How To Go About Getting Pre
While qualifying for pre-approval isnt guaranteed, applying for it before you start your car search is a critical first step. Youll set a realistic budget, empower yourself to negotiate from a position of strength and more. If youre in the market for a new ride, keep reading to learn how to get pre-approved for an auto loan.
When youre looking for a new set of wheels, getting pre-approved for a car loan is an important step to take before you start your search. Why? Because youll walk in the dealership with the confidence of knowing you are already approved for a loan. Plus, youll make the entire process of buying a car, truck or SUV smoother. Below, weve outlined how to get pre-approved for a car loan.
Shop Around For A Good Deal But Do It Quickly
You know what interest rates to expect, how much you can spend, and you have all the information you need to get pre-approved. Its time to start shopping around. Head to your top 2 or 3 lending institutions, and discuss your pre-approval options with a lending professional.
You should discuss loan amounts, repayment terms, and interest rates. If youve gotten a better offer from another institution, let them know they may try to beat it.
After visiting all of your prospective lenders, it will probably be quite easy to pick the best lender. Choose that lender, and apply for auto loan pre-approval!
NOTE: If you plan on applying for multiple preapprovals, do so within a 14-day window. Credit checks and inquiries can have a slight negative impact on your credit score. However, any credit inquiry performed within a 14-day window will be lumped together, and treated as a single inquiry. This means that you should shop around quickly, to avoid impacting your credit score.
Shop Around For A Great Pre
Just as youll see several homes before settling on the one, you should shop around for the best mortgage rate. Dont just go to your local bank branch and expect to receive a great deal. Do your research and compare mortgage rates, or use a mortgage broker who will negotiate on your behalf.
Even half a percentage point can make a huge difference in your regular payments and the amount of interest youll pay over time. To see what we mean, plug in your numbers into our mortgage payment calculator, then change the interest rate in small steps. Youll very quickly see what we mean!
What happens after your mortgage pre-approval? Generally, youll have a 90 to 120 day period where your offered rate will be held for you. This is when you should start house hunting!
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Three Factors That Affect How Long It Takes To Get Your Mortgage Approved
Waiting for your mortgage to be approved can be nerve-wracking. After all, the approval will determine if you could get your dream home or not. Even if youre sure you sent all correct requirements, the wait can still make you anxious. And despite the copious promises of faster mortgage application approval youve heard, all you can do is wait.
Factors in play
Many factors affect how long it takes to get your mortgage approval. The length of time to get your approval is affected by the type of mortgage you applied for, the property you want financing for, and your lenders standard timeline.
Some factors that affect your mortgage approval and how long it takes are as follow:
- Your credit score. Lenders use your credit score to determine if they will lend you money and how much interest to charge when you borrow. Your credit score is calculated from the information in your credit report.
If you have spotless credit and have all necessary paperwork, you may be given a type of approval a lot faster, often within 72 hours. However, this approval isnt the final one. Your lender may issue you a conditional approval after this short period. Lenders will usually ask for more documents to support your income claims before giving you final approval.
If your credit is a bit blemished, it could cause a significant slowdown in getting that sweet mortgage approval. It will also make you pay higher mortgage interest rates.
Get pre-approved
Pre-approval requirements
Gather The Necessary Information
Getting preapproved can require quite a bit of information. Lenders often ask for information about your identity, income, employment information, credit history and other debt payments when reviewing your application for preapproval.
After you review your credit reports, gather the information your lender may request:
- Social Security number
- Drivers license, state ID or military ID
- Employment status
- Income
A lender may pull your credit reports as part of the preapproval process, which could generate a hard inquiry on your credit file. Before applying for preapproval, you can check whether the lender is running a hard or soft inquiry.
Hard credit checks from multiple lenders from around 14 days to up to 45 days will usually count as just one inquiry, depending on the credit scoring model used. To minimize the impact to your credit scores as you shop for rates, its a good idea to get all of your preapprovals within that 14- to 45-day window.
When your application is complete, youll typically receive a decision, sometimes in a matter of minutes. In some cases, a lender may need to contact you for more information before it can make a decision.
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Check Your Credit Score
Your credit score is a big deal when it comes to applying for an auto loan. Because of this, you should definitely know your credit score whether its good or bad. If you havent applied for your yearly free Canadian credit report from TransUnion or Equifax, you should do so before you start shopping around for an auto loan.
