 TITLE: Do Credit Unions Offer Better Car Loans? CONTENT: When Does It Make Sense to Finance a Car Through a Credit Union?\n----------------------------------------------------------------\nWhen should you choose credit union auto financing instead of getting a loan from a bank or auto dealership?\n*   If you're just beginning to build credit, have fair to poor credit or have a thin credit file, a credit union may be more likely to approve you for an auto loan than a bank or auto dealership.\n*   If you already belong to a credit union, it makes sense to see how their loan terms compare to those of banks or dealerships. Getting preapproved for an auto loan from your credit union before you visit the dealership can give you more negotiating power.\n*   Managing an auto loan from a credit union can be less convenient than managing a loan from a dealership or bank. If the credit union doesn't have online banking options, for example, you'll have to mail in your loan payments by check. The trade-off is a lower interest rate on your loan. If being able to make your loan payments online, use a mobile app to check your loan balance, or easily visit a bank branch is really important to you, look for a credit union that offers these amenities. END