Processing Your Car Financing Application

Once you’ve sent in your applications, do you know what the financial institutions do to get your loan approved? Read on!

Identification and Income - Your identity, contacts, income and other information are all being verified and cross checked. They will search through central databases to make sure you don’t have a criminal or bad driving record. Most of this information will be used later for more detailed checks.

Risk Assessment and Ability to make Repayment - The bank will make sure that you have a good history of credit and will be able to make payments in a timely basis based on track record and your details above.

Current Market Rates - The financiers will look at how much to charge you on top of the amount they are going to loan you based on current market situations.

A broker or financing consultant can make the whole application and approval process that much simpler. So why not contact The Smarter Finance Company for a bit of professional help today?

Processing Your Car Financing Application

Questions to Ask when you’re Ready to Buy a Car

If you’re ready to buy a car, perhaps you should ask yourself these questions to make sure that you’re on the right track balancing your cash and financing.

How much do you Have? - How much you have in the bank determines how much you can put down for the car now and how much you’ll need to apply for with the bank.

How much can you Afford? -  Your on-going commitment is going to be a part of your life so you need to work out how much spare cash you can put aside every month without having to eat potatoes every day for the rest of the contract.

Do you have any Upcoming Commitments? - Life events like a wedding or a baby might require you to put aside your cash and reconsider just how much you can set aside. When things are uncertain, it’s best to put off any major cash purchases.

Do you Really Need a New Car? -  Sometimes people buy cars on a whim. While that might be nice, not all of us can afford to do so “just for fun”.

If you want to know more about how to apply for the best car finance deals, then call The Smarter Finance Company! 

Questions to Ask when you’re Ready to Buy a Car

Buying a Car that Retains its Value

You can make a difference to your resale value of your car with some handy tips here!

Choosing the Right Car - Because you will eventually have to sell or look at a new car, it’s important to choose a car that will potentially stand the test of time. Some cars are evergreen, and it pays to look at whether those models fit into the list that you’re looking at.

Looking at your Options - Different car features will appeal to different people so if you have too many frills installed, it may be harder to attract the right buyer. Our advice is to go for a right tier of car that offers as close to what you want without too many pricy add-ons.

Taking Care of your Car - We can’t stress how important it is to take care of your car and drive safely! Accidents and deterioration of the inside or outside of the car will negatively affect its value.

The Smarter Finance Company can help you to make sure that your finances are in order so when you eventually sell your vehicle, you’ll be financially prepared for that new one too!

Buying a Car that Retains its Value

Things to Think About when Signing for Car Financing

Here are some basics about car financing so that you can go into negotiations knowing what to expect...

Payments - THE biggest component of car finance is the amount you pay back to the bank every month. Tweaking this figure helps to shorten or lengthen the tenure of your contract depending on how much you can afford.

Interest Rates and Fees - Floating/variable or fixed rates affect how much on top of your monthly payments you are paying back to the bank. Sometimes there are additional fees to the dealer or broker as payment for their services.

Options - Check out the fine details of how your car loan works, for example Novated Leases, Hire Purchase agreements, secured and unsecured options, refinancing, balloon payments and tax rebates.

What Happens if you Can’t meet the Obligations - Read the T&Cs carefully to ensure that you know what happens if you miss or default on your payments.

You can make the process a lot simpler with a little help from  The Smarter Finance Company, find out how we can help you with your car finances today.

Things to Think About when Signing for Car Financing

Things to do before you Sign for you New Car

Need a list of last minute things to do when you buy your car? Here it is!

Look at Referrals - Have a look-see at what others are saying about your dealer or the car itself and you might just find out whether you’re making a right decision.

Check the Car - Tick off all the inspection items against the physical car before you get in it or even sign the contract. Make sure that you are getting exactly what you paid for!

Review your Financing Plan - Make sure that the figures tally so that you don’t end up with a plan that puts you in a bad position later on.

Be Certain! - If you need a little more time to think, then take it. Don’t get cornered into a purchase that you don’t think you’ll be 100% satisfied with.

The Smarter Finance Company can help you with getting your finances on track and can even walk you through the whole procedure or purchasing a new car. Call us today!

Things to do before you Sign for you New Car

How to Check your Car before Driving

Getting a few checks done before you drive off might make the difference between a smooth ride and a huge inconvenience.  Read on!

