The trend toward longer loans and higher payments is not a good one – especially for borrowers with problem credit – as this increases interest charges as well as the length of time a borrower is upside down in the loan. Borrowers with credit issues, in particular, should keep the loan term and amount financed as low as possible so they can trade out earlier and into another vehicle with a more manageable interest rate.

Many people walk into a dealership with only a vague idea of how auto loans and financing work. It never hurts to be extra prepared when financing an expense as big as a car, and reading up on the main consumer protection laws concerning auto financing is a smart thing to do.

The car-shopping specialists over at Autotrader recently published a list of 10 great certified pre-owned vehicles. Half of the models that made the list can be bought for less than $20,000 on average, making them good targets for buyers with less than perfect credit and/or tight budgets.

If car manufacturer's ever stopped offering leather interiors, would this luxurious and expensive material be missed in the automotive world? Or, would consumers be content with fabric and fabric alone? PETA and the world wants to know.

There are so many auto industry awards out there that seemingly every make and model can claim some honor. Plus, the excess of them makes it more confusing for the consumer to parse through their meaning. Should these awards even matter when making a car-buying decision?

At any given time, a used car purchase is going to make sense for a significant portion of buyers. And right now, choosing a previously owned vehicle over a brand new one may be the best move for even more consumers.

If you're looking to acquire financing for your next vehicle, you should know all of the common hidden fees and potential penalties you could face in your auto loan.

If you need a new family vehicle, you may get a great deal in 2016. This is because new car prices are likely to stall this year, and overall affordability in the auto market is up nearly 13% from last year.

Staying informed is an important piece of buying a car, and the following myths will show you why you shouldn't take expert theories at face value.

If you find a car that you're interested in buying, only to discover that it isn't actually owned by the seller, you may want to think twice about proceeding with the purchase. Buying a car with a lien can be a lengthy and complicated process.