CarLoans

When car buyers take possession of a vehicle before their financing arrangements are complete, they're risking a big money mess if the loan falls through. And some less scrupulous dealers will take advantage. Here's what you need to know to avoid the yo-yo financing trap.

Millions of homeowners have garnered huge savings in recent years from one simple move: refinancing their mortgages. Now, the refinancing craze has spread to an unexpected industry: car loans. Could an auto refi be a smart move for you?

Every day, more than 6,000 American households file for bankruptcy. That's right, 6,000. According to an article earlier this month on CreditCards.com, more than 6,200 bankruptcy filings occurred every single day in February, and almost 6,900 bankruptcies were declared every day in March. At...

The money is not rolling in, but at least there are signs that capital is defrosting, at small banks and credit unions, anyway. If you're in need of a loan, here is a loan primer to help you get started: Personal loan Personal loans are those typically under $5,000 and are meant for, as the name...

Sister-site Aol Autos offers a list of the Best New Car Deals of the Month, pitched on the AOL.com welcome screen as "Editor Reveals Best Cars to Finance." Talking about the "best cars to finance" strikes me as a bit like talking about the best prescription drugs to freebase. Among the winners: a...

Getting the best interest rates on major purchases, whether that's a house or a car, can be much harder with today's stricter credit standards. Credit scores must be higher, and so does the amount you plan to put down on a house, even to get a mortgage. In 2006, when I wrote my book, The Complete...

AOL Autos reporter Bengt Halvorson offers consumers struggling with sky-high lease payments some advice on how to get out of their leases. According to Halvorson, simply breaking the lease and going the "voluntary repossession route isn't the best option because it can hurt your credit score quite...

First, the good news: Americans are saving more than they have been in months. Unlike a couple of years ago, when we were literally spending every penny we made and then some, we are getting more disciplined when it comes to saving our pennies. Lending institutions, mortgage brokers and flat-out...

Every personal finance expert worth his salt has been saying the same thing forever: It is never, ever, ever a financially-sound decision to buy a new car.It took a recession and a lot of pain for it to happen, but it turns out a lot of people are finally figuring this out. With new car sales down...

As unemployment rises and access to cash falls, an increasing number of consumers are having trouble making payments on their car loans.The USA Today reports that "Car loans that were 60 days past due - and likely to soon go into default - were up 17% in the fourth quarter, says Experian Automotive...