Exterior - Look for leaking fluid as well as any tire issues. Your windshields, windows and mirrors should all provide clear visibility too

Engine - Make sure that your fluid levels are up and that your battery is charged up.

Signals and Lights - Your indicator lights should be bright and responsive. Make sure that your headlight, brake and reverse lights are not blown. Your wipers should be in good working order too!

Interior - Make sure nothing has sneaked into the car before you drive off! Also, give your car a chance to warm up so you can read the gauges and make sure that everything is in order.

When car trouble is unavoidable, you can always call a mechanic or reliable roadside assistance team to bail you out! Find out how you can subscribe with such services with The Smarter Finance Company today!

How to Check your Car before Driving 

How to Protect your Car

Take a few steps once in a while to make sure that your investment in your new car is protected!

Scheduled Maintenance - Follow your scheduled maintenance schedule! A trained mechanic will not only be able to help you tune up your vehicle every once in a while if you can’t do so on your own but they can spot some problems that you might have missed!

Washing and Waxing - Keeping your car clean helps your car to continue to look its best! A shiny car is also perceived to be worth more too.

Car Alarm - A simple car alarm can help protect your car from theft and vandalism. Just make sure to calibrate the car well if you don’t want to wake up the neighbourhood with the slightest disturbance!

Driving Safe! - If you drive safe, you prevent a lot of unnecessary woes! Follow the road rules and make sure you are in good condition to drive before getting in the car.

A good comprehensive insurance coverage can help make sure that if something does happen to your car that you’ll have somewhere to go to get repairs done! Call The Smarter Finance Company to find out more! 

How to Protect your Car

Things to Note when Applying for Car Financing

Find out more about how to apply for the best finance deals here.

Asking around - Do your research and perhaps look for a broker or specialist to help you do comparisons and figure out the right figures for you.

Comparing and Selecting Quotes - After all the applications, you can start comparing the different quotes to find out which plan gives you the most value for money. Don’t be suckered into making a hasty decision because a car financing loan is a big commitment over a long time!

Processing Your Application - All that’s left to do now is send in your documents so they can finalise the loan. Different companies will have different requirements so make sure that you follow their list if you don’t want delays!

With your loan finalised, you can head to the dealership to pick up your or start negotiations for one! Do remember that at all stages you can contact a broker like The Smarter Finance Company to help you compare and analyse the different quotes!

How to keep Your Car in Good Shape

Here are some basic maintenance steps that you can take to keep your car in good shape.

Exterior- Make sure your tires are properly inflated and well balanced. Ensure that your car windows and mirrors are well-adjusted and clear so that your vision is unobstructed.

Interior- Getting your car vacuumed and cleaned is not only going to help maintain the value of your car, but it’s hygienic too! You should also maintain your sound and entertainment system as well.

Engine - The oil and fluid levels should be topped up and you should check out any issues with your car with a mechanic as soon as you notice something out of place.

Finances - Making sure that you have enough funds to fix any problems is important too! And to do that, you should ensure that your financing plan is something affordable for you and your family!

If you need help to keep your car in shape, ask a mechanic for tips!

How to keep Your Car in Good Shape

How Much is a Car REALLY Going to Cost you?

If you’re going to spend a lot of money on a car, you should know what you’re spending it all on!

Purchasing Costs - The advertised price plus extra features plus sellers’ and agent’s fees come under this section. This is how much it will cost to take the car out of the dealership and drive it back home!

Running Costs - To run your car, you’re going to need fuel, as well as parking and other road fees and tolls as well as servicing and repair costs to ensure that your vehicle is in good shape to be on the roads.

Protection Costs - Insuring your vehicle is mandatory for a minimum amount of coverage. But while it may be a cost, it’s something you will definitely need if you don’t want to pay through your nose if an accident happens!

Legal Costs - The government will normally charge you road taxes and fees for registration and maintenance of the road. And just in case you do get fined for speeding or illegal parking....

With all these costs adding up, why not get the best car finance rate to ensure that you save where it counts? Contact  The Smarter Finance Company today!

How Much is a Car REALLY Going to Cost you?

Questions to Help you Decide on a Car

Finding that one car? Ask yourself these questions first!

Family Situation? Thinking about that sporty 2-door? Think again! Do you have a big family? Perhaps you’ll need more space!

Lifestyle Choices? If you need space in the car for your work tools or for a golf bag or boogy board, then you may want to look at a car with a bigger capacity.

