“Upside Down” on an Auto Loan

When it comes to your auto loan, the last thing you want to experience is being “upside down” on it. In the language of auto loans, when a consumer is upside down on their auto loan, it means they owe more money than the car is currently worth.

As many consumers know, the value of a new car depreciates the second it is driven off the lot. Depreciation causes a car to lose 20% of its value immediately after being purchased and driven home. By combining an expensive auto loan with depreciation, consumers can find themselves upside down very quickly.

That can be a very aggravating scenario for those who like getting a new car every few years. If you find yourself upside down on a loan and sell your vehicle to finance the purchase of a new one, you will find that you are at a huge loss.

Being upside down can be especially frustrating for those who have had their car totaled in an accident or stolen. If you are upside down on the loan, the insurance company’s reimbursement will be less than your total loan amount. You will then have to go into your pocket to pay off the remaining debt for a vehicle you no longer own.

There are some strategies to follow to help avoid losing money on an auto loan. One strategy is to make a substantial down payment of at least 20% on your vehicle. Your loan amount will automatically be lower, thus decreasing the risk of becoming upside down on a loan.

Also, try to pay off your car in the shortest amount of time possible. Experts advise not having a loan that exceeds a period of five years.