Contact UsAsk a Buerkle Honda Expert: Auto Financing FAQs
When it comes to auto financing, Kevin Kue, Phil Rodriguez, Valerie Norton and Tong Hang have seen it all. These highly tenured Finance Managers at Buerkle Honda have helped countless Minnesotans sign a new Pilot lease or finance a CR-V nearby. Between the four of them, there is hardly a financial or budgetary situation they haven't seen.
Now, these experts are sharing some tips, advice and insight into one of the more complicated aspects of car buying. By pulling back the curtain, they hope to demystify the Honda financing process, even for those who have never bought or financed a car before.
Read through what they had to say below, then visit our Honda dealership in White Bear Lake to follow up with your own questions in person. Their message to you? Let's embark on this exciting journey together!
Car Financing FAQs
What are the current interest rates to buy a car?
This is a very complicated question to give an accurate answer to. Interest rates vary based on the credit of the borrower, whether the vehicle is new or used, the amount of miles on the vehicle, the term of the loan, and the loan to value percentage.
With all those factors considered, we also have some promotional rates available that are lower than the market average as well. Our rates currently start around 5% and go up from there depending on the variables listed above. If you’re looking for custom financing options, our online credit application takes minutes, saves time, is secure and simple, and is customized based on your information
How do I get a good car loan interest rate?
The first step is having a good credit history. People with great credit get great car interest rates based on the current market. You can also get a lower loan rate by taking out shorter term loans, or by putting additional money or trade equity down.
How much of a down payment do I need to finance a car?
Many lenders have options for $0 down, depending on the specifics of the loan you are looking for.
Does my credit score impact my auto loan rate?
Absolutely, this is the single largest factor in determining your interest rate.
I have a low credit score -- can I still finance a car?
Yes, we have many lenders that work with all kinds of credit, whether you have had a bankruptcy, foreclosure, judgement or repossession. Whatever your situation might be, we likely have some options.
I don’t have a credit history yet -- can I still finance a car?
Yes, however some lenders may require a down payment for a first-time car buyer or a qualified co-signer on your first loan. We work with some lenders that have first-time buyer programs as well. We also recommend getting pre-approved before selecting a vehicle, as the lenders can be a little more particular about what vehicles they will finance for a first-time car buyer.
Can you offer a better interest rate than my pre-approved rate?
We can often beat most banks' pre-approval programs. We lend out millions of dollars every month through our lenders, giving us some buying power that most consumers can’t compete with on their own. It doesn’t cost anything to compare your pre-approval with what our lenders can do.
What is the benefit of financing a car through a dealership vs. a local lender or credit union?
Financing through the dealership gives a level of convenience you can’t get at your local bank or credit union. We do most financing on the spot and can sometimes even finish the transaction in under an hour, so you don’t need to make multiple stops to complete paperwork and the transaction.
We offer financing with most of the local banks and credit unions here to provide our customers with a level of familiarity with their preferred lender and can still provide the same rate. Financing through us can save you time and make the entire experience more convenient.
What does the dealership do with my credit information?
The dealership has many different safeguards in place to protect your private, non-public information against identity theft. We have made significant investments in our software to keep that information private and only a few select employees who have completed a rigorous annual compliance training have access to that information.
Car Buying FAQs
What additional costs will I be responsible for when buying a new car?
In addition to the price of the vehicle, you will be responsible for your local sales tax where the vehicle is being registered plus any city, county or state title and registration fees. Minnesota dealers also charge a documentation fee in addition to tax title and registraion fees. Please reach out to our sales consultant for an estimate on these fees. Keep in mind, depending on state of registration, you may get a credit on your sales tax by trading instead of selling it outright.
How can I find the value of my trade-in?
There are a lot of tools to find your car's trade-in value, including on our website. The more accurate the information you enter into our online tools, the more accurate the end number is. It’s always best to confirm the number afterwards with one of our sales consultants, as sometimes increases in demand can make those vehicles worth more than our online quotes produce.
What’s the best length for a car loan?
Our average loan terms are between 60-72 months; however, we have lenders that will go up to 84 months for certain types of loans.
Can I reduce my monthly car payments down the road?
You always have the ability to refinance your loan at any time during the loan, assuming that the refinance amount and credit is within the lender's guidelines at that time.
Can I sell my car while I’m still paying it off?
Absolutely! Most customers trade or sell their vehicles prior to final payoff. The best part is we handle all of the complex paperwork associated with clearing the loan information.
Can I end a lease early?
Yes, you can end them early. However, there may be some penalties to do so with some leases. This is a great question to bring up with one of our sales consultants, as there are quite a few variables that come into play in these scenarios.
What do I do with my car after my lease is up?
You have three options -- you can lease another vehicle, turn it back in to the dealer/leasing company, or buy it out for the residual on your lease contract.
Can I add a warranty when I buy a car?
Yes, we offer car warranties on almost every vehicle we sell to ensure that you can have many years of trouble-free driving without expensive out-of-pocket repairs.
Should I finance or lease?
This depends on the type of driving you plan on doing with your vehicle. At the end of the day, they both offer a way to finance your vehicle, and each choice has its own pros and cons. Leasing gives a guaranteed value at the end of the lease and provides you with more options, but it does come with some mileage restrictions to fully qualify for all of those options.
The good news is, if you reach the end of your lease and wish you would have just financed it instead, you can do so easily with one of our business managers. All of your lease payments have gone toward lowering your buyout figure at the end of the lease.
What is Easy Buy at Buerkle?
Easy Buy is our online buying portal. You can complete the entire transaction from the comfort of your home and have the vehicle delivered to your door. Or, if you prefer, you can do your shopping through a completely transparent process that gives you access to all of the information we have here at the dealership while at home, then come in-store to complete the process. You are in control of how much or how little you want to do from home or work 24/7/365.
Does Buerkle Rewards affect my credit score?
Buerkle Rewards does not affect your credit score. It simply rewards our customers with our internal account to give 5% back on what you spend in service and reward repeat customers with perks like purchase credits, paintless dent repair credits and complimentary oil changes.
