
How much car can I afford? How to calculate car affordability
Before shopping, do your research to make sure you get the best car for your budget.
Rebecca Betterton is a writer for Bankrate who has been reporting on auto loans since 2021. Through her writing, Rebecca aims to provide clarity and accessibility to the automotive loans industry as the cost to finance new and used vehicles continues to climb due to steep inflation.
She specializes in assisting readers in navigating the ins and outs of securely borrowing money to purchase a car, but recently widened her scope to cover personal loans and other debt topics. Prior to her time at Bankrate, she was a social media reporter and copywriter.
When Rebecca isn’t researching recent trends in the world of personal finance, she is an avid runner and a lover of interior design.
Rebecca understands the anxiety that comes with heading to a dealership. She is passionate about empowering readers to make informed financial decisions in the showroom through focused advice and guidance. Outside of that, she has spent the last year researching EV financing and trends to make it more accessible for all sorts of drivers.
Before shopping, do your research to make sure you get the best car for your budget.
Rolling over your car loan increases the negative equity of your vehicle.
Get in the best position for future financing by staying on top of your new loan.
The best route for buying a car depends on the type of experience you prefer.
Green auto loans promise lower rates for shoppers who buy fuel-efficient cars.
Vroom offers delivery and fully online process.
A lender may not let you remove a car loan co-signer without refinancing.
Take these steps before heading to the dealership and during the test drive.