Auto Loans
Rates: 7.04 percent (60-month, new car); 7.88 percent (36-month, used car)Rates are up in this week's Interest Rate Roundup -- only 2 basis points from last week for all new-car loan terms surveyed.
The 60-month, new-car loan rate is 7.04 percent, the 48-month loan rate is 7.03 percent and the 36-month loan rate is 6.91 percent.
Used car loan rates remain unchanged from last week. The 36-month, used-car loan rate is 7.88 percent and the 48-month, used-car loan rate is 8.01 percent.
The General Motors and Chrysler bankruptcy deals leave victims of defective vehicles or their families with no recourse to sue in case of injury or death, says a report released June 23 from Safety Research and Strategies titled "Public Safety at Risk: Bankruptcies Leave Legacy of Defects, Injuries and Deaths"
For Chrysler, the terms of its deal with Fiat absolve the American carmaker of any liability for accidents or deaths caused by defective cars prior to the sale.
In its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, GM will receive similar protection.
On June 19, eight states filed an objection to the provision that will allow GM to shed product liability claims.
The report says that GM's average number of casualties per year is 2,779, and Chrysler's is 636.
In addition, the report notes that the provisions shielding the companies from liability could decrease the number of recalls the companies will be responsible for because these kinds of claims provide data from which recalls are based. With fewer death and injury claims, dangerous problems may go unresolved.
To find updated auto rates in your area, visit Bankrate's auto rate table.
-- Sheyna Steiner