Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union,
3305 E Elms Road
Killeen, TX 76542
Telephone: 254-690-2274
www.gctfcu.net

Tips For Saving On An Auto Loan



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GCTFCU Blog | Unsecured & Secured Auto Loans: Which Loan Is Best For You?
Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union,
3305 E Elms Road
Killeen, TX 76542
Telephone: 254-690-2274
www.gctfcu.net

Unsecured & Secured Auto Loans: Which Loan Is Best For You?

If you are planning to finance your next vehicle purchase, you may have come across the terms 'secured loan' and 'unsecured loan'. Though both the types of auto loans offer varied advantages, it is best to understand the differences between them to decide which one would be a better option for your particular situation.

Given below is a complete comparison of unsecured and secured auto loans to help you make a well informed decision:

Unsecured Auto Loans
In this, the lender approves the loan on the basis of the credit worthiness of the borrower. There is no need to provide any form of security to the lending institution. Once the borrower submits the loan application, the lender evaluates his current financial resources and previous credit records to determine if he will be able to pay back the amount along with the interest rate.

The typical characteristics of an unsecured auto loan are as follows:

  • Interest Rate: The rate of interest quoted for each borrower may vary. Depending upon the borrower's income, credit rating, other financial liabilities and the amount of loan, the lender may charge a reasonable interest rate.
  • Premiums: The borrower can either buy the loan at a fixed or variable interest rate. In the former one, monthly premiums remain constant throughout the duration of the loan. However, in a variable interest rate, the installments may keep on changing according to the current market conditions.
  • Borrowing Limits: The loan amount that can be sanctioned in this case depends upon the value of the car you are planning to purchase. Usually, you can get a certain percentage of the total cost and the remaining has to be paid by you.
  • Loan Tenure: Unsecured loans are available for both short and long term. Short term loans generally have high monthly installments but you end up paying less interest.

Secured Auto Loans
A secured loan can be defined as the one in which the borrower is required to put forward a collateral, usually the vehicle itself, against the loan amount. In case the borrower fails to pay back the loan and interest amount within the stipulated period of time, the lender has the legal right to sell the collateral to recover the money.

The typical characteristics of a secured auto loan are given below:

  • Interest Rate: The rate of interest quoted for a secured loan is comparatively less. Putting forward a valuable collateral minimizes the risk for the lender as he can easily recover the loan in case the borrower fails to do so.
  • Premiums: Secured loans are generally offered on fixed interest rates. Therefore, the premiums remain constant throughout the duration of the loan.
  • Borrowing Limits: If you are planning to purchase a luxury car, you should go for a secured loan as it has higher borrowing limits. You can borrow more money against a collateral of similar value, thus, minimizing the investment to be made out of pocket.
  • Loan Tenure: As the interest rates are quite low, you can conveniently repay the loan amount over a longer period of time. This implies that you would have to make lesser monthly payments, allowing you to save money for other financial liabilities as well.
How to decide between unsecured and secured auto loans:

Getting an auto loan can be a tricky process and with so many options available, you are quite likely to get confused. It is important that you evaluate your requirements as well as the loan plans to make the right choice. The following factors need to be considered while doing so:

  • The car you want to buy
  • Monthly installments you can afford to pay
  • Other financial liabilities
  • Amount of loan required
  • Interest rate quoted by the lender
  • Loan tenure
As compared to an unsecured loan, you can get quick approval for a secured auto loan, usually within a few days. This is because there is no need for the lender to conduct extensive background and income checks. Also, the terms and conditions for such loans are quite flexible which minimizes the financial burden on the borrower.

We, at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union, offer affordable auto loans in Killeen. You can choose from both secured and unsecured loan plans with nominal rates of interest. For more information, feel free to call us at (254) 690 – 2274 or visit our credit union at 3305 E. Elms Rd., Killeen, TX  76542.

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GCTFCU Blog | Credit Unions: A Friendly Alternative To High-street Finance
Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union,
3305 E Elms Road
Killeen, TX 76542
Telephone: 254-690-2274
www.gctfcu.net

Credit Unions: A Friendly Alternative To High-street Finance

Financial loans, whether secured from a personal or public source, are the first port of call in a situation where you need to borrow money to gain ownership of a house or vehicle. A loan is based on the fact that the bearer will repay the amount with the said interest over a fixed term. While bank loans are the most popular kind, local credit unions are fast gaining popularity as the preferred alternative to high-street financing companies. With a compelling list of advantages credit unions are more cost friendly and easier to apply to. Some of the benefits of dealing with credit unions are mentioned below.

  • The number one pull of credit unions is the fact that they offer loans at a substantially cheaper rate as compared to traditional banks. The primary reason behind the existence of a credit union is to be able to help the community and all the credit union members. Thus the staff at credit unions helps their members in fulfilling their dreams by providing quick financial assistance at cheaper rates.
  • Credit unions are non-profit organizations and the interest you pay is used to help other community and credit union members. This gives a feeling of helping others while your own needs are addressed simultaneously.
  • Securing loans are not the only purpose that credit unions help with. You can use them just like a regular bank in order to deposit funds, withdraw them, to use locker services, financial advice and many more services. As a credit union is an easy and cheap source to secure loans they stand out distinctly as a more favorable financial institution.
  • The staff at credit unions has a subtle yet different approach to dealing with their clients. They are helpful and focus on addressing all your queries at once, especially the ones related to taking certain necessary measures to qualify for a loan successfully, should you fail in the first attempt.  

There are several other advantages that come with taking your financial dealings to a credit union like access to a well spread network of ATM's and personalized customer support.

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