacks, but there is one thing you need to watch for.When getting a car loan through a credit union, always make sure to setup the loan directly with them. Recently, some credit unions have started working with dealers to offer indirect lending. This is when the dealer will take care of all the paperwork and arrange the financing through a credit union.
The problem is the credit union usually pays a commission to the dealer for processing the loan - sometimes up to $1,000.
It's always worth calling the credit union directly to see what their direct lending rate is. It can save you a lot of money. Other than that, there really are no other drawbacks to using a credit union for your car financing needs.
Always contact one or two credit unions when comparison shopping your auto loan. It's one of the smartest things you can do to save money on a car loan.
Each week, I'll keep you up-to-date on the latest car deals and news that might affect your purchase. This includes...
- Best Rebates, Incentives, and Lease Deals
- Latest Car Buying Scams and Tricks
- The Best & Worst Time to Buy a Car
- Which Cars You Should Avoid
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