Commuting Habits? Comfort and fuel economy are key if you’re travelling long distance. You may need better traction and control if you drive in hilly terrain too.

Do you Need Power?  You don’t quite need too much power if you live in the city where there are lots of traffic lights. This depends a lot on your commuting habits too!

Tax Rebates? Do you want to utilise your car to get you tax rebates? Look at the different financing plans to get you the best deal.

Budget!! Don’t overspend! You could literally be paying for choosing above what you can afford for a long time to come! Ask the experts to help you work out a comfortable amount to pay for a new car.

The Smarter Finance Company helps people every day with car financing problems and questions. Our doors are always open to you if you need us!

How to Save on Maintenance Fees

Making sure that your car is in tune and in proper shape can be expensive, but here’s how to keep your maintenance fees low.

Routine maintenance - If you’re not sure what you need to do, at the very least you need to meet your regular maintenance schedules with your registered workshop!

Find a good mechanic - A good mechanic can spot a small problem and fix it before it becomes a much bigger and more expensive one!

Know what to Look Out for! - Getting acquainted with your engine can help you spot problems when they happen and get them fixed before they turn into bigger problems.

Take care of your tyres - People forget that their tyres can cost them a lot of money! Make sure that the treads are not worn out and the suspension is properly balanced. Keeping a spare helps a lot too!

If you find you are spending too much money on your car, why not explore refinancing to bring those costs down?

How to Save on Maintenance Fees

Deciding on Extra Features for Your Car

What are some extra features you can add-on to your car? Find out below!

Safety Add-ons - Check your car for number and placement of airbags, warning systems, and other technology that can help you detect danger around you and your vehicle.

Electric or Environmentally-conscious Versions - If there is a hybrid version, why not do your part for the environment and gain some fuel economy when you use electricity instead of petrol to run your car!

Paint & detailing - Changing colour and look of your car is an expensive feature that doesn’t add much value to your car but can be nice if you want to personalise your car.

More Technology - If you want to be connected on the move or entertained, or simply have a good mapping system installed, you can take a look at what technology can be added into your car’s control panel.

Extra Insurance and Warranties - Car insurance and warranties are important add-ons to give you peace of mind when you’re on the road. Find out more about what you’re covered for to make sure you are covered in all situations.

Extra features for your car might be quite expensive so be careful when you negotiate extras with your dealer. 

Deciding on Extra Features for Your Car

Making Sure you have Sufficient Car Insurance

You shouldn’t ever compromise on your car insurance even though it’s expensive. Here’s how to keep your insurance costs low...

Buy an Affordable Car - Sports, performance and SUV models generally are more risky cars to drive because of the power they have. While the cars are costly themselves, it can be expensive to insure them too.

Figure out what you Need - Find out what kind of coverage there is. Comprehensive insurance is a good mid-level coverage to start with.

Compare Car Insurance - Compare the best car insurance deals and pick the one that fits your car the best. Make sure you check out reviews of the company too!

Look for Discounts - There just might be some special rates if you pick up a package deal or wait for a particular time in the year.

Manage your Excess - Balance your excess with how much you can afford but don’t pick an excess too high that you won’t be able to claim anything unless your car is totalled!

Drive Carefully! - A good driving track record means a cheaper insurance premium!  

Check with The Smarter Finance Company if you need help with those quote comparisons today!

Making Sure you have Sufficient Car Insurance

What to Do in a Car Accident

Oh no! You’re in a car accident! What should you do now? Read on so that you’ll be prepared if it ever happens to you.

 What should I do? - KEEP CALM. Check for injured passengers and help them first. Have your hazard lights on while you stop to do the necessary.

Notify Police if Necessary - If there have been injuries or damages to property, call your local authorities and inform them a crash has happened and take responsibility for your actions.

Get help - If someone is injured, call an ambulance and get that person to safety and out of the vehicle if you can. If you’re not sure what else to do, get in touch with your insurance agency who can walk you through what to do.

Exchange Details - You are required to exchange details with the other parties in the accident no matter who caused it. Do not admit who is at fault just in case there are legal proceedings. Your insurance company can handle things once they have all the information.

With The Smarter Finance Company, you can ensure that you have a robust car insurance coverage and roadside assistance too if you need it! Call us to find out more!

What to Do in a Car Accident