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SmartTips is a totally free weekly eMail newsletter featuring expert advise and tips on the topics that matter to you, such as:
- Tempated by new car deals? Check here first to avoid over-paying.
- End of the year anticipation? Did something change this year that will affect your taxes?
- 529 College Savings Plans. Your children are never too young—or too old—for you to get started.
Save money with FREE tips on everything from budgeting, managing debt, buying insurance, and planning for retirement.
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| Get SmartTips Newsletters by Email |
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SmartTips is a totally free weekly eMail newsletter featuring expert advise and tips on the topics that matter to you, such as:
- Tempated by new car deals? Check here first to avoid over-paying.
- End of the year anticipation? Did something change this year that will affect your taxes?
- 529 College Savings Plans. Your children are never too young—or too old—for you to get started.
Save money with FREE tips on everything from budgeting, managing debt, buying insurance, and planning for retirement.
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Determine Your Budget
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The 15-percent rule is just a guideline. Depending on your life stage—and income—you may need to depart from it. For example, if you just graduated from college and are in your first job, you may be receiving an entry-level salary. In this case, a car payment equal to 15 percent of your take-home might not buy you much car. Assuming your other expenses are reasonable, you may need to borrow a higher percentage of take-home in order to purchase a quality vehicle.
Conversely, if you are a baby-boomer in your peak-earning years, you may be able to purchase a great car for much less than the 15% take-home figure.
Also keep in mind there’s more to the cost of a car than purchase price. Also factor in the operating costs (fuel, maintenance, etc.) and insurance. This can be a significant cost item, especially for high-performance vehicles. So think through how much you’re willing and able to pay for insurance each year before you begin car shopping. This will help you to avoid “falling in love” with a car that’s exorbitant to insure.
You’ll also want to consider the costs of taking out a car loan.
The 15-percent rule is just a guideline. Depending on your life stage—and income—you may need to depart from it. For example, if you just graduated from college and are in your first job, you may be receiving an entry-level salary. In this case, a car payment equal to 15 percent of your take-home might not buy you much car. Assuming your other expenses are reasonable, you may need to borrow a higher percentage of take-home in order to purchase a quality vehicle.
Conversely, if you are a baby-boomer in your peak-earning years, you may be able to purchase a great car for much less than the 15% take-home figure.
Also keep in mind there’s more to the cost of a car than purchase price. Also factor in the operating costs (fuel, maintenance, etc.) and insurance. This can be a significant cost item, especially for high-performance vehicles. So think through how much you’re willing and able to pay for insurance each year before you begin car shopping. This will help you to avoid “falling in love” with a car that’s exorbitant to insure.
You’ll also want to consider the costs of taking out a car loan.
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Notice
By clicking any of the link(s) on this page you will be transferring from this Marsh site to a site comprised of third party content. You hereby agree that Marsh is not responsible or liable in any manner for such third party content hosted on the linked site.
Notice
By clicking any of the link(s) on this page you will be transferring from this Marsh site to a site comprised of third party content. You hereby agree that Marsh is not responsible or liable in any manner for such third party content hosted on the linked site.
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Estimate Your Monthly Payment
If you're like most people, you'll take out a loan to pay for your new car. Your monthly loan payment will be based on a number of factors including:
- Cost of your new car
- Amount of your trade-in and down payment
- The amount you own on your trade-in
- Interest rate
- Length of the loan
- Sales taxes and other fees
Use this online calculator to estimate your monthly payment.
Source: CPA Site Solutions
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Note |
| The products and services listed on this page are presented as a service to you. Neither L-3 nor Marsh recommends any product or service; there is no guarantee that any listing on this page will be suitable for a particular purpose. |
Estimate Your Monthly Payment
If you're like most people, you'll take out a loan to pay for your new car. Your monthly loan payment will be based on a number of factors including:
- Cost of your new car
- Amount of your trade-in and down payment
- The amount you own on your trade-in
- Interest rate
- Length of the loan
- Sales taxes and other fees
Use this online calculator to estimate your monthly payment.
Source: CPA Site Solutions
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Note |
| The products and services listed on this page are presented as a service to you. Neither L-3 nor Marsh recommends any product or service; there is no guarantee that any listing on this page will be suitable for a particular purpose. |
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Browse the Prices of Various Cars Thinking about purchasing a certain make and model? How does it size up to comparable brands? View new car prices, reviews & detailed information about various car makes and models.
Source: Edmunds.com
| Note | | The products and services listed on this page are presented as a service to you. Neither L-3 nor Marsh recommends any product or service; there is no guarantee that any listing on this page will be suitable for a particular purpose. |
Browse the Prices of Various Cars Thinking about purchasing a certain make and model? How does it size up to comparable brands? View new car prices, reviews & detailed information about various car makes and models.
Source: Edmunds.com
| Note | | The products and services listed on this page are presented as a service to you. Neither L-3 nor Marsh recommends any product or service; there is no guarantee that any listing on this page will be suitable for a particular purpose. |
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View Car Operating Costs This resource contains Operating costs and Ownership costs associated with operating a vehicle.
Source: American Public Transportation Association
| Note | | The products and services listed on this page are presented as a service to you. Neither L-3 nor Marsh recommends any product or service; there is no guarantee that any listing on this page will be suitable for a particular purpose. |
View Car Operating Costs This resource contains Operating costs and Ownership costs associated with operating a vehicle.
Source: American Public Transportation Association
| Note | | The products and services listed on this page are presented as a service to you. Neither L-3 nor Marsh recommends any product or service; there is no guarantee that any listing on this page will be suitable for a particular purpose. |
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Buying a car is a major purchase, so shop carefully. Your goal: to find the car you need at a price you can afford. The information below will steer you right.
How much car is too much? Get guidance here.Financial experts recommend spending no more 12 to 15 percent of your after-tax monthly income for car payments. To calculate how much car you can afford, multiply your monthly net pay (take-home pay after taxes are deducted) times 15% (.15). Your car payment should not exceed this general guideline. 
Buying used can save a lot of money. But know what you’re buying.Years ago, cars were much less dependable. That made buying a used car a risky bet. Today, with new cars having far fewer defects, the chance of buying a clunker is much lower. Still, it pays to know when it makes sense to buy used—and when it doesn’t.
Leasing is confusing, that much is clear. Get enlightened here.You can’t make the lease/buy decision without understanding the mechanics of leasing. This involves knowing all of the provisions of a lease contract and knowing your initial, ongoing, and final leasing costs.
There are so many vehicles to choose from. Narrow your options . . . or else.Car showrooms are like candy stores. Unless you know exactly what you want, you’ll spend too much and regret it later.
Car shopping is tricky for the uninitiated. Get up to speed before you head out.Maybe you’ve always pictured yourself driving a shiny red convertible. Or perhaps you’ve had a recent addition to the family and you’re looking for the practicality of a minivan. Whatever the reason, you’re in the market for a new car. Here are some tips to help make the car-buying process a bit easier.
You thought shopping for a car was tough. Try shopping for money.Consider all of your options for financing your vehicle: direct loans from a bank, credit union, or finance company; loans from Internet finance providers; and dealer loans. But financing details can be complicated, so do your homework. The advice below will help.
Protect your shiny new (or used) car with auto insurance. But get a good deal first.Not all auto insurance is the same. Prices and service quality can vary depending on the insurer you select. Your job: Find the right balance between low cost and quality service.
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