Open navigation Main Menu Mortgages

Financing a home purchase refinancing your existing loan Finding the perfect lender Additional Resources

Looking for a financial advisor? Do our 3-minute quiz and match with an advisor today.

Main Menu Banking

Compare Accounts Use calculators Get help from bank reviews

Looking for a financial advisor? Try our three minute test and connect the advisor you want today.

Main Menu Credit cards

Compare by category Compare using credit Compare by issuer Get advice

You’re looking for the perfect credit card? Narrow your search with CardMatch(tm)

Main Menu Loans

Personal Loans Student Loans Calculators for Loans, Auto Loans

Find a personal loan within 2 minutes or less. You can also answer a few questions to get offers–with no impact on the credit rating.

Main Menu Investing

Top of the Brokerages, and robo-advisors Learn the basics Additional resources

Looking for a financial advisor? Do our 3-minute quiz and connect to an adviser today.

Main Menu Home equity

Get the best rates Lender reviews Use calculators Knowledge base

Looking for a financial advisor? Take our 3 minute quiz and match to an adviser today.

Main Menu Real estate

Selling a house Buying an investment property Finding the right agent resources

Looking for a financial advisor? Take our 3 minute quiz and match to an adviser today.

Main Menu Insurance

Car Insurance Homeowners insurance Other Insurance Company reviews

Looking for a financial advisor? Take our 3 minute quiz and connect to an adviser today.

Main Menu Retirement

Retirement accounts and retirement plans Find out the basics about retirement calculators Other Resources

Looking for a financial advisor? Try our three minute test and connect to an adviser today.

The search is open and closed.

Submit

The indirect auto loan: What is it and is it an excellent idea? Advertiser Disclosure Advertiser Disclosure We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our mission is to help you make better financial decisions by providing you with interactive tools and financial calculators that provide objective and original content, by enabling users to conduct research and compare information at no cost to help you make informed financial decisions. Bankrate has agreements with issuers, including but not restricted to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. How We Make Money The offers that appear on this site come from companies that compensate us. This compensation can affect the way and where products are displayed on the site, such as, for example, the order in which they be listed within the categories of listing in the event that they are not permitted by law for our mortgage, home equity and other products for home loans. This compensation, however, does not influence the content we publish or the reviews that you see on this site. We do not contain the entire universe of businesses or financial deals that may be available to you.

SHARE:

On This Page on This Page

Prev Next

FG Trade/Getty Images

3 minutes read. Published 21st October 2022

Expert verified. How is this page certified by an expert?

At Bankrate we consider the quality of our content very seriously. “Expert verified” signifies we have the Bankrate Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the content to ensure accuracy and clarity. This Review Board comprises a panel of experts in finance whose goal is to ensure that our content is always impartial and balanced. Their reviews ensure that we are publishing quality and reliable content.

Written by Bankrate Written by

This article was generated by using automated technology. It was then thoroughly verified and edited by an editor on our editorial staff.

Edited by Rhys Subitch Edited by Auto loans editor

Rhys has been writing and editing for Bankrate since the end of 2021. They are passionate about helping readers gain the confidence to manage their finances by providing concise, well-studied data that breaks otherwise complicated topics into bite-sized pieces.

Reviewed by Mark Kantrowtiz Reviewed by Nationally recognized student expert on financial aid

Mark Kantrowitz is an expert on financial aid for students, the FAFSA, scholarships, 529 plans as well as tax benefits for education and student loans.

The promise of the Bankrate promise

More info

At Bankrate we strive to help you make better financial choices. While we adhere to strict journalistic integrity ,

This article may include some references to products offered by our partners. Here’s a brief explanation of how we earn our money .

The promise of the Bankrate promise

Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a proven track record of helping people make wise financial choices.

We’ve been able to maintain this status for more than four decades through simplifying the process of financial decision-making

process and giving customers confidence in which actions to take next. Bankrate has a very strict ,

So you can be sure you can trust us to put your needs first. All of our content is created with and edited

We make sure that everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy. Our loans reporters and editors concentrate on the things that consumers are most concerned about most — different types of lending options and the most competitive rates, the top lenders, ways to pay off debt and many more, so you’ll be able to feel secure when investing your money.

Integrity in editing

Bankrate adheres to a strict code of conduct standard of conduct, which means you can be confident that we’ll put your needs first. Our award-winning editors and journalists provide honest and trustworthy information to help you make the right financial choices. Our main principles are that we appreciate your trust. Our mission is to offer readers reliable and honest information. We have standards for editorial content in place to ensure this occurs. Our editors and reporters thoroughly verify the truthfulness of content in order to make sure that the information you’re reading is true. We maintain a firewall between advertisers as well as our editorial staff. The editorial team of Editorial Independence Bankrate does not receive direct compensation by our advertising partners. Editorial Independence Bankrate’s team of editors writes for YOU the reader. Our aim is to offer you the best advice to aid you in making informed financial decisions for your personal finances. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content isn’t in any way influenced by advertising. Our editorial team is not paid any compensation directly from advertisers and all of our content is verified to guarantee its accuracy. If you’re looking at an article or review, you’ll be able to trust that you’re receiving trustworthy and reliable information.

How can we make money?

If you have questions about money. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you manage your money for over four decades. We are constantly striving to give consumers the professional advice and tools required to make it through life’s financial journey. Bankrate adheres to a strict code of conduct standard of conduct, which means that you can trust that our information is trustworthy and reliable. Our award-winning editors and reporters provide honest and trustworthy content that will help you make the best financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual and uninfluenced through our sponsors. We’re honest about how we are capable of bringing high-quality information, competitive rates and helpful tools to our customers by revealing how we earn money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and services, or through you clicking certain hyperlinks on our site. This compensation could impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories in the event that they are not permitted by law for our mortgage, home equity and other home lending products. Other factors, such as our own rules for our website and whether a product is offered in your region or within your own personal credit score could also affect the way and place products are listed on this site. While we strive to provide the most diverse selection of products, Bankrate does not include information about every credit or financial product or service.

