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Columns: Driving for Dollars
Terry Jackson   Expert: Terry Jackson
Driving for Dollars
Move has same effect as repossession
Driving for Dollars

Giving back car will damage your credit
 

Dear Terry,
We owe $17,379.40 on our auto loan. We have already purchased a smaller vehicle that gets better gas mileage and has a slightly lower monthly payment. You said to give back the original car to the dealer or the finance company only as a last resort. Help.
-- Gregory Merkel

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Dear Gregory,
If you simply turn the old vehicle back to the finance company without paying off the balance, it will damage your credit score the same as a repossession. Try selling the old vehicle. Since I assume you owe more than it's worth, try to find the cash to cover the shortfall.


Here are this week's reader questions:
Certified cars offer value, reassurance
Can I cancel my car deal?
Do car payments help rebuild credit?
Will returning my car have repercussions?
Bankrate.com's corrections policy -- Posted: June 13, 2008
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