You don't necessarily have to be a finance expert or a skilled mathematician to understand when you're getting a good deal on your new car loan. Still, it definitely helps if you understand how loans work and if you're prepared to make some sense of the numbers. Here are the top five things you should know before you get a loan for a new car:

1. How Financing Offers Work - You're likely to see the phrase "for qualified buyers" or something similar when you see a low APR financing offer. In other words, you won't qualify automatically. Make sure you understand all of your options and step two will help with that.
2. Know Your Credit Score - This will have the single biggest impact on the type of loan you're able to get. It's relatively easy to check your credit score online, and you should do this before you visit the dealership to minimize surprises.
3. Plan Your Loan Applications - This is especially important if you plan on applying for multiple loans to see what kind of offers you can get. Your credit score may drop when you apply for new loans, so try to limit your applications to a two-week period. Minimizing the shopping period will show lenders that you're only looking for a single loan, which minimizes the negative impact on your credit score.
4. Get Pre-Approved - When you're preapproved for a loan, you have one less thing to worry about when you're shopping for a new car. Just make sure you complete the shopping process before your offer expires, if applicable. You can apply for financing here to get pre-approved before you visit our Mazda dealership in Burlingame.Calculate the Total Costs - The monthly payment amount is important, but there are other things to consider as well. A long loan with lower monthly payments, for example, may have you paying much more interest in the long run. If you're not good with spreadsheets, you can find online resources that will make an amortization table for you and show you all of the costs.

Our Mazda dealer often has great finance, service & car specials availible. Don't miss out on these great vehicle specials in Burlingame.

If you haven't decided on a particular model, make sure to check out Putnam Mazda's new Mazda and used car inventory. Our great selection of inventory has us confident you will find what you are looking for!

Once you decide which vehicle is the best fit for your lifestyle, check to see if there are any current financing offers. The manufacturer occasionally offers low APR Mazda finance rates to help you get a car loan with minimal interest, using Mazda Financial Services (MFS). No matter when you decide to buy a new car or what incentives the manufacturer is running, our finance department will work with you to help you get the best car loan possible.

Our finance experts are experienced, which means they're able to find financing offers others might miss. It's easy to get a great deal and low APR financing if you have good credit and a large down payment prepared. If you aren't prepared to make a large down payment upfront, or if your credit is less than perfect, you may be left wondering how to get a loan for a new car. Those challenging situations are where we thrive, so talk to our financing experts and see how we can work with you.

New Mazda Financing in the Bay Area

Get ready to save money today at Putnam Mazda in Burlingame, CA. Our finance professionals are ready to deliver financing options that you can afford. Stop in to learn more about leasing and loan options today in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Before you visit us in person, you can even start your new car loan application online or contact us today if you have any additional questions.