Clarification On Buying Cars With A Credit Card
Sometimes Buying A Car With Your Credit Card Is A Good Idea
Not too long ago I talked about crazy things people have done with their credit cards and buying a car was one of those things. A few people replied that there are instances in which it might actually be a good idea to buy a car with a credit card, and I definitely agree.
When It’s A Good Idea
The people who will earn points by paying for a car with a credit card and who can immediately pay the credit card bill off without accruing any interest should definitely consider using a credit card to make their next car purchase. After all, there’s no reason to turn away free money. However, before you whip your credit card out of your wallet, there are some things you need to look into.
When It’s NOT A Good Idea
If the car dealership tries to charge you a “service fee” for allowing you to charge your car purchase, it’s going to cost you more money than you’ll be getting. Check with the car dealership about any additional fees before giving them your credit card for the purchase.
Also make sure your credit card doesn’t start accruing interest right away. Many credit cards don’t accrue interest unless you don’t pay your balance off in full at the end of the month. However, I have heard people complain about credit cards that start accruing interest rate away and this type of card should be avoided when making a car purchase.
The Bottom Line
So yes, I concede, as with almost all things, there is an exception to the rule. While it isn’t feasible for many people to pay for a car with their credit card and it’s an outright bad choice for many, there are some people out there who could benefit from using a rewards credit card to pay for their car.
That being said… If you’re looking to make a car purchase, you’re someone who can pay the balance in full as soon as you receive the bill and you are in need of a rewards card to use, check out this rewards credit card website. You can find some really great rewards credit cards.
Comments
The cash back reward you can earn from credit cards depends on your particular spending profile -- especially how much you spend in various categories (e.g. gas, grocery, restaurants, utilities, etc.)
The calculator tool at Credit Card Tune-Up (www.creditcardtuneup.com) makes choosing the best cash back card (or mix of cards) easy. Given your spending pattern, it calculates your expected annual rewards for each of the leading cash back credit cards and even for your best mix of cards.
See the tool at http://www.creditcardtuneup.com/ .
Posted by: Joel | September 26, 2006 10:59 PM