Why You Shouldn't Pay Cash for a Vehicle

Buying a Car: Should You Pay Cash or Finance?

If you're considering buying a new or pre-owned vehicle, you might be grappling with the decision of whether to pay for your new car, truck or suv with financing or cash. It's a common question for new & pre-owned car buyers. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and the right answer usually depends on what makes the most sense for your situation…

We're going to discuss both sides of the equation -- buying a car with lump sum cash versus financing through a lender. We'll also discuss a common third option that blends the first two.

Finance Application

Benefits of financing a car purchase

The overwhelming advantage of financing a car purchase versus a cash payment is that you can buy the car now without paying a single dollar upfront.

Zero down payment contracts are quite popular for the simple reason that a lot of people either don't have savings or don't want to part with their savings.

As mentioned, signing up for a loan usually comes at a cost that gets incorporated into your monthly payment called "interest".

But there are benefits to auto financing too. For the average car buyer, a car loan opens up more vehicle options. When you're able to borrow the money and pay it back over a manageable period of time, it gives you the opportunity to buy a nicer car.

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But even if you have the savings to pay for a nicer car in cash, financing can be the better decision for other reasons.

Rather than spending your cash on a car, you can pursue other opportunities to see that money grow like investing in real estate or the stock market.
Furthermore, rather than put all your free cash into a car purchase, it's good sense to have enough savings in case of an emergency expense such as a home repair.
Buying a car with zero down payment can also free up your income for other debt obligations like high mortgage payments or credit card debt.

If you decide to pursue financing, it's a good idea to choose a monthly payment that is manageable for your budget. Check out our "Vehicle Sales Assistant" attached to each vehicle on our website for a rough idea of what your monthly instalment could look like.

If you're not sure how much you can get approved for, you can get pre-approved BEFORE you even start looking at cars. Parry Sound Chevrolet Buick GMC can help you get pre-approved and connect you to hundreds of $0 down options. Apply with us for free in just three minutes!

Benefits of combining financing & cash

It's important to remember that a car is a depreciating asset. As the years go by, while you're paying off the loan, the car is losing value. It's easy to find yourself in a position where you owe more on the car than it's worth.

Many car buyers will find themselves in this negative equity scenario early on, and it can be a problem if you need to sell the car or get into a wreck during this time period. You may have to make up the difference out of pocket.

When buying a car, choosing a partial cash payment upfront and financing the rest is a good way to mitigate this scenario.

The more you can offer as a down payment upfront, the smaller the amount you'll need to finance, which can help you get to positive equity faster. You just need to make sure you're not giving up the opportunity cost of those savings or eating into your emergency fund.

Questions to ask yourself when deciding on cash vs financing

There are some basic questions that might help you determine which course is right for you when it's time to purchase a car either through a cash payment or financing.

If you need a car and your nest egg is non-existent, then the choice should be easy. If you're holding a few thousand dollars, you might want to keep that for security against unforeseen expenses. For guidance, most financial experts recommend that your emergency fund cover three-to-six months of living expenses.

If you're determined to pay cash, your options may be somewhat limited based on what you can afford to buy with your savings alone. Further, many new vehicles now offer very low sub-vented interest rates, some as low as 0%. It would be a wise financial decision to invest your cash at higher interest rates and finance your new vehicle at 0%. Also, if it's a newer car you crave, financing will probably be your best option because sticker prices are usually out of reach for most cash buyers.

If you have good credit, you'll enjoy easier access to more low-interest financing incentives and promotions. In the past, if your credit was low, it was difficult to even get approved for a car loan, but today technology has made auto financing accessible to more Canadians than ever before.

Furthermore, a auto loan can help you build credit so you'll enjoy even greater financing options in the future. If you don't know your credit score, we can check that for you, please contact our Financial Services Manager -- Brandy Bojnordi for assistance.

Shop confidently with Parry Sound Chevrolet Buick GMC

Ultimately, the most important question you should ask yourself is: what makes the most sense for me? Parry Sound Chevrolet Buick GMC can help you answer this by assessing your financial situation and discussing your options with you.

Apply now and chat with our Financial Services Manager today!