Questions To Ask Your Lender Or Broker When Getting Preapproved
When getting preapproved, ask your broker or lender the following:
- how long they guarantee the preapproved rate
- if you will automatically get the lowest rate if interest rates go down while youre preapproved
- if the pre-approval can be extended
Ask your lender or broker about anything you dont understand.
Read Also: How To Get Low Interest On Car Loan
Start Looking For Car Loans Today
Once youve laid out your monthly budget and figured out how much youd like to spend per month and in total on your vehicle, you can start looking for loans.
At Baton Rouge Telco, we offer a wide range of auto loans with competitive interest rates. We have experts on staff to help you work through the details of auto loans, so you wont be alone through the process.
Choose Your Vehicle Or Dealership
The first step to getting a Capital One auto loan is to browse the Auto Navigator site for vehicles and dealers in your area. If you narrow your choices down to a single vehicle, you can get prequalified right on that page for an auto loan. You can also simply view dealership inventory in your area and find out which dealers work with Capital One.
Read Also: Refinance Conventional Loan
Recommended Reading: Can You Refinance An Fha Loan
Why Havent I Received A Decision For Pre
Occasionally, some of our lenders require a few hours to review your application, especially if youâve applied outside of normal working hours. Please be assured that once you complete your application, we will be working through it and should be in touch with a decision, via email or SMS, as soon as we can.
In the meantime, whilst youâre waiting for your decision, youâll have access to My Zuto, where youâll be able to browse an impressive collection of vehicles available from our trusted dealers. Youâll be able to shortlist any that you like, so, when we do get a decision, we can talk about your quote specifically for those shortlisted vehicles.
If youâre still uncertain about how the car finance application process works, check out even more help and advice from our team of experts.
Be Protected From Sales Tactics

When you buy your used car from Shift, pre-approved or not, youll enjoy our no-pressure environment where you never need to worry about negotiating or aggressive sales tactics. Shift offers you a fair, up-front price based on powerful machine learning algorithms and tons of data.
Getting pre-approved transforms you into a cash buyer, as you have your approved check in hand before signing the papers.
Having your check with you offers several benefits as you move forward with your transaction.
First, it shows you’re serious about buying and that you’re not just looking to take a test drive or kick the tires. As you browse different vehicles, selecting the ones you like, its obvious that you’re planning to purchase.
Pre-approval also guards you against salespeople steering you toward models and options outside your price range.
But with your pre-approved check showing a set total you’re able to spend, you’ll know your financial limit and just what you can afford.Whether you’re shopping used for a truck or an electric car, you can trust Shift for a vehicle that lasts. At Shift, certified mechanics perform 150-point inspections on every vehicle sold, and you get a free Carfax report for the ultimate in transparency. And with Shift’s best-in-industry service contracts, you can be sure that it will be running smoothly, mile after mile.
You May Like: Usaa Car Loan Calculator
Get There Faster With Greater Texas Credit Union
Getting auto loan pre-approval is a great first step towards securing your next vehicle, but it is by no means the last one youll need to take.
With so many steps along the way, trust Greater Texas Credit Union to get you out of the lot and onto the road faster. Our team of experienced lending professionals is equipped to guide you through your next vehicle purchase and beyond.
Want to do more research about your next steps in the car buying process?
You Have The Freedom To Buy What You Want
If you find a reasonable interest rate through a dealership, you are limited to the inventory they have on hand. If you donât see the car you want there, you are not guaranteed a similar rate at the dealership next door. Loan pre-approval, however, comes from a third party institution, which means that you have the freedom to purchase the car from wherever you want.
Don’t Miss: Bayview Loan Servicing Tucson
What Are The Next Steps After Getting Pre
Once you have been pre-approved the next step is to provide your supporting documentation for the final car loan approval process.
This will include:
-
A copy of your drivers license
-
Payslips
-
Bank statements
Once the vehicle has been secured, we will contact the dealership and obtain an invoice for the vehicle.
