For people in need of a bit of brief financial flexibility, car title loans are often the way to go. At Loans for Less, our simple title loans allow you to walk out with that extra cash you needed with limited hassle. What are some factors you should be considering as you search for a title loan? These loans aren’t without risk, and the right considerations can go a long way. Here are some tips for important factors to keep in mind.

Annual Interest Rate

Most title loan interest rates will be calculated on a monthly basis, but this likely won’t line up with other forms of debt you’ve had in the past. Most of these areas use yearly interest rates due to the longer lengths of their loan. This confusion can be costly if you get it wrong. A credit card with a 20 percent interest rate yearly isn’t so bad, but a title loan with a monthly interest rate at the same level will have much higher payments. Make sure you’re aware of which rate is being referenced before you sign anything.

Forced Arbitration

Some title loan lenders are less than reputable, and these folks will often require forced arbitration clauses – these remove your right to take any complaints or disputes from the loan in front of a judge. If a lender is confident in their ethical practices, there should be no reason they require this kind of clause.

Fees and Early Repayment

There may be other fees involved besides your interest rate, including insurance coverage in some cases. You could see origination fees, lien fees, processing fees and many others. Some may even charge a repossession fee in cases where repossession is necessary, even though such a fee isn’t even legal. Get all these details in advance, and in writing. In addition, find out what the lender’s policy on early repayment is. Some lenders will require additional payments if you finish the loan too early – this is to preserve the profits they would have seen from interest otherwise. But not all do, and if you think paying back early might be possible, be sure to confirm that it’s allowed without a penalty. Want to learn more about title loans, or any of our other loan programs? Speak to the pros at Loans for Less today.

Receiving a title loan is a less complex process than nearly any other type of loan, and at Loans for Less, we’re here to get you out the door with the cash and rate you need for your financial situation. Despite the process being simpler than many other kinds of loans, there are still several important questions you want to be asking as you get started. Here are a few of the most important things to be asking about, whether it’s a title loan, signature loan or personal loan.

What’s the Annual Interest Rate?

The typical rate on a title loan is 25 percent, but this is a monthly figure – it’s not the same as your credit card, which charges interest rates annually. This same monthly figure would equate to 300 percent annually. Title loans have higher interest rates than most other formats, so don’t allow yourself to be confused by the time period being used for the interest format.

What Fees Are Charged?

Some lenders will also charge additional fees on top of the interest rate, and others will require that you purchase loan insurance. Some may even try to charge repossession fees if this ever happens, even though this is illegal. Make sure you know well in advance what sort of fees you might be open to, and make sure they’re documented carefully.

Is There a Forced Arbitration Clause?

Because there are occasionally shady dealers in this industry, you need to be careful. A forced arbitration clause is a contract some lenders might try to get you to sign, and it will waive your right to take any disputes before a judge. If possible, try to never sign one of these agreements – you’ll be wide open to several unscrupulous practices.

What Are the Guidelines for Early Payments and Rolling Over?

Lenders want to make money, and the primary way they do this is through interest. For this reason, some may institute penalties for payments that come too early, before enough interest has been collected. If there’s any chance you’re planning to pay early, make sure this isn’t the case. In addition, find out the guidelines for if you’re behind on payments and need to roll over further. This will damage your credit and finances, but there are lenders who will work with you to limit the damage – while others might place a limit on how long or how often you can do this. Want to learn more about title loan questions to ask up front, or any other loan services? The brokers at Loans for Less are standing by.

No one takes out a loan without planning to pay it back, but as we all know, things happen. Maybe an emergency rears its head, or maybe you lose a source of income during your repayment of a title loan – at Loans for Less, we understand that not everything in life happens exactly as scheduled. Coming up late or short on car title loan payments can be damaging to finances, but there are a few options at your disposal for getting things paid off in an orderly fashion without getting into too much trouble. Here are some tips.

Paying it Off

By far the simplest and most preferable option, of course, is simply paying the loan back on time. Some lenders may drag their feet if you pay the loan off too early, so if this is a possibility, lay it out up front and find out what your options will be. In cases where you don’t have the funds immediately on hand, you could also look into selling the vehicle to free up cash flow.

Refinancing

Converting the title loan into a different kind of loan is another approach if you’re short on cash. If you qualify for a basic fixed loan from a bank, this will often come with a much lower interest rate and lower payments than your title loan – you can use the money to pay off the title loan and avoid the repossession of your vehicle. If you’re having trouble finding a good loan, visit smaller banks and credit unions.

Negotiation

There are many situations where your lender will work with you – they want the money to be repaid just as badly as you do, after all. You might be able to lower your payment in exchange for a longer loan term, or lower interest rate in exchange for other concessions. This may damage your credit in many cases, but that’s often preferable to getting your car repossessed.

Default and Bankruptcy

Defaulting on a loan is when you stop paying, and this is the last of your options – it will damage your credit and potentially lose you your car. There are situations where simply surrendering your car might be the best option. There are also situations where bankruptcy will get you some relief from certain title loan debts. Want to learn more about title loan repayment tactics, or any of our other services? Speak to the brokers at Loans for Less today.

A big part of the appeal of car title loans and personal loans is their speedy nature. The ability to get quick cash for an emergency or other immediate expense is a big deal to many people, and at Easy Title Loans, we’re here to get you the best deal possible on a title loan while also respecting the demands on your time. For most people, this means following a basic, tried-and-tested step-by-step process to getting your title loan approved and ready to go. Let’s look at these basic steps to get you ready for your next application.

Inspection

The first step of any title loan process is the valuation of your vehicle as collateral, which mostly takes place through a basic inspection. All relevant value items will be examined by the lender’s technicians, from functionality to appearance. Just to save a bit of time, make sure in advance that the location you’re going to for a valuation accepts title loans for your make and model of vehicle – some may have restrictions.

Processing

While your car is being inspected, you’ll fill out some brief paperwork to make your application official. This application will be considered, along with the value of your car and any other relevant factors – including your credit history, income situation and other financial elements.

Instant Lending Decision

On the spot, you’ll be able to get your verdict. You’ll be told whether you’re approved or denied for a particular type of loan, and you’ll be told the maximum loan amount you’re eligible for based on the value of your car and other factors. This is the point where items like interest rate and loan term will be ironed out and finalized.

Signature, Drive Away

When the paperwork is signed and ready to go and the title has been appropriately transferred, that’s the end of it – you’re ready to drive off with your new cash and get back to your life. You’ll now have a repayment to consider, of course, but you’ve gotten yourself some of the speediest and easiest cash possible with little to no hassle. To learn more about our title loans or any of our other loan programs, speak to the brokers at Easy Title Loans today.

A car title loan from Loans for Less is a perfect way to get you a little financial breathing room when you need it, and we have a wide variety of affordable options available. There are very few hassles or extra details associated with this process, and you can get the quick relief you need as long as you have the proper equity in your car. That equity starts with a clear and clean car title, however, and this is an area where a few folks occasionally run into some issues. You need to be the titleholder of a car to apply for title loans, but there are a few potential issues here. Here are a few of the most common title issues to be aware of.

Title Fraud

Title fraud is unfortunately a common issue in the used car business, and part of the reason you need to take care you go through a reputable vendor. The previous owner of a car, or often a shady dealer, will clean the title history of the car to hide issues – major repairs and big problems, usually. This is typically done to artificially inflate the value of the care for resale, but it’s a crime. If you’re purchasing a used vehicle, be sure to do due diligence.

Improper Transfer

This is usually a paperwork or details issue, but there are times where the title transfer is done improperly. In most cases this won’t be a huge issue so long as both sides are amenable, but again, beware of shady people. In some cases, you’ll have to get a court order to handle the legal side of a transfer if it’s done incorrectly the first time.

Lost Title

The title is a physical piece of paper, so be sure to keep it safe and secure. State motor vehicle offices keep these records, so all it will cost you if you lose the title is a hassle, but there might be other instances where you need proof of ownership of your vehicle

High Loan Rates and Repossession

A title loan is a great way to get some flexibility, but mismanaging repayment can cause issues with your title. Loan rates are high, so you need to be sure you can repay the amounts or risk a tough process getting your title back. Also, if you’re forced to roll over your debt too many times because of failure to repay, you might be at risk for repossession of the car entirely. To learn more about how to avoid these problems, or about any of our signature loans or other programs, speak to our experts at Loans for Less today.

So, you’ve got yourself a car title loan from Loans for Less. You’ve used that cash for a pressing need or emergency expense, and any crisis has been averted. Well, now it’s time to pay your loan back. A default could lose you your car or cause a number of other problems – how do you make sure you avoid that? Better yet, how can you get things done ahead of schedule and provide a boost to both your finances and your credit score? Let’s look at a few simple tips for paying off your title loan earlier than expected.

Round Up Payments

Let’s say your scheduled monthly payment is $68.99, just for example. If you can round that up just a little to a round figure, say $75 or even $100, you could be making much more headway than you think. That little bit of extra per month will chip away slowly at your total interest, and after several months, you’ll all of a sudden find yourself with a much smaller amount – despite paying what seems like a trivial extra amount each month.

Don’t Miss Payments

It may sound obvious, but the downsides of missing payments in a personal loan situation can be extreme. In the case of title loans, any serious delays in payment may cause you to default on you loan, which would in turn lead to you losing your car. Plus, even if you manage to avoid default, missing a payment will raise your interest and the eventual amount you’re forced to pay off.

Make Extra Payments

If you’re scheduled to make payments monthly, but you think you have the flexibility to do so more often, make it happen! There are also ways to split up your payments in ways that allow you to contribute a little extra every now and then without putting a major financial strain on yourself: Instead of a $400 payment once a month, try paying $100 once a week – for months with five weeks or close to it, you’ll end up paying a little extra without causing a major dent in your pocketbook.

One Big Yearly Payment

If you can afford it, a sizable chunk once a year can go a long way. It can knock out a big portion of interest, and may even get you far enough ahead to feel comfortable paying down other debt simultaneously. At Loans for Less, our experts are standing by to assist you with all your personal and title loan questions.

A title loan from Loans for Less can be a great way to get you or your family a little extra cash for a special need this time of year, but it’s important to remember that the loan process is both technical and detail-oriented. No one is requiring a PhD in rocket science to take one out, sure, but going in for a car title loan – or any kind of personal loan – totally unprepared is a recipe for financial disaster. A knowledge of basic terms is a great place to start. By knowing simple terminology and how to talk about your loan in the right way, you’ve already taken the first step toward getting the money you need without any hidden downsides. Here are a few common loan terms to be aware of:

Collateral

Collateral in any loan is simply what you promise to give the lender if you end up unable to pay back the terms of your loan. In the case of car title loans, the vehicle is the collateral. Now, because of the relative ease in locating a car – it’s not like you’re going to hide it under the bed – this usually doesn’t mean you have to actually give up your car to your lender the moment you take out your loan. Some lenders may install GPS systems or other ways of tracking, but even this is rare. Normally, you’re simply at risk of having to give up your car only if you fail to repay your loan appropriately.

Lien

A lien is the legal document that makes the collateral the property of the lender. Effectively, the lender owns our car until you pay off the loan – though again, you’ll almost always be allowed to continue driving it.

Defaulting

Defaulting on a loan means you broke the loan agreement: You skipped or were very late on a payment, or you simply stopped paying altogether. This is a bad word to be hearing if you’ve taken out a title loan, or any loan.

Principal/Interest

The principal is simply the original amount you borrowed from your lender, not including any interest or fees. Interest is the amount of extra money it costs you to borrow this money. Interest is determined by either annual percentage rate (APR) or, in cases where your term is shorter, monthly interest rate.

Balloon Payments

Balloon payments are made at the end of the loan term, and can be larger because they’re comprised of both your remaining interest and your principal loan amount. In some payment structures, you can avoid balloon payments with proper planning.

Rolling Over

Rolling over involves taking another month on your loan after the original period. Most lenders are happy to restructure loans like this, though some will place a limit on how many times you can do it. Got the basics and ready to learn more? Our brokers at Loans for Less are standing by.

Just like treatment expenses for a health condition that’s not covered by insurance, people can turn to loan agencies that offer topnotch title loans in Salt Lake City for financial emergencies,. However, with a loan comes the weight and responsibility to pay off the loan in full and on time. That in mind, personal finance writer Ben Feldman offers a few tips:

There are certain situations where a household can be challenged by financial woes. The recession of more than five years ago has put a lot of families who had led comfortable lifestyles in a myriad of financial problems.

You may follow a strict budget to make ends meet perfectly from paycheck to paycheck. Unfortunately, the delicate balance of such a budget can be ruined by an unforeseen expense or emergency. When thrust into such a situation, many people try to secure a loan. However, getting a loan from a bank can be difficult and time-consuming due to all the documents a bank may require. The worst part is that a bank loan application is not guaranteed to be approved.