Monday, January 5, 2009

Using a Car Payment Calculator

Car Payment Calculator Video

.  Sure public transportation exists, but for many people it's not realistic.  There's just too much to do on too many unique schedules.  Some people are afraid to use the bus or train in the evening.  Case closed, the car wins.  A car payment calculator can be an invaluable tool to figure out if a car is affordable.

These calculators are pretty simple.  Many can be found on line on sites like http://www.edmunds.com.  The calculators spit out monthly payment after all the variables such as price and interest rate are entered.  Some will even include insurance, but not all do that.  Make sure to account for all the costs of a car before buying it.  That includes elements like cost to store or garage fees, of course the insurance, maintenance and more.  Don't forget the price of fuel.

A lot of folks don't remember to plan for accidents.  That's the deductible on most policies.  Is your deductible affordable?  Then can you pay the increased insurance premium?  Other things to keep in mind are the price of registration and emissions testing.  It an element of cost even though it's likely the same no matter the vehicle purchased.

Considering only the monthly payment is a mistake.  The salesman can “put you behind the wheel” for whatever you can pay each month  Terrific, but you have to think about another piece of information.  Price of the car is key.  Haggling and comparing only happen when the consumer is aware of the amount the car costs.  Looking only at the monthly payment, or even at the monthly payment plus all the other expenses, is only part of the picture.  The price must be known before the car is purchased.

A car payment calculator is a great tool to help determine if a car fits into the budget.  But more information is needed for a purchase.  Make the purchase only after examining all the details.

Find more info on cars and rental cars here Budget Auto Rental and also here Dollar Car Rental

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