Indirect auto is when a lender provides financing to the seller of the vehicle instead of directly to the buyer. The seller then passes the financing along to the buyer. Then, the buyer makes regular monthly payments to the lender that the dealer has a relationship with to pay off the loan. This approach to vehicle financing has its advantages and disadvantages, which is why it is essential to be aware of all options prior to signing any indirect vehicle loan. What is indirect auto financing? Indirect auto financing is available through lenders who are part of their partner network. Instead of seeking an loan and getting preapproved before going to the dealer to get the financing when you purchase the car. In turn, the seller is paid a commission or other type of payment for connecting you to the lender. This can be in terms of a percent that’s added to your interest rate. If you pay the final payment then the lender will transfer the title or lien on the vehicle to you. In the loan duration, you’ll also pay fees on the loan like you would with the loan . Other direct loans Indirect loans can also refer in the way of making use of a marketplace or broker. Through these choices, you fill in your personal information and you are then matched with one or more lenders. In most instances your credit score will not be affected as these marketplaces require an inquiry that is soft. In addition, you’ll be able to see potential loan offers that include the estimated monthly payments, the time frame for repayment and the interest rate to help you make an informed decision. Before you decide on one you should also compare the cost of all loans. There are pros and cons to indirect financing Although indirect auto financing could help you get a more seamless car-buying experience but there are also disadvantages to think about before you make a move. Benefits of indirect financing In certain situations, it makes better sense . Buy and shop all in one location. It’s generally more convenient to buy at the dealership. You’ll be able to browse and obtain financing the next day. Less legwork. Although it’s still beneficial to do so , it is not strictly necessary. If you want to, you are able to do so without having to apply with different lenders before choosing your car. Bad credit options available. Specialty dealers have options for those with less than perfect credit. The disadvantages of indirect financing before you visit the dealership without the approval of an external lender take note of these disadvantages. More expensive rates. The dealership typically includes a portion on top of the rates offered by lenders who meet your needs. This means you’ll most likely be able to get a direct lender. There isn’t so much of a control. It isn’t possible to select which lender you share your information around with. If you’re already working with a bank or credit union, it could be beneficial to join it. You could get a better rates or conditions than otherwise. Unavailable for some purchase types. If you’re looking to buy from a , indirect financing is not likely to be an alternative. How to get indirect auto financing The procedures for getting indirect auto financing are similar to the procedure to obtain a traditional loan. Before you apply make sure you have all the documents available that the dealer will need to submit to the lender’s in their network. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the process to follow by visiting the dealership. Explore the options and pick the car you want to drive. Apply for an loan from the dealer. Acceptance is granted and you can choose the best offer. Sign your loan documents. You can take possession of your . Alternatives to indirect auto financing If you do not want to get an auto loan via a dealer, there are several alternative options to finance your new car. Banks generally provide loans for vehicles, however it can be a more involved process. If you have good credit, a bank could be the best option. But if not have a poor credit score, this may not be the best choice. Credit unions operate similarly to banks, but members of the credit union are the main focus rather than investors. You’ll likely have to join the credit union and the membership requirements will vary from one to the next. But joining a credit union that provides auto loans can help you save money, and also give you greater flexibility. Online lender Using the internet as a lender is another possibility for financing a car without the need of a dealership. Many online lenders focus on offering low rates and reasonable loan terms, rather than the high commissions you could encounter at a traditional dealer. The bottom line Indirect auto financing can be a practical solution to help you purchase your next car. But, it’s essential to ensure you do your research prior to visiting the dealer since you may find a better deal elsewhere. There is a chance that the dealership is willing to compete with or beat an outside loan offer to earn your business. Find out more

SHARE:

Written by

This article was written with the help of automation technology, and then edited and fact-checked by an editor on our editorial staff.

Edited by Rhys Subitch Edited by Auto loans editor

Rhys has been editing and writing for Bankrate since the end of 2021. They are dedicated to helping readers gain confidence to take control of their finances by providing precise, well-researched and clear information that breaks down otherwise complex topics into manageable bites.

Auto loans editor

Review by Mark Kantrowtziz. Reviewed by Nationally recognized expert in student financial aid

Mark Kantrowitz is an expert on student financial aid, the FAFSA, scholarships, 529 plans educational tax benefits, student loans.

Nationally recognized student financial aid expert

Related Articles Auto read for 4 minutes Feb 27 2023

Auto Loans 8 Min Read January 12 2023

Auto Loans 3 minutes read on Oct 21, 2022

Auto Loans 3 min read on August 03, 2022

About

Help

Legal Cookie settings Don’t share my information with anyone else.

How we make money Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated for the promotion of sponsored goods andservices or by you clicking on specific links on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order items are listed in the event that they are not permitted by law. We also offer mortgage, home equity, and other home loan products. Other factors, such as our own rules for our website and whether or not a product is available within your region or within your personal credit score could also affect the way and place products are listed on this site. While we strive to provide an array of offers, Bankrate does not include specific information on each financial or credit item or service. Bankrate, LLC NMLS ID# 1427381 | BR Tech Services, Inc. NMLS ID #1743443 |

|

(c) 2023 Bankrate, LLC. A Red Ventures company. All Rights Reserved.

For those who have any questions regarding exactly where in addition to tips on how to make use of online payday loans same day, you possibly can contact us with our web page.