At that time, a final assessment will be conducted and a final approval granted. You will then receive an electronic copy of your loan contracts to be signed and returned. We will then pay the loan funds to the car dealership directly. You are then free to drive away!
You May Like: Can You Use Va Loan For Renovations
What Is The Difference Between Prequalification And Preapproval
The terms preapproval and prequalification are sometimes used interchangeably, but they may mean two different things depending on your lender and the type of loan. Both are ways that lenders initially assess how likely you are to get approved for a new loan and estimate your loan amount, interest rate and terms.
Prequalification typically involves a soft credit inquiry, which does not affect your credit score, though some lenders may skip this altogether. You may also need to provide basic information like your annual income and monthly expenses. The prequalification offer you receive could change, sometimes significantly, once the lender takes a deeper dive into your credit during the application process.
The preapproval process for auto loans is more involved than prequalification, resulting in a more accurate approved loan amount. The lender will conduct a hard credit inquiry to review your credit more thoroughly and may also require personal and financial details such as your employment status, monthly income, debt balances and more. They’ll then tell you the amount you can borrow, with some lenders even providing an actual check you can use at the dealership to boost your bargaining power.
Don’t Miss: Usaa Auto Loan Credit Requirements
How Long Does It Take To Get Pre
It takes most customers just a few minutes to fill out the online pre-approval application, and you may get your answer within seconds. However, we might need to follow up with a phone call for more detailed information before a credit decision can be made. If thats the case, the confirmation message will tell you what to expect next.
How To Get Preapproval For An Auto Loan
If youre ready to get preapproved, there are a few steps youll need to take.
Also Check: Max Fha Loan Amount Texas 2020
What Does It Mean To Get Preapproved For A Car Loan
When you apply for a car loan, a lender will check your credit score and several other factors to see whether you qualify. For many people, this happens after theyve decided which car they want to buy. This can lead to people being denied financing after spending hours filling out paperwork and negotiating at the dealership.
Getting preapproved for a car loan may make the approval process easier before you attempt to buy the vehicle. Instead of waiting until the point of purchase, you provide a lender with some basic financial information up front and the lender sends you a letter stating the loan amount youre approved for, as well as the annual percentage rate .
Preapproval is not the same as actually getting a loan. It usually requires less information and, depending on the lender, may result in a hard pull on your credit, which can affect your credit score. However, to get your loan once youve decided on a car, youll need to apply.
Preapprovals Make Car Shopping Easier

In a perfect world, we could all pay cash for our cars and never have to worry about debt or monthly payments. We would likely negotiate the sale price more aggressively because the salesperson would know that we had the money and could take our business elsewhere at a moment’s notice. In the real world, however, only a few of us are able to save up enough cash to pay for a car in full. The rest of us have to finance.
The problem with starting your car financing at the dealership is that you don’t know whether the loan you’re being offered is the best financing you can get. It can also complicate the negotiations and limit where you can shop to get the best price. A better way is to get preapproved for your car loan. Getting preapproved is the closest you can come to the perks of paying with cash while not having to save up for months or years in advance.
You can get preapproved for a car loan at a bank, credit union or online lender.
Recommended Reading: Does A Loan Processor Have To Be Licensed In California
Focus On Car Shopping
When shoppers head straight to the dealership without first figuring out how much they can borrow or what they can afford in a monthly payment, they might find it hard to focus on finding the right vehicle to fit their needs. Without preapproval, you could end up getting your heart set on a car that’s priced above your borrowing limit. The Balance suggests that you understand your budget, get preapproved, and find your ideal car.
Use Your Rate As A Point Of Negotiation
Financing is one of the many ways dealerships can make money off of customers. If you arent preapproved for financing, dealerships may pressure you to accept loan terms with higher rates than you might qualify for. Having preapproval before you go car shopping gives you a powerful advantage in this situation, putting the pressure on the dealership to beat that rate.
