Debt Consolidation Information

Debt Consolidation - Be Careful When Trading in Your Car


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.

    ©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.


    MORE RESOURCES:

    debt consolidation
    Pressemeldungen.at (Pressemitteilung), Austria - 12 hours ago
    If you buy a cup of coffee every day for $1.00 (an awfully good price for a decent cup of coffee, nowadays), that adds up to $365.00 a year. ...


    Credit crunch affects debt consolidation options
    Express Press Release (press release), NV - Sep 30, 2008
    Press Release Body: Commenting on recent changes to the credit market, debt consolidation experts DebtAdvisersDirect.com reminded consumers in debt of the ...


    Best Syndication

    Debt Consolidation Loan: Get And Pay Off Multiple Loans Easily
    Best Syndication, CA - Sep 29, 2008
    That is why the Debt consolidation loans is being provided. These are for those borrowers who are seeking help for paying debts off. ...
    Debt Management Solution: Approach The Experts To Be Debt Free Best Syndication
    all 2 news articles


    Best Syndication

    Debt Consolidation and the Financial Markets
    Best Syndication, CA - Sep 29, 2008
    This is one reason it’s difficult for banks and other financial institutions to provide credit, whether it’sa mortgage or a debt consolidation loan, ...


    Best Syndication

    Online Debt Consolidation: How To Easily Cope With Your Debts
    Best Syndication, CA - Sep 26, 2008
    A good and trusted method is online debt consolidation. Online Debt Consolidation is way of reducing the payment on your debts. You can undergo this program ...


    Best Syndication

    Debt Consolidation: Sterilize Multiple Debt Fever
    Best Syndication, CA - Sep 26, 2008
    Now for you loan market has a new plan called debt consolidation which combines all of your existing debts and you have to deal with this single debt. ...


    Best Syndication

    Credit Card Debt Consolidation: Get Rid Of Credit Card Debts
    Best Syndication, CA - Sep 25, 2008
    For getting out of such conditions you can rely on the Credit Card Debt Consolidation loan. For your unpaid credit cards debts these loans will prove to be ...


    Best Syndication

    Debt Consolidation Comparison
    Best Syndication, CA - Sep 22, 2008
    This article will look at debt consolidation comparison so you can determine which method is best in your situation. The first step you are going to need to ...


    Ask the Dolans: Is debt consolidation a smart choice?
    WalletPop, VA - Sep 26, 2008
    I have a high amount of debt and have been thinking about debt consolidation. Can you explain how this works, and how it affects my FICO score? ...


    Homeowners Hanging On – House Equity Release Falling Out of Favour
    JST Financial Ltd., UK - 8 hours ago
    Although debt consolidation can be tempting, consumers should first review their finances and try to cut spending. Martin Lewis from the website moneysaving ...

    Debt-Consolidation - Google News

    home | site map
    © 2006