Brittany Howard

3 weeks ago | bankrate.com | Brittany Howard |Kellye Guinan

Bankrate loans editor Katie Lowery recently bought a car. Despite working in finance for 11 years, the experience was a new one for her. For one thing, this was her first time financing a brand-new car. It was also her first time financing a vehicle for over $10,000. While Lowery has been a devoted fan of credit union financing for years, she reports that she had a great experience with manufacturer financing and would consider it again in the future.

3 weeks ago | bankrate.com | Brittany Howard |Katie Lowery

A growing number of consumers are financing more than the cost of their vehicle, putting them upside-down in their auto loan from the very beginning of repayment. Account delinquencies have exceeded their 2009 peak during the Great Recession. Average vehicle monthly payments have risen faster than the inflation rate. Despite a challenging market, there are strategies you can employ to ensure you don’t get in over your head with an unaffordable auto loan.