 TITLE: How to Buy a Used Car CONTENT: Shop Around for Auto Loans\n--------------------------\nFinancing your car through the dealer isn't always the best way to go; you can often get better terms and interest rates from a third-party lender. Before you actually start visiting dealerships, shop around for auto loans from banks, credit unions and online lenders. Also take time to learn more about how to get a car loan.\nGetting preapproved for a car loan can give you more bargaining power at the dealership. It also gives you a firm budget to work with so you know exactly how much you can spend. Fill out a preliminary application with a lender; if you're preapproved, you'll get an offer of credit including the loan size, terms and interest rate the lender is willing to offer you. To be sure you receive the best terms, get preapproved by more than one lender. Just make sure to complete all the applications within about 14 days because each loan application counts as a separate hard inquiry into your credit history, and too many hard inquiries can hurt your credit scores. However, when you consolidate all your applications into a 14-day period, they're treated as one hard inquiry, limiting the impact on your credit score. END