Online Unsecured Auto Loans: 5 Pitfalls to Avoid

• Posted on Autos.com Editor
• in Auto Loans
• on October 7, 2013

Unsecured auto loans have seemingly tainted reputations. This is probably due to the fact that the name itself suggests that it is not secured. The main difference between unsecured loans and secured loans is that an unsecured loan is not backed up by any collateral. A secured loan, on the other hand, is able to shop for a cheaper and more accommodating rate because it is secured by collateral. On top of that, an unsecured loan’s rate is solely based on a person’s credit score. Thus, your rate may vary greatly. Below are five pitfalls you should always avoid.
1. Watch Out for Insane Interest Rates

When looking for unsecured auto loans, you should always be careful of the rates that companies will give you. These companies are very ruthless, and since you have no collateral for the loan, they take this as an opportunity to significantly increase your rate. Everyone knows that an absurdly high interest rate can increase your risk of missing payments and further damage your credit.

2. Don’t Jump in Right Away

Likewise, you should also practice discretion when shopping for an unsecured auto loan. Keep in mind that a lot of companies want a share of your money. Therefore, you will most likely get a lot of offers. Always search car loan options online in order to help you decide better.

3. Try to Negotiate Your Rate

Once you have chosen your unsecured auto loan provider, you can still try to make last ditch efforts. Typically, companies are very forgiving. These companies are professional organizations and understand your needs. Although fairness is the name of the game, you can still try to negotiate your rate to something that is lower. You’ll be surprised at how often companies will respond to your plea.

4. Do Not Take in More Than You Can Handle

Now that you have gotten your loan and you have taken care of everything, it is time to focus on the loan. Make sure that you do not take in more than you can handle. This is one major pitfall that people get into. They think that getting an unsecured auto loan is very easy, so they end up shopping for more. Eventually, this all adds up and burdens you with so much high interest payments.

5. Pay Up Quickly

At this point, you should just focus on your loan. Unlike conventional loans that are very lenient, unsecured auto loans are not. Treat every payment seriously and if possible, try to pay it off as quickly as possible. The best way to do this is to pay more than what the monthly dues are asking for.
In closing, unsecured auto loans can be very advantageous if you know what you are doing. The most important step that you should take when shopping for a loan is to take some time researching and understanding what the conditions are. This way, you know what bad instances might happen and how you will be able to fix them.