Everybody dreams of owning a car, but unfortunately, not all of you have enough money to pay for the car outright. It is not because you cannot afford it but because you fail to save enough money by the time you buy a car.
Most of the people decide to stash away money for the car, but they end up falling short of it because they do not invest it, and as a result, the current value of their money goes down. When it comes to buying a car, most of the people think that financing is the best alternative.
This is because it reduces your burden of arranging money. All you need to do is just arrange a down payment. However, there are several other things that you often do not consider when it comes to choosing between financing and cash payment.
At the time of putting in the application, you often ask about interest rates, early repayment fees, late payment defaults, discounts on pricing, and the like. Still, you do not compare your financing deal with outright payment. Here are the reasons why you should pay cash at the time of buying a car.
Reasons why you should pay for your car with cash
Here are the reasons:
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Financing means lost discounts
You have two choices: either you can finance your car or pay for it outright. If you choose the former option, you will not be able to avail yourself of discounts.
When you go to the dealer, you can get the car at lower prices than the market price, provided you are ready to make the whole of the payment in cash. Even though it is not explicitly mentioned, you will definitely get discounts.
However, if you try to opt for the financing option like hire purchase, you will not be able to get a discount.
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You do not have to worry about future contingencies
If you pay outright for your car, you do not have to worry about your futuristic financial conditions. This is because you have paid off the whole of the market price, and now your car is yours. You do not have to think about car payments any longer, but this is not the case with funding your car.
No matter which funding source you have opted for your car, you will have to ensure that you have enough money for the settlement of the auto debt. At the time of taking out a car loan, you need to ensure that you will never fall behind in repayments, and if you face any financial emergency, you must have enough money in your savings account to make monthly car payments.
For instance, if you lose your job, you may not be able to meet all of your regular expenses, and you may have to take out loans for the unemployed in the UK. It can be pretty challenging to continue to pay down the debt when you are already financing your car loans.
However, if you have already paid the total price at the time of purchase, you do not need to worry about your futuristic financial conditions. You have already owned the car, and you have nothing to pay off the debt.
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Paying interest can take a toll on your finances
The best advantage of paying for your car outright is that you do not have to pay interest. Although monthly payments seem to be more manageable, you can end up paying much more than the market price of the car.
This amount can be double if you have used the dealership financing option. They are generally more expensive than auto loans. The interest you will likely pay on a car can affect your buying power.
In case you come across a financial situation down the line, it can be quite challenging for you to tide over that time, and if you try to finance those needs with a loan, it will be again challenging to balance the payments of both types of loans.
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You can keep your retirement funds safe
At the time of buying a car, you need to consider several aspects of your financial condition. It is not just about one situation you lose your job and borrow money to tide over, but sometimes you can end up being caught in a very big emergency.
For instance, you may need a lot of money. If you have already owned your car, you can cash it out, but that option is not available if you have financed your car.
Of course, when you need money urgently, you will dip into your safety net. It can be pretty challenging to restore your safety net.
What if you cannot pay for the car outright?
Although paying for the car outright does seem to be very affordable in terms of spending money, not all are potential enough to arrange cash worth the market price. Of course, you will have your car financed.
To take advantage of better interest rates, you should have a good credit history and arrange larger down payments. Instead of considering dealership financing, you should consider taking out an auto loan with a lender. They can be more affordable.
Although some lenders allow you to take out guaranteed car finance for the unemployed, you should always ensure that it will not affect your repaying capacity. This option is usually a better choice if you need a car to go to your workplace.
Once you get permanent in your job, you should immediately switch to a standard auto loan to get a better interest deal.
The final word
At the time of buying a car, you should always try to buy it outright. Increase your effort to save money for it. However, if you cannot do it, try to set aside a larger down payment.
This can help you get the best deal and try to get your car financed with a lender instead of choosing dealership financings like hire purchase and personal contract purchase.