Read Also: Upstart Vs Avant
Save For A Higher Down Payment
Increasing your down payment toward the purchase price of an automobile may help in two ways. First, it lowers the amount of money you are requesting to borrow from the lender. While that alone could make the difference between approval and denial, youre also decreasing the loan-to-value ratio on the car you want to buy, making it a safer loan for the lender.
How To Get A Car Loan
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list ofour partnersandhere’s how we make money.
» MORE: Learn the basics of how car loans work
Also Check: Usaa Refinance Student Loans
What Happens If I Receive Multiple Offers
Shopping around for a car is much like shopping for a home or any other situation where multiple financing options are available. It may behoove you to get pre-approval from several lenders. Check out the various banks, credit unions, such as Rivermark Credit Union, and online lenders and see what they can offer. Finally, compare carefully. There could be a better deal available, but its up to you to compare and find out the best solution for your situation.
Increase Income And Savings
If you can’t afford the type of car you want now, that’s not to say you won’t be able to in the future. Find a way to supplement your income or start budgeting differently to get some money in savings. The Equal Opportunity Credit Act requires lenders to disclose their reasons for denial. If you don’t understand why you were denied, this will explain and may even reveal a mistake.
Read Also: How To Use Va Loan For Investment Property
How To Get Pre
Follow these steps to apply for pre-approval on a car loan:
How To Shop Online For A Car Loan

Once you are confident that your credit report and credit score accurately represent your creditworthiness, then you are ready to shop for a car loan online.
The internet offers quick access to numerous potential car-loan sources, and some lenders will charge you more than others because their business requirements and policies differ. But don’t worry. You can find a reputable auto financing source online and with a favorable interest rate for the loan.
The following are descriptions of recommended auto loan sources with commentary on each:
- Banks. Most of us have at least some relationship with a bank via our personal checking and savings accounts. Some of us also have a home mortgage with a bank. In many places, the local bank is the heart of the business community. Your bank could be a good source of a car loan.
- Credit unions function much like banks. Millions of Americans use credit unions for savings, checking, and loans. Credit unions are mutual organizations owned by their member-depositors, so they might offer better rates than other institutions.
Each type of financial institution above requires a degree of creditworthiness to get a loan. If you have no credit or a low credit score, you might still be able to get a car loan, but you will need a co-signer, someone who promises to make the payments if you don’t.
Recommended Reading: Va Home Loan Benefits 2020
Determine Your Lender & Apply
Next, you want to decide the lenders you want to apply with. The most common options are a bank or credit union, but some online lenders offer a pre-approval option as well.
Apply with a few lenders before making your decision. Doing so allows you to compare your interest rate, the amount you qualify for, and other loan details. As long as all applications are completed within a 14 to 45 day period, theres only one hard inquiry on your credit report.
This way you can shop around for the best loan option without it having a significant impact on your credit score.
What you need to complete the pre-approval process will vary based on the lender, but here are a few common requirements.
Proof of Identity and Residence
You will need to verify your identity. The documentation you provide might include a license, government-issued ID, or passport. You will also need proof of residence. Your drivers license is generally sufficient.
Proof of Income
Part of the pre-approval decision is based on your income since your lender wants to be confident in your ability to repay the loan. Your lender will want proof of your income along with your gross monthly income or annual salary. You can generally provide evidence in the form of a pay stub or tax return.
If you are self-employed, you will want to be prepared to show your business tax returns.
Why Is It Important To Get Pre
Pre-qualify for auto financing means sending an application to lenders. They review your financial situation to determine how much you can afford. Getting pre-qualified can save you valuable time by deciding what you can afford, so you can find a used vehicle that matches your price point. Read more on how to estimate your car payment interest rate.
Also Check: How Old Can A Manufactured Home Be For Va Financing
Save A Bunch Of Time At The Dealership
When it comes to shopping around, most of us are all about the test drive. After all, who likes sitting in the finance office all day? By getting a preapproval, you get to skip the whole song and dance of searching around for your financing options, because with a , your loan is in your pocket! And because you already know the details of your loan and your monthly payment options, save time and frustration knowing you can focus your attention on finding your new ride.