One of the reasons online direct auto loans are preferable to dealer financing is that dealership financing is usually biased in favor of the dealer. In other words: an independent loan company has more to gain by offering you good rates because the only thing they're providing is loans. Automobile dealers have a car that you want and because of this leverage it does not always behoove them to offer you lower terms and rates. The best online auto loan companies work with a large selection of independent lenders so that they can offer you the best possible terms and rates for which you are qualified. After all, car dealerships are a great place to find a new or used car, but they are not always the best place to get good rates on an auto loan. Independent lenders are much more likely to offer you the most competitive rates available.

Another thing to keep in mind when car shopping is to go into the dealership with as much knowledge as possible. Learn the wholesale/retail value of the type of used car you are interested in before going to the dealer. Do not be afraid to negotiate-my dad used to be a used car dealer and he told me that no offer is too low. That doesn't mean you should go overboard or expect a dealer to give you a car for $100, it just means that making an offer of a few hundred dollars less than the asking price will not provoke the dealer to show you the door.