Used Car Budgeting Guide: How to Calculate What You Can Afford?

Budgeting is an important step in buying used cars, especially when you are looking at buy here pay here cars in Anderson. Not only because budgeting will help to keep your finances in check but also because you can broaden your options given the varying price ranges that used cars come in. Sticking to a budget also helps you with loan approval, improve your credit score, add extra features that you might need in your car, and claim a great resale value later. So, here is a short guide to effectively budget for your next used car. Keep the following pointers in mind and design your vehicle expense as per your financial capacity.

Step 1: Figure out the trade-in value of your old car

If you have an old car that you can trade-in, you already possess a budgeting jackpot. At top dealerships like Family Auto, you get a competitive trade-in price for your used car that can help increase the down payment payable and bring down the loan amount needed. This directly reduces the APR; you can pay off your loan faster, and limit your interest expenses on the auto credit. As a first step, enter your car’s details in any third-party site to get a resale estimate and keep this number handy for the next step.

Step 2: Estimate how much down payment you can pay

Always try to pay as much down payment as you can while buying used cars. This helps to diminish the loan burden. Even if it is just $1,000 over your estimated trade-in value, pay it to cap off the interest payments. However, if you do not have a used car to trade in and cannot afford a high down payment, there is a solution for that as well. Search for $500 down cars near me and look for dealerships that offer flexible down options. Family Auto is a top name in this context. With our large inventory, you can buy a quality used car by just paying $500 as down.

Step 3: Include taxes and insurance payments

Buying buy here pay here cars in Anderson does not end with just paying the car’s price. You need to pay for insurance, cover taxes, and factor in the registration fees that are not covered by auto loans. These are calculated as percentages of the used car prices. You must already have a number in mind while sitting down with the budget. Use that to get an estimate of the taxes and insurance payments and again, keep these figures handy for the penultimate step.

Step 4: Decide on the final used car budget

Include the taxes and insurance estimates and write down a figure that you are willing to pay for your used car. If you can afford $15,000, then it should include the additional fees and you should start looking for cars in the $12,000 range. And just because you are settling for a lower amount, it does not mean that you need to sacrifice the vehicle’s quality. Family Auto has used cars in all price ranges and you can buy a quality vehicle right within your budget, that too, with a comprehensive 2 years/36,000 miles warranty.

Step 5: Budget for your monthly payments as well

With the net estimated car’s price and the down payment you can afford, you can come to a figure that you will need as an auto loan. Divide this by 24, 36, 48, and 60 to get the estimated monthly payments you will have to make against your loan. The bigger numbers will seem fascinating but refrain from drawing out your loan beyond 36 months. Search for buy here pay here car lots near me that have 3-year auto loan plans to avoid high interest payments.