Auto loans dont have to be a hassle. We can make a game of it. Truly. What if finding the best deal on payments and interest rates was as much of a game as say, the stock market? It is at least as much to our benefit. We can save a lot by finding the best terms for our auto loans.

I suggest to my clients that they create a grid, perhaps an Excel worksheet. List all the lenders and loan options in one column. The second column is the down payment. The third column is the interest rate. The fourth column is the number of payments. The final column is the total cost. This is the total amount that you will pay for the car, including interest.

Once you have all of these ducks in a row, you are better prepared to negotiate with the lenders for your best terms. Maybe you really have a good feeling about a particular lender, but their interest rate is a little higher than someone you dont quite feel as good about. Let them know. Tell them you like them. You want to do business with them, but this other deal is out there. Let them know that youd be happy to deal if they will match the better interest rate.

Many times, we dont realize how much negotiation power we have as consumers. We just take the terms we are given and fail to be smart about our money and our investments. Not only is this no fun, its not very smart, either.

Choosing an auto loan can be played like a game. If you are smart about it, gather your information, make comparisons and come back to the lender with some options of your own, you can win this game. Its worth it to come out ahead on your auto loan. Make it a win for you.