If your credit is good, youll be able to get a great rate on an auto loan. And if your credit is not-so-great, youll at least understand why, and youll be able to understand what sort of lenders and interest rates you will be working with when you set a budget. Speaking of which
What About Placing An Offer On A Property ‘subject To Finance’
Even if you have pre-approval for a home loan, you may want to make your offer subject to finance. That way, if your lender declines your home loan application, then you may be able to withdraw your offer.
Whether you choose to make an offer subject to finance or not is up to you. You should seek advice from your solicitor or conveyancer before making an offer so that you are fully aware of your rights and responsibilities, including the risks of making an offer.
If you are buying at auction, ‘subject to finance’ conditions are generally not allowed, so you should seek advice from your conveyancer or solicitor before you start bidding.
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Does Getting Preapproved For A Car Loan Hurt Your Credit
If you’re in the market for a new car, chances are you’re doing your research. Looking at different auto manufacturers, comparing makes and models, and checking prices are a good startbut don’t forget to consider your car loan if you plan to finance your purchase. Shopping around for the best auto loan could save you a significant amount of money.
Seeking preapproval for a car loan before you head to the dealer can clarify your spending power and also give you leverage when negotiating the deal. And while getting preapproved can ding your credit a few points, the effect is short-lived. Here’s what you need to know.
Strengthen Your Negotiating Position
With your lender-approved blank check or certificate in hand, youre transformed into a cash buyer, at the car lot, and youre in a much stronger negotiating position.
Without preapproval, heres how the car price negotiation game is played:
The smiling car salesman asks, So, what monthly payment are you looking for?
But if you get preapproved financing, you can avoid this sales tactic.
You can smile right back and say, Im a cash buyer. Lets just talk about the price of the car.
If you’ve got a trade, shopping around for online offers to properly value your old car will put you in a stronger position there, too.
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What Is A Pre
When you get a pre-approved car loan your potential lender reviews your credit profile along with all required documentation. Youre then provided with conditional approval.
You complete the pre-approval before you go car shopping so that you have an idea of your vehicle budget in advance. The car dealers will also take you more seriously when you have a pre-approval. This is because they know its more likely that you will have the funding needed to purchase a vehicle if you find one that you like.
What Can You Afford
Before you begin shopping for a car, take a look at your budget and figure out how much you can afford to spend. You dont want to be car poor or cut into your savings to afford your new ride. Whats a realistic amount for your monthly car budget? This number should include car payments, insurance, operating expenses and maintenance.
You should consider making a down payment on your car if possible. Keep in mind, a bigger down payment results in a lower monthly payment.
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Do Some Research On Lenders And Their Rates
Now that you have your credit score, youll be able to do some basic research on the rates you can expect from a bank, credit union, or other lending institution.
If you plan on using your bank, check out their website, or call them to ask about their current auto lending rates. You can also contact other banks and credit unions in the area, to see if they may offer better rates.
If you have excellent credit, you can probably expect interest rates of 4-6%. If you have bad credit youll probably be paying up to 15% APR on your auto loan. This is why its important to understand your credit score before shopping around for an auto loan youll have a better idea of what kind of rates to expect.
Gives You A Price Range
With a preapproved car loan, youll know your monthly payment, loan term and the price of the car you can afford, all before you walk onto the blacktop parking lot. You wont be nervous sitting at a table in the dealership, waiting to hear whether the bank thinks you can afford the car because youll know youre already approved.
A salesperson might try to guide you to the most expensive models and tell you not to worry they can give you a longer term and keep your payment low! But youll already know that a longer term on a larger loan amount means a whole lot more in interest.
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Use A Mortgage Calculator
Before going through the hassle of calling a loan officer, its good to make sure you can first afford a mortgage payment. There are many costs associated with a mortgage besides just the monthly payment, such as PMI, home insurance, and HOA fees.
You can easily see if you can afford a mortgage based on your income with our home affordability calculator.
If I Find A Car I Like On The Lot And Want To Buy It That Day How Long Will It Take For Me To Get A Loan From Yall
If you already have a pre-approval, the process will be much quicker than if you werent pre-approved. The turnaround time for loans is usually around 24 to 48 business hours, although there are a few situations that may take a little longer. For example, if you are purchasing from a dealership out-of-state versus purchasing from an individual out-of-state, it may take a bit longer to research, which will extend your wait time for approval.
This also depends on how fast you gather and fax in the requested documents. Whether you have a pre-approval or not, you will have to go through the same process of sending in documents, so be sure to send them as soon as you can to help speed up the process!
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Where To Find A Preapproved Auto Loan
Many lenders offer preapprovals for auto loans, including most of those on our list of best auto loans. Start with your current bank, but check with the competition, too some of the lowest rates can be found at and online lenders.
It wont hurt your credit to apply to multiple lenders any more than it does to apply to one, as long as you do so within a 14-day window. Some credit-scoring models allow up to 45 days. Its smart to apply to a few places so you can compare offers. Dont just fill out one application and think thats the best you can get.
Auto Loan Preapproval Faqget Answers About Auto Loan Pre
Getting pre-approved for your auto loan makes it easy to shop with confidence, because youll know exactly what you can afford.
Is a preapproval different than applying for a loan?
Yes! When you apply for a preapproval, your credit is checked in the same fashion as a regular loan. However, the difference lies in that the pre-approval doesnt require you to provide information about the specific vehicle you want to purchase, making this the ideal option if you want to determine how much you can borrow, while shopping around, in order to narrow down your choices.
How long does it take to get preapproved?
In most cases, the preapproval application takes less than 10 minutes to fill out, and you may get a response right away. However, there are times when we have questions about your application or simply need more detailed information, and will follow up with a phone call before a decision is made. Either way, the confirmation message that comes up when you submit your application will let you know.
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What Is A Preapproved Car Loan
A preapproved car loan is a loan that borrowers can get before purchasing a car. Getting preapproval for a loan shows the dealership that you’re ready to buy and can sometimes give you the upper hand in negotiating price and financing.
A preapproved car loan is a loan that borrowers can get before purchasing a car. Getting preapproval for a loan shows the dealership that you’re ready to buy and can sometimes give you the upper hand in negotiating price and financing. If you are able to get a preapproved car loan, it’s a good idea to do so before going car shopping.
How Long Does The Car Loan Application Process Take
It depends on the lender you choose to apply with, the amount you need to borrow and your creditworthiness. Heres an idea of how long to expect for each step in the application process:
- Submitting your application. It usually only takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete an online application. However, if you have to visit a lenders office to apply in person, it could take longer.
- Immediate response. Some lenders offer instant preapproval after you submit your application. Those that dont could take a few days to get back to you.
- Full approval. The turnaround time for full approval differs, as you can see from the table above.
- Loan funding. After receiving full approval from your lender, you can generally expect to receive your funds within one to three business days. However, its best to confirm the specific timing with your lender.
How long does it take to get preapproved for a car loan?
Car loan preapproval generally takes the same amount of time as getting approved sometimes a few seconds, others a few days. Car loan preapproval is a way to lock in rates with a lender before signing the paperworks so you have time to shop around. This gives you the ability to negotiate down your price and determine exactly how much you need to borrow.
Preapproval generally involves a hard credit check, which briefly lowers your credit score. And you need to submit documents verifying your income, residency and other aspects of your application.
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Consider Getting A Co
If you cant wait to get a car, consider asking someone you know and trust to co-sign the loan with you. A co-signer is someone who agrees to pay back the loan if you cant. But remember, a co-signer is putting their financial health on the line. If you dont make your payments on time or you default on the loan, it wont only impact your credit, it could negatively impact theirs as well.
Helps You Avoid Upsells And Add
A favorite trick of dealerships is to sell vehicles based on monthly payments.
For example, a salesperson might overestimate your payment once you choose a vehicle so that youll agree to add-ons when you go to sign the paperwork. If they expect your payment to be around $300, they may tell you that their prediction is $350. Then at the paperwork signing, they can say, Great news, at a payment of only $360, you get an extended warranty and appearance package! Sign here. This way, it looks like youre only paying $10 a month for the extras, but youre really paying $60 a month, including interest.
If you have a preapproved auto loan, youll know what your payment should be, sans upsells.
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