 TITLE: Should You Buy a Rental Car? CONTENT: How to Get a Used Car Loan\n--------------------------\nBefore you apply for a used car loan, assess your budget, the amount you have saved (or can save) for a down payment, and the vehicle you want to see how much money you'll need to borrow. You can get a general idea of rental car prices by searching inventory on their websites.\nRental car companies may offer their own financing. However, you'll have the upper hand in negotiations if you're already preapproved for a third-party loan before you start shopping for a car. Compare auto loans available from banks, online lenders and credit unions (if you belong to one).\nTo get preapproved for a loan, you'll fill out a preliminary application with some basic information. If you're preapproved, you'll receive an offer of credit specifying the amount and loan terms. Applying for preapproval doesn't affect your credit score because it causes a soft inquiry on your credit report, not a hard inquiry the way an actual loan application does. END