If you have not-so-stellar credit, the dealership may pull a bad credit new car loan financing scam on you: Because they want to make the sale, they'll offer you a competitive interest rate. You sign the papers, trade in your old car and drive the new car home. However, a clause in the contract you signed states that the interest rate is based on "loan approval." A few days or longer pass and you get a call from the dealership that the bank didn't approve your loan at the low interest rate. Since you've gotten used to the car and it would be embarrassing to return it, you swallow the higher payments. Dealer 1, buyer 0.

This scam is generally pulled on people with bad credit because it makes more sense to the buyer with bad credit. If you are wondering why they would sell you the car at 5% APR if they knew you had bad credit (remember they ran the credit check already on you) the answer is simple; to sell the car.

Avoid any and all dealer car financing problems by getting your bank or other financial institution to approve a loan BEFORE going to the dealer. This puts YOU in the driver's seat. Because you don't want to be put in the position of getting a bad credit new car loan through the dealership. Even if you do have bad credit, go through your own bank first. Your interest rate may be higher anyway, but at least you'll be able to easily refinance this loan for a lower interest rate in about a year. But refinancing a bad credit car loan through the dealership will be a whole lot harder--especially if the loan is "front loaded," as we talked about earlier.

One thing the car dealership may try to pull on you--especially if you have bad credit--is to take a Factory-to-Consumer Rebate and apply it to the price of the car. This makes them seem like they're doing you a favor by getting you a lower price on the car. When in actuality, they're screwing you: Because the Factory-to-Consumer Rebate is for YOU, so that you can apply it toward your down payment. This makes it a better deal for you. Don't let the dealer take this from you. Don't let the dealer use this as a negotiating tool on the car. The Factory-to-Consumer Rebate has nothing to do with the dealership whatsoever. It is for you--to take as cash--or to apply it to your down payment.

Also keep in mind that when you buy a new car the deal should be made on the price of the car, not on the monthly payments. Always keep this in mind when negotiating with your car dealer's "finance manager".