A secured loan is one in which the borrower puts up a personal asset as collateral, based on which the value of the loan is determined. In most cases, the collateral is the same item for which the loan is being borrowed, which in the case of an auto loan is the car. This means that the lender can repossess the vehicle if the borrower fails to make the agreed-upon payments.

In some cases, the lender might also ask for additional security on top of vehicle for which the loan is being taken. This could be in the form of the borrower’s home, boat, or other property, which the lender holds against the loan. The legal document possessed by the lender in case of a secured loan is known as a lien, which the lender releases upon repayment of the loan. In case the borrower fails to repay the loan, the borrower can legally exercise the lien to take possession of the collateral.

The requirements for getting a secured auto loan in Texas are:

• Verifiable income: The primary requirement by most lenders for secured auto loans is a verifiable source of income. This could be in the form of paycheck stubs from several previous pay periods, bank statements showing regular monthly deposits from a certain source, or federal tax returns in case you are self-employed.
• Residency: The lender will usually want to know that you have been occupying your current residence for a sufficient period of time- usually 12 months. If you have recently moved into your present home, you might need to show that you have resided at a single address for a period of at least 12 months in the past ten years.
• Steady employment: The lender wants to ensure that you shall be able to make payments against your loan regularly, which usually comes with steady employment. You should be able to prove that you have been steadily employed for the past 12 months or more. Self-employed individuals or those with alternate sources of income need to prove that they have a steady source of income.

If you fulfill all the above requirements, you should be eligible to get a secured auto loan in Killeen, TX. Be sure to shop around and compare interest rates, penalties, and benefits offered by different lenders, before settling for a secured auto loan.

Looking for the right financing option while buying a new or used car can be a daunting process, especially with dealerships doing all that’s in their might to make their financing programs sound highly attractive. However, if you are looking for a cheap auto loan, it is highly advisable to get started at your local credit union, where there are high chances of getting the best auto loan rates. The Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union serves multiple locations across Central Texas, and can help you to get the lowest used car loan, as well as attractive rates on new cars. We have been serving Central Texas since our establishment in 1957, and ensure that we provide the best deals to our customers.

Below is a list of the top reasons to get a car loan from a credit union:

• Credit unions are more likely than a commercial bank to consider personal financial issues such as a mediocre credit or previous credit issues. Even though credit unions essentially follow the same process for a loan application and approval, they offer a greater degree of flexibility, making them more customer-friendly.
• The interest rates at a credit union are typically much lower than those at other financial institutions, which equates to substantial long-term savings for the borrower.
• Being non-profit organizations, credit unions are member-oriented, which is why they offer a high degree of personalized attention, providing members with the best possible customer service. Since a group of volunteer board members is responsible for making all operation decisions, the members of the credit union have a greater say in how the credit union works.
• Credit unions provide their members with useful educational resources that can help them to make the right financial decisions when assessing the value of their car purchase. Credit unions help you to look beyond the dealership value of the car, into a clear assessment of the car’s real value.
• Credit unions follow a non-sales approach, contrary to commercial banks which grant bonuses and compensations to employees for loans that get approved. On the other hand, all the proceedings gained from credit unions are returned to the members in the form of lower rates and flexible loan options.

To learn more about the membership requirements, and used/ new car loans at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union, contact us at (254) 690 